stick to one's last

English

Etymology

Compare the proverb cobbler, keep to your last or shoemaker, stick to your last.

Verb

stick to one's last (third-person singular simple present sticks to one's last, present participle sticking to one's last, simple past and past participle stuck to one's last)

1. (idiomatic) To stick to one's knitting (to concentrate on one's own tasks, affairs, area of expertise etc.).
   • 2013 March 15, Richard Ouzounian, “Colin James: Blazing his own path for 25 years”, in Toronto Star‎^[1]:

     But never one to stick to his last, James founded the Little Big Band in 1993, which launched him on nearly a decade of swing material. Recent years have found him venturing back into rock and he says, “I think it’s time to hit the blues again” when asked what’s around the bend.

   • 2018 May 8, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, “Martin Sorrell vows to ‘start again’ after WPP exit”, in Financial Times‎^[2]:

     Sir Martin made clear he intended to “stick to his last” by staying in an industry he knew well and enjoyed, and that he would not wait long before making his next move.