My Top Six Tips For Successful Travel Knitting
A friend of mine travels between Norway and the UK on a regular basis, and last weekend she shared a wonderful video of her flight whilst she knitted her latest sweater. A woman was enjoying knitting on the other side of the aisle, with yet another woman was knitting by the window. Her in-flight project (pictured below) wasn't the easiest pattern for travel knitting but she was at a point where she was knitting the plain button band so a lot less attention needed and I have to say I think it looks stunning!
Pattern pictured is the Book Club Cardigan by Sari Norlund
Her video evidence answered the biggest question I get asked as people start to plan their holiday knitting projects:
‘Can I take my knitting on a plane?’
Yes, is the short answer, and here are my top six tips for successful travel knitting!
Needles and Hooks
Knitting needles and crochet hooks are generally allowed as part of your carry-on luggage for both domestic and long-haul flights. The general three rules that most airlines stick to are that the needles should be:
1. Short (interchangeable are best). I like to fly with the shortest tips possible so I usually take my 3 inch Chiaogoo tips which are also great for small circumference knitting
2. Blunt pointed.
3. Wooden. Metal needles are best kept at home (although, personally, I have had no problems taking my 3in tips in metal on a plane before )
The best needles that I would choose to fly with are the Chiagoo Bamboo Twists, or the SeeKnit bamboo needles from Japan. Both companies offer superior wooden needles, and although they are not as sharp as you would have on a metal lace tip, they work superbly on all kinds of yarn, even down to laceweight. (I also love that SeeKnits offer the cutest little wooden stoppers for the interchangeable cords!)
It is always worth double checking with the company you are flying with, but apart from when you are flying out of France (the only country that seems to have an issue with needles or hooks), your knitting should be safe. However, you never know who will be checking your luggage at the gate, so my advice is to pop your knitting on an interchangeable cord, take off the needles, and replace them with the stoppers. Then you won’t have to worry about losing your knitting at all. I normally pop my tips in a little knitting case with some pens and a highlighter and no-one has ever even noticed.
Snips and Scissors In Your Knitting Kit
Snips are allowed on most flights, as long as they are shorter than 3 inches from tip to pivot screw (the bit above the handle). Again, this is worth checking before you fly, but the Milward Stork rainbow scissors that I have have flapped their 1 inch wings in the flight cabin with me many times without any cause for concern. For the smallest scissors on the planet check out the size of these minute snips by Cohana!
Notions and Pins
My notion tin is packed full of embroidery needles, some thread, random pins, stitch markers, a tape measure, some washi tape, and a stubby pencil. All of them have been welcomed onboard. If your notions pot has a similar theme, there should be no problem at all with taking them on holiday with you.
The Perfect Project To Fly With
Travel time is a brilliant opportunity to catch up with your knitting projects. Sleeves have nowhere to go apart from off the island, and in-flight movies give you time to enjoy a sea of stocking stitch. Smaller projects like hats, cowls, mittens and socks are great options to choose if you want to take something small with you that is easily packed and managed.
Although they are not as popular in the knitting community at the moment, I would also suggest that pieced-sweaters or cardigans may be worth casting on as you then don’t have to forfeit lots of precious space in your bags with just the front, back or sleeves to work on. Stocking stitches and garter rows are the name of the game for successful travel knits; leave the colour work and intarsia at home! Getting all your little baggies of wool knotted up on a long-haul flight would be painful for you, as well as your in-flight neighbours. My go to travel knitting is always socks. They are simple, compact and easy to complete a pair or two on a trip (no second sock syndrome!)
Have a look through your Ravelry page and take some time to read other blogs from knitters who have travelled lately; inspiration for travel knitting comes from so many places.
Yarn Choices
It is always worth thinking about where your travel destination is. Knitting in fluffy Aran wool would be ideal if you are going to Scandinavia for your winter skiing, but not the best if you are off to Portugal in August, where linen or cotton yarn may be your best choice. It is also worth considering how much baggage you are taking, as plates of unspun yarn take up a lot of room. Hand wound balls do tend to roll around a lot so cakes or donut balls are more likely to stay on your lap or behave in your project bag!
Keep It Minimal
It is so tempting to pack all your yarn for three projects in your carry on bag, however we all know that even on a ten hour flight, all you’ll really need is your project and two or three balls of wool. Even on a long haul trip, I would take the ball I am working with and maybe one or two others. The rest can be popped into your suitcase, and if it does get lost, you can just go to a new-to-you local yarn store when you’ve landed and pick up a new project!
It may also be the time to be a little monogamous with your knitting and enjoy the experience of knitting and finishing one or two projects. Between reading by the pool, skiing the slopes, swimming in the sea, or walking through the mountains, there may not be as much time to knit your ideal ten projects!
I’m happy to help!
I love helping people choose their projects and yarn combos, and I am always happy to help chat through your next travel project when you visit the Knit Lounge knitting wool shop here in Grayshott.
Happy knitting,
Sarah x