Want to travel? But don’t want to leave your knitting needles behind? For knitters, the world is a potential canvas for creating beautiful projects. Therefore, wherever you go, you can take your knitting with you. Whether you’re embarking on a road trip, flying on an international adventure, cruising through the open sea, or train travel, leaving your beloved needles and yarn behind is unnecessary. Want to know how? Here’s where we share some tips on traveling with knitting needles. With some planning and these handy tips, you can ensure smooth knitting traveling experiences.
Before you pack for travel knitting, here are a few things to know.
Airline Regulations: If you are flying domestically, within the country, or internationally, from one country to the other, you need to learn about airline regulations regarding your knitting tools and projects. Even different airports have different guidelines that you need to know before making plans.
There are many airports in the USA, the UK, and even different parts of the world that allow knitting needles and crochet hooks in both carry-on and checked baggage. However, international regulations might differ, so always check with the airline directly. Go through specific instructions for hand-held and cargo luggage. In case, you do not get the exact details, carry your knitting needles in a needle case. You can also take along an envelope to make a parcel and send them home or a secure address if the airlines do not allow your knitting tools.
Airport Security Concerns: Airport security guidelines also differ from country to country and even within the country, so you need to have complete information beforehand. USA airports allow knitting needles, crochet hooks, and even accessories such as scissors. Sharp or pointed needles can raise security flags. Consider not-so-pointy tips for hand-held luggage and keep them protected in cargo-hold luggage. Metal needles might trigger security scanners, so consider using plastic or bamboo needles, which are generally more travel-friendly.
Opt for circular needles or interchangeable needle sets. For small projects, you can also carry a pair of not-so-expensive single-pointed needles. With circular knitting needles, you can fold them down or wrap them in the project, making them less alarming. With a needle set, you can minimize the number of needles and have many sizes in one place.
While many airports allow the passing of knitting needles, they may not allow them in public, so you may have to skip knitting at the airport to pass your time.
For Road Trip Knitting:
Car Comfort and Organization: If you are going on a road trip, carry your knitting needles and yarn in a specific space in your car so they don’t get lost with other luggage. Keep a tote knitting bag secured near your seat so that you have everything within reach.
It is recommended that you pack your circular needles and interchangeable sets. An ergonomic design, cubic or square knitting needles are a good choice. KnitPro J’adore cubic knitting needles are perfect for your travel plans.
Project Portability: For your car travels, carry easy knitting projects. You may not get good lighting to see stitches clearly or follow pattern instructions.
Tips for Packing Your Knitting Projects
Plan your Project: Plan a small project when you are traveling. If traveling causes you anxiety and knitting calms you down, you need a project or pattern that can be worked on easily. You can choose a stockinette stitch pattern on circular knitting needles. This way, you only have to keep working with knit stitches in the round.
Protect Your Project: Pack a project bag specifically for your current knitting project. KnitPro bags and cases are designed for travel knitting.
Notions Necessity: Pack essential notions like scissors, stitch markers, and a tape measure. Consider a small notions case to keep them organized and easily accessible. You can carry chart keepers that keep your patterns safe and secure.
Yarn Selection: Choose yarns that frog well so you can rip the stitches without damaging the yarn fibers in case of mistakes. Also, do not pack colors that get dirty easily. Variegated yarns are ideal for adding colors with one yarn skein. Make sure to wind the yarn ready for travel knitting, and choose yarn winding and dispensing accessories.
Project Perfect: Select projects that are quick and easy. Avoid bulky projects that take up too much space in your carry-on.
Traveling with knitting needles is all about embracing creativity. It’s more than a hobby or a pastime to ease your jitteriness at the airport or amid crowds. Use your travels as knitting inspiration. Recreate the essence of the new place with yarn fibers or colors or incorporate local motifs. Also, explore local yarn shops in your travel destination to discover unique yarns, connect with the local knitting community, and get a healthy dose of inspiration for future projects.
