Knitting & Crocheting While Traveling

1. Choose travel-friendly projects

You would like to take everything with you; we know the feeling. But on holiday, less is often more. Choose small, portable projects that need little equipment and that you may even be able to use while you are away. Good options include:

• Socks
• Bookmarks
• Hair ties
• Small bags or pouches
• Light summer tops
• Sun hats
• Coasters, if you are camping

These projects are compact, quick to make, need only a few balls and take up hardly any space in your suitcase or hand luggage.

2. Organize accessories well

Take a project bag for your equipment. Divide it into smaller compartments, pouches or tins for patterns, stitch markers, needles, needle tips, mini scissors, sewing needles and thread, and a tape measure. That way everything is within reach, nothing gets lost, and your project is protected. It is also practical on the plane or at the beach: hang it on the seat in front of you or on a deck chair and keep working in comfort. It also helps prevent your ball of yarn from suddenly falling into the sand or rolling down the airplane aisle.

3. Save or print the pattern

Depending on where you are going, Wi-Fi may be unreliable. Our tip: download your patterns to your phone beforehand or print them out. That way you are independent of the internet and can start anytime.

4. Extra yarn? Better safe than sorry!

One ball too many is better than one too few, especially when travelling. If your project is almost finished and you suddenly run out of yarn, it can be frustrating. So pack a little extra, but do not overdo it. You still want room for souvenirs. Or choose plan B: our one-ball holiday projects. Let yourself be surprised!

When suitcase space is tight, small projects with just one ball are exactly right. They are lots of fun and the little ball easily fits between two T-shirts or trousers. How about a lovely summer top made from Saragossa? If you start early in your holiday, you might even be able to wear your new top there, for dinner at the beach bar or a stroll through the old town.

Alternatively, you can make small pouches for little souvenirs, hair ties, make-up, travel games or mini sunscreen. One ball of Cotton Quick print is enough for the small pouch, a great beginner project for relaxed crafting in between.

Socks always work, even on holiday. With one ball of Hot Socks Sensitive you can create a beautiful pair of summer sneaker socks with wave pattern and wear them on the terrace or on the flight home.

From one ball of Cotton Quick uni you can crochet sweet hair ties. They are quick, add color to holiday outfits and take up no space. Just remember to pack the plain hair elastics that you crochet around.

For the market or beach, take one ball of Estate and make your own little beach net bag. It is light, practical and useful after the holiday too.

Small coasters made from Hakelgarn 100 look elegant, protect tables and add decorative accents to breakfast on the balcony.

A second ball will usually fit somewhere too, right? Here are beautiful projects you can make quickly from two balls. Heading south? The headband with visor made from Cotton Quick uni is perfect for beach weather.

Taking a city trip and never passing souvenir shops? Then we suggest a crocheted shopping net made from Cotton Quick Batik. At the end of the holiday, you can use it to carry all your little finds.

Sometimes there is only a small window of time, but enough for a mini creative break. Whether for yourself as the perfect addition to your holiday reading or as a little gift for loved ones at home, a bookmark is always a lovely in-between project. Our mini balls are made for moments like this: ten small balls somehow equal one big one, or even two, but who is checking? And honestly, there is always a little space in your bag for our sweet Amigurumi or Cotton Quick Minis, isn't there? After all, the finished project takes up far less space on the return trip than the balls did at the start, whether they weighed 15, 50 or 100 g.

If you fly, you may want to cast on a few stitches while still on the plane. That usually works if you keep a few things in mind:

What is allowed?

• Within the EU, knitting and crochet needles are generally not prohibited in hand luggage.
• Some airlines list knitting needles as potentially dangerous. You can usually find details on airline websites.
• Crochet hooks are usually not prohibited, at least we are not aware of contrary information.

• Airport security has the final say, not the airline itself.
• If you are unlucky, staff on site may decide that your needles cannot go in hand luggage after all.
• Be prepared to hand them over if necessary, but do not let that spoil your holiday mood. Pack spare needles in checked luggage so you can start knitting or crocheting when you arrive.
• Even if you are allowed to take your needles on board, cabin crew may ask you to stop knitting during the flight, and you should follow their instructions.

• Use bamboo or wooden needles; they are considered less problematic than metal.
• Take interchangeable needle tips so, in the worst case, you lose only the tips and not the whole project.
• Transport needles safely in a pencil case or needle holder to prevent breakage and slipping stitches.
• Do not pack scissors in hand luggage; use the metal cutter on dental floss, nail clippers or a mini thread cutter instead. Good to know: scissors with blades under 6 cm are usually not a problem.
• Keep a small metal tin for accessories; it is tidy, handy and easy at security.