stick to one's knitting

present singular third person sticks to one's knitting · participle present sticking to one's knitting · participle past stuck to one's knitting · past stuck to one's knitting · alternative attend to one's knitting · alternative ’tend to one’s knitting · alternative tend to one's knitting · alternative keep to one's knitting

1. idiomaticTo concentrate on one's own tasks, affairs, area of expertise, etc., especially in order to avoid distraction, embarrassment, or other needless problems.

   "We stuck to our knitting and stayed in one market rather than going for growth," he says.

   2001 July 15, Chris Taylor, “E-Grocers Check Out”, in Time, retrieved 01 Oct 2013

   2 more examples

   [A]s sportsmen I think that we should stick to our knitting and not allow economic or social conditions to interfere with the Olympic Games.

   1935 October 27, “Helene Mayer to be in Olympics: Woman Fencing Champion Accepts Invitation”, in New York Times, retrieved 01 Oct 2013

   Researchers should stick to their knitting, finding cancer cures and discovering new shades of lipstick, and refrain from debunking history.

   1975 Nov. 21, "Puritans Denied Drumstick" (editorial), Spokane Daily Chronicle, p. 4 (retrieved 1 Oct 2013)

   Synonyms: stick to one's last, stay in one's lane, mind one's own business