Traveling with Crochet
When I am traveling by car or by plane, I always have at least one crochet project with me. If I am going to just be sitting anyways might as well be productive. I have always had trouble just sitting still and I always have to be doing something, so I choose to spend my sitting time crocheting.
I travel at least once a year to go see my Mom, who lives near Phoenix, AZ.
Travel time for me equals guilt free crochet time. You know what I mean by guilt free crochet time – you are not ignoring the laundry that needs to be folded or dishes that need to be put away or the floor that needs to be swept.
All of those adult things that get in the way of crochet time!
The key to traveling with your crochet projects is organization. For me this can be a challenge, but I feel like after several years of traveling with crochet I have it down. I always pack simple projects, quick and easy crochet patterns that you can easily memorize and quickly pick back up where you left off if you get interrupted. I will usually store the crochet patterns as a pdf in my phone, so I’m not having to pull out a big piece of paper to reference if I need to see the pattern. The less items you have to try to fit in your lap the better because the space on an airplane seems to get smaller and smaller each time I fly.
I keep my crochet hooks, yarn, scissors, tapestry needles, measuring tape, and stitch markers (safety pins) in a foldable, cloth makeup bag. This bag keeps everything contained and organized, so you can just grab and stow away quickly if needed. When you unfold the makeup bag, it has clear zippered compartments so you can easily see what you have and not dig around. I have been able to take all of this on the plane with me.
Even the scissors! Most airlines will allow scissors on the plane as long as the tips are below 4 inches.I would recommend taking a pair of scissors that you don’t mind losing or throwing away because even if the airline states that it is ok to take them on the plane, ultimately it is at the TSA agents discretion as to what they will allow through security.
I will throw my yarn and case with my crochet tools in a large Ziploc bag and this goes into my carry on bag, so when I’m on the plane I can just grab the Ziploc bag and start crocheting. I will throw my WIP (work in progress) back in the bag and restow it in my carry on when the flight is over. This is great for car traveling as well.
I usually have my purse and my Ziploc bag with me at all times when I am traveling – just in case there is a quick minute I can get some crocheting in.
Normally, I can fit everything in my giant purse but when I am traveling I will downsize to a normal person sized purse. LOL!
Depending on my project, I will just use a gallon Ziploc bag, but I also have 2 gallon Ziploc bags and these are great for your bigger WIPs – beanie hats and even baby blankets.
I will crochet just about anywhere and everywhere. On this last trip, I crocheted on the plane – 3 hours there and 3 hours back; I crocheted in the car ride for our weekend trip to Laughlin, NV – 5 hours there and 5 hours back; I crocheted in the pool at the resort we were staying at.
The resorts adult pool area had 2 shallow ends that they had loungers in, so I spent a lot of time lounging and crocheting with one foot in the pool.
I will have to say that was one of my favorite parts about our trip; I would have crocheted on our boat cruise on the Colorado River but it was at night and I wouldn’t have been able to see.
Vacation time and crochet time, you just can’t beat it!!
Do you crochet when you are traveling? If not, I hope this will encourage you to do just that! Feel free to share your traveling crochet experience with me in the comments below or on Facebook and Instagram!
You can now shop my favorite crochet hooks and yarns along with other recommended products on my Amazon Storefront.
Happy Crocheting!
8 Comments
Natalie LeVasseur
I love your organization ideas in this post. I will be visiting my daughter in Tampa in January, and I want to take at least one project along. The folding makeup bag is a find because you can see what you have without opening the glasses case or the Altoids boxes that I am currently using. I love this post and the beginner posts. I am an old beginner since I did granny squares in the 70s and went for decades without crocheting until recently. So much has changed and improved!
Nicky
I am so glad that you found this helpful!! The folding makeup bag has been a life saver for me! 🙂
Joanna Coombs
Thank you for these hints. I usually have my portable project jammed in a plastic bag and jumbled up in my back pack. I love the idea of the folder makeup bag to keep all my hooks and notions in, much easier to find!
Nicky
You are so welcome!! It sure makes it a lot easier when you don’t have a lot of space to move around.
Joshua Beazley
I love to crochet when I’m out and about, and I usually have a small bag with either a small project or a couple random balls of scrap wool to make small toys, decorations.
Its also a good conversation starter especially me being a male.
Nicky
That is so great! And so cool that you are a male crocheter! I only know of a very few male crocheters, I bet you are inspiring more men to pick up the hook and give it a try 🙂
Brie
I love traveling with crochet projects! Thanks for the tips!
MaryLou Plisch
Great ideas. I also crochet every where I go. Seems to be my trademark at work!