How to choose a travel project

Choosing the right project to bring can sometimes be a very daunting task, here’s a few tips to help you make the right decision on what to bring and why.

1. Choose something small, light and easy to carry like a pair of socks, a hat, a shawl or any other lightweight project what won’t take up too much space in your luggage. Whenever I travel I usually always choose a project on lace or fingering weight yarn, that way I have the most yardage (entertaining time) for the lightest weight.
2. Don’t bring something you could loose pieces of. You thought you could work on that nice afghan because it’s just a bunch of small little squares that you’ll just assemble once you get home, right? Problem is though, you dropped 8 of your tiny yarn balls at the airport while trying to get your knitting case out of your luggage while going through security, then lost 5 of your squares when you dropped your bag at the temple you were visiting and now that you’re home, you realize that half your pieces are not the same size because you couldn’t accurately check your gauge throughout. To avoid that kind of problems, I highly recommend choosing a project that requires only 1 ball of yarn, and that will come together in only one piece.
3. Avoid bringing patterns, or use the pdf. Now this one I don’t always follow, but from what I’ve experienced, it’s way easier to enjoy a little knit during your trip if you bring a project simple enough that you don’t need instructions for, that you have already memorized the instructions or that require such minimal instructions that you can just glance at the pattern on your phone or tablet once or twice and easily keep going. You’re on a trip, possibly in an unfamiliar environment, probably tired and jet lagged, and you might need to pay attention at least a little bit to what’s going on (has there been an announcement for my delayed flight? Is the next stop where I’m getting off the train?). For all those reasons, I think you’re way more likely to enjoy a simple knit then a complicated one.
4. Bring only what’s necessary. I know we all have dozens of cute markers, and stitch holders, and row counters, and whatnot but you won’t need them. No, really. Just bring with you what you REALLY need (couple stitch markers, tapestry needle, small scissors and your needles/crochet hook) and leave the rest home. Bringing too much stuff means more bulk, and more things you could possibly loose. Be on the safe side, and just bring that you really need for the project you chose.