I am still at a point where I have to focus on the knitting, so right now the most I can do while knitting is listening to music that I need to learn, or participating in a conversation that does not take 100% of my brainpower.
EDIT: Revelation. I can also play idle/incremental games while knitting.
Podcasts are great to listen to while knitting/ crocheting/ stitching. I find it easy to have something like football on the tv while I’m working. Movies grab my attention too much, but it’s the visual stimuli that distracts me.
But if I just sit quietly and work, that’s no good either. I’ll distract myself within minutes. Podcasts seem to be the best combo of occupying my attention just enough that I’m not bored and can also follow patterns.