Knitting and crochet are my favourite hobbies and I absolutely love relaxing at home with my current projects.
However, sometimes I do leave the house, and sometimes I need to travel, and sometimes it is for wonderful things like holidays! In years gone by this could mean long and boring journeys, however, I have a much better solution that just scrolling on your phone.
Anyone who knits and crochets knows the amazing mindful power of these crafts and this is the perfect way to pass the time on a long journey.
Also when you reach your destination, this means you can continue with your current project and continue to make progress, but just in your new place, such as recently when I went on a family holiday to Lanzarote, I was able to crochet whilst sat on a sun lounger by the pool – amazing!
Here are my top tips for knitting and crocheting whilst travelling or away on holiday
1. Take the correct project
Ok, so what do I mean by this, surely your current project is the one to take? Well, not necessarily, it depends on where you are going to and how you are getting there.
Are you travelling by car, or train, or plane? If you are a passenger in a car, the chances are you will have more space, so you could probably take a bigger project such a blanket. However, if you are travelling by train or plane, you are likely to have less space and so a smaller project would be a better plan, purely so it can all fit on your lap and will be easy to handle whilst you are stuck in your seat.
Also, I would suggest taking a project that is easy, and by that I mean, the pattern has an easy to remember repeatable pattern, so that you don’t need to check the pattern every row (perhaps leave the very complicated crochet lace pattern to when you are at home on your sofa),
perhaps the project could be all in one colour so that you are not having to change to a different ball of yarn very often, and then you may also need to take less yarn with you,
perhaps the project is made only use one size hook or needles, so then you are not needing to take multiple hooks or knitting needles with you
lastly, perhaps the project doesn’t need many accessories, as in, you only need a single stitch marker throughout, so you don’t need to take lots of extra things with you.
2. Take the correct project for the mode of transportation
*Disclaimer – please check with the airline you are travelling as every company is different, and please check with the official guidelines for the place you are visiting*
Ok, I’m mainly talking about flying here, as this is where the most restrictions occur. Different airlines have different rules, and it is best to check with the airline you’re flying with, but most of the airlines I have encountered are ok with wooden or plastic hooks.
If you have checked in luggage I would always have a spare set of hooks or knitting needles in my checked in luggage as well, just in case. But I have definitely taken wooden and plastic crochet hooks onto a plane before without any issue.
Another point to think about is the pattern itself, are you going to print out a physical copy to read, so then you won’t need to worry about having an internet connection? There are also pattern holders that you can use to hold the pattern and help you keep track of where you are in the pattern which can be useful. The only thing to mention is that it is probably worth having a pattern that you don’t need to look at a lot if you suffer with travel sickness though.
Also, you could download a digital copy of the pattern to your phone or to any other electronic devices, again so it can be accessed without needing an internet connection. This way you just need to ensure you have enough battery on your device so that you can access it whenever you want.
Lastly, consider alternatives to scissors if you are travelling by plane (again please check with the airline you are flying with for their own rules and restrictions), in the past I have taken projects with only one colour so then I am not needing to cut the yarn part way through a project. I am aware of alternatives to scissors, such as yarn cutter dependants, which can be allowed on some airlines. I always ensure I have my embroidery scissors in my checked in luggage as well, so then I have some when I have reached my desination and I’m back with my suitcase.
You could also think about where you are going, if you are going somewhere where it’s going to be super hot, you probably won’t want to be working on a big and heavy project, something small and lightweight is going to be much easier to handle and therfore you are going to be much more likely to complete it!
3. Pack and organise all your items sensibly
Again, this depends on where you are going and how you are getting there, but for the most part, having everything together in one place is a sensible idea.
I try to keep separate projects in separate bags, so when I am travelling it is common for me to only take one project, but that makes it easier to manage when I’m away.
It is useful to keep everything in its own space within the bag, so for example, I will have my project and the yarn in the main body of a bag, then my crochet hook, and any accessories (such as stitch markers, tapestry needles, yarn cutters) in a separate pocked or mini bag within the main bag, this keeps everything protected and orgainsed, which means I can find everything I want quickly and easily.
Having a bag just for your project will make it easier to keep track of within all your luggage and very importantly, keep your project safe!
As a last thing, generally, I don’t take my most favourite hooks or needles (we all have them!) with me when I am travelling, just in case they get lost or broken, as that would make me super sad! I do also tend to take spares with me, again just in case anything happens.
I hope that has been helpful! Knitting and crocheting whilst travelling and away from home can be so rewarding and can make a long journey a lot more enjoyable!
If you are new to knitting and crochet, and you’re not sure where to start, why don’t you download my free guide to starting crochet (pop your name and email address into the form below), which covers all the basic stitches. Just hop on to my mailing list and it’ll get sent straight to you!