Man uses subway commute to knit

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - In an extraordinary place like NYC, very few things are considered out of the ordinary. When it comes to the subway, that sentiment is magnified.

Any New Yorker will tell you they've seen it all on their daily commute. So when a picture of Louis Boria taken on the subway went viral, there's a pretty good chance he was doing something you don't see every day.

Over 10 years ago, Boria had a vivid dream that he was knitting. When he woke up, he took it as a sign he should pick up the craft.

A few years and several YouTube videos later, the Brooklyn native has a substantial side hustle knitting everything from scarves to hats to shawls. However, it wasn't until Louis gained the confidence to utilize his commute time--time he could be working on his projects--that things really took off for Bensonhurst, Brooklyn native.

"I was very, very shy because obviously knitting is typically done by women--so I had that thing in my head. I didn't want to be pointed at. I didn't want to be made fun of. I had a project in my bag and I was wasting all this time and I thought forget it--forget what other people think. And you know what? It was all in my head. The whole time I realized I was judging myself."

After a photo snapped by Broadway actress, Frenchie Davis, went viral last year--the rest is history.

By day Louis is an administrative assistant at Mount Sinai and by night he's cranking out his signature fisherman caps.

The 43-year-old also works with local schools on their anti-bullying initiatives.

His message to kids is to simply just be themselves and follow their passion.

"Seeing how I was inspiring other through my message, I realized this is my calling. This is what I'm supposed to be doing."

For more information on Louis Boria, visit: https://www.brooklynboyknits.com/