Do You Know These 5 Travel Crochet Tips?

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I have been crocheting for more years than I am willing to admit. I began as a teenager when I worked at our tiny, local museum. There was lots of free time, so I started bringing crochet projects to work to fill the down time after I had finished all of the daily tasks. Then I started bringing my crochet projects on vacations and car rides to and from college. Now I always have a travel crochet project packed and ready to go.

And over the years, I’ve picked up a few crochet travel tips that will make your next appointment, business trip, vacation or just your next venture out of the house more enjoyable.

1. Read all the way through the pattern several times before you leave the house.

About a year ago, I found myself in an airport waiting for a plane. No big deal; I had a crochet project (the Esker Cowl). No problem on the first row; then the second row told me to join the second ball of yarn. Wait, what second ball of yarn?! That plane seemed to take forever as I stared at my crochet project and debated the benefits versus hassle of rolling my single ball of yarn into two. Before you pack the yarn, pattern and crochet hook in your bag and walk out the door, make sure you read through the entire pattern and make sure you don’t need another ball of yarn or a an additional crochet hook.

2. Pack a crochet travel bag.

How many things can you turn into stitch markers? Pieces of yarn, toothpicks, bits of paper—I’ve tried them all and more. There is no frustration worse than sitting somewhere with too much time to fill and realizing you’re missing an essential crochet tool. Eyeballing where a round began when working in the round can lead to all kind of problems later in the project.

This is why I have a little zippered envelope filled with stitch markers, tapestry needles and scissors. If you fly a lot or worry about bringing scissors, consider using an empty dental floss container instead. The little piece of sharpened metal used to cut the floss works great for all but the larger weight yarns.

3. Think about the project’s size.

No one is saying you can’t take your latest crochet afghan as a travel project. Just be realistic about whether you can carry a bag that size or whether you will have enough room to work on it. The crochet afghan might not be a great subway project. Crochet afghan motifs that are later sewn together, however, are perfect.

Crochet patterns like hats, scarves and mittens make great travel crochet projects because they are small enough to fit in your purse or a corner of your bag and won’t creep onto the laps of the people sitting on either side of you.

4. Choose a pattern for the circumstance.

Match the crochet pattern’s difficulty with the place you are planning on crocheting. If you think you will be able to work on the crochet pattern in an uninterrupted environment, you can choose any stitch pattern. But, if you know you may be interrupted or distracted, pick a crochet pattern that doesn’t require as much intense concentration. I’ve ripped out too many rows because I lost track of stitch counts or repeats.

5. Not just for travel!

You may not have a plane ticket purchased or a road trip planned. You may be staying closer to home this holiday season, but travel crochet projects aren’t just for vacations. Try taking your crochet project to a local park that is open and enjoy some fresh air. Use your crochet project to keep you calm when you have to go to a doctor’s appointment. Or, just have a special project that you take out onto your deck or backyard escape. We all need a little crochet project to fuel our creative spirit.

What are your best travel crochet tips and favorite travel crochet patterns? Let us know and check out some of these crochet patterns for your own next travel crochet project. Which one will you take with you next time?

Happy crocheting,
Toni

Originally published 9/22/2020. Updated 11/15/2022.

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