Portable Projects to Travel With

In this guest post, Lion Brand’s Technical Editor Jackie Smyth shares great project ideas for traveling knitters and crocheters.

I grew up in Brooklyn, in a family known for our ‘itchy feet’. Travel was our passion – whether a short local jaunt by subway or an endless flight to someplace more exotic.

I also grew up crocheting and knitting. I nearly always had a large project in progress, but I relied on smaller projects as my portable travel companions. Most every hat, shawl or scarf that I’ve made was created ‘in transit’.

Needle crafting is not just the perfect way to fill time between flights or to keep  busy on long train trips – but also a wonderful conversation starter in a strange city.

Most of my travel was long before the age of iPhones and social media. My memory of knitting on a cloudy day in Sarphatipark in Amsterdam is preserved only in a light blue cardi that, sadly, no longer fits.

How things have changed!

Now, posting pictures to your blog, to Instagram, or other favorite site makes it easy to enjoy lasting memories of a project created in a special place.

Meanwhile, all kinds of new accessories make travelling with a project easier than ever:

Hiya Hiya Small Project Bag	2-in-1 Tote	Travel Wallet

My perfect portable project is something smallish in size that doesn’t require super concentration.   Any of these would work well –

Knit One Ball Scarfie made with Scarfie	Knit Hudson Seed Stitch Scarf made with Fishermen’s Wool®	Knit Beginner Level 1 Cowl made with Lion’s Pride® Woolspun®	Crochet Millbrook Cowl made with Vanna’s Complement

Afghans, when made in blocks or squares, are another favorite portable project. Here are some good ones –

Crochet Dotty Dots Afghan made with Modern Baby®	Crochet Tonal Diamonds Afghan made with Landscapes®	Crochet Shoreline Afghan made with Vanna’s Complement

We’d love to know what project you take when you travel and would especially love to see your photos!