Pack Your Crochet Bag for Work or Travel
By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 14 CommentsGuess what!? Memorial Day (U.S.) has passed, and thus summer has officially started (in my hemisphere, anyway) ;)! Woo hoo! I’m going to be on the move this summer – constantly in my car or working. So I need to make sure my crochet bag is well packed so that I can keep up with my summer stitches.
In packing the crochet project bag, I’d like to think about exactly what I need for projects that I can complete on the go. Because I want this to be portable and fun, for intermittent crafting, I am going to recommend a few essentials. Please add your ideas in the comments!
The Market Bag Project
In a small project bag with drawstring closures, pack a skein of your favorite worsted weight yarn, a size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook, a yarn needle, small safety scissors, a print out of this pattern in a plastic page protector, a highlighter, a paper clip, and a pencil. Use the paper clip to hold your live stitch when you have to stop your project. Mark your pattern with notes in pencil. Highlight each portion you’ve completed.
The Afghan Project
In a medium, open tote with long handles to swing over your shoulder, pack 3 skeins of complementary colored yarns, a small stack of graph paper as well as a print out of this granny square pattern in a plastic document sleeve, a set of colored pencils, and a small, transparent zippered pouch. Inside of the pouch, pack your favorite crochet hook, small embroidery scissors, a tape measure, safety pins, and a pencil. Use the colored pencils and graph paper to help you design your own granny square blanket! Experiment with different numbers of rounds and color combinations. Option: When you’re done with crocheting a square, label it with a number using a small piece of graph paper and a safety pin so you can remember where it goes. Clean out your tote periodically, and store your completed squares in a clear, plastic bin.
The Mini Motifs/Accessories Project
In a small mesh pouch, pack small crochet hooks (I use sizes 2.55 mm through 4.0 mm), skeins of embroidery floss or small amounts of size 3 crochet thread, a tapestry needle, jewelry findings in small plastic bags, and nail clippers. Use the nail clippers to snip your yarn after weaving in ends! Load the following patterns and tutorials into your smart phone or tablet PC, and whip up some pretty and quick accessories. Option: stiffen crochet motifs with starch or glue before making the jewelry.
Open Star Motif , Emerald Drops Bracelet, Flower Power Garland (use as necklace), Mini Motifs One, Mini Motifs Two, Mini Motifs Three, Mini Motifs Four, Simple Six Petal Flower, Medallion Jewelry Set, Jewelry Clasps, Spring Flowers Earrings
Phew! Can you see why I said you should load these into your devices? If you want more jewelry ideas, search the site with terms like “bracelet,” “necklace,” or “earrings.”
So, what did you think of my crochet bag suggestions? Did I miss anything? Which bags are you packing for this busy time? What will you be packing in your bag? Share tips below!
Any Amigurumi creatures
I’m liking the mini motif idea!
I love to pack my crochet items in a small basket with handles. Maybe I will crochet a basket to pack my crochet needs in! 🙂
Oh, this is a fun conversation! I’m one of those people who ALWAYS carries a fairly large bag with me. Each day, I carry in my LeSportSac bag my Kindle, Kindle Charge, at least one book, journal, pens, and, of course, a crochet project (yarn, hook, and pattern). For traveling to our summer house or our winter house, I have to carry enough yarn to keep me occupied, which usually includes enough for 2 or 3 projects. I carry most of the yarn, hooks, notions, and patterns in my suitcase. I’m not one of those crocheters who minds crocheting with wool or wool-blends in the hot weather, so I work on whatever suits my fancy. Currently, I’m working poolside on some baby hats for charity.
One piece projects are ideal for the air traveler because you will have no need for scissors or a cutter. If you have to have a cutter, bring a container of dental floss in your bag. The cutter on the container should suffice in cutting your yarn.
I like to make potholders on-the-go, so I always have a few potholder patterns and a selection of colors of cotton yarns, as well as a selection of appropriate-sized crochet hooks, and a small pair of scissors in my bag.
I have been trying to use up my scrap yarn so I have been carrying small balls and making cat toys. It is great since I don’t even need a pattern. I have also started making prayer cloths in different designs.
I would like to see some crochet applique..especially little things you can add to childs projects!
I just posted about this on my blog, too. I recently took my car for service and spent all the time waiting at the shop making one motif after another. I don’t mind waiting as long as I have something better to do than watch the waiting room TV.
Bethintx, the floss cutter is a great idea for travel crafts! Not only is it airport-safe, it also closes neatly, so you’re sure not to have an accidental snag in your work.
I’m with Sherry, sort of. I think a dishcloth is the perfect size project to take along. (Dishcloths and potholders are about the same size, right?)
My crochet projects are always portable. I keep each one in their own project bag (or a crocheet project basket that I have also made on the go). One thing that I didn’t see mentioned is using the multiple compartment pencil bags you can usually find at Walmart during the back to school event times (They are brightly printed cloth, zippered, and have lots of handy compartments). I don’t see them stocked year round. I use them to house my scissors, extra hooks, yarn needles, stitch markerslholders, measuring tape and a 6″clear ruler, short pencil, pen, yarn threader, thimble, small manifying sleeve and few others things that I find important to my project, The pockets are handy in keeping things organized, so I can find what I am looking for. My organizer has a zippered middle punch and 2 roomy side pockets, zips up all together. I slip itin to whatever project bad I want to bring with me, whether I go on a short trip or a long trip, or those times you go to a show or a childs play/event or graduation that you have to get there way ahead of time to get a good seat or not park in the hinterlands, or even a doctor’s apointment, I am always ready to pull out my project that I am working on to pass the time.
For every crochet project, I take an index card, punch a hole in the center top or corner & attach it with a safety pin to my actual project. On it, I write the hook size, official name of the project and where i got the pattern. If it is a repeat stitch, i write that on the card also.
This way, if the pattern & project become separated, all is not lost!
For every project I put it in a zip- lock as I can see it.I work on 4-5 projects at a time and transfer my scissors, tape and needles acc to the project I work on when I travel.I find time to crochet where ever I go and I make sure the projects are not too large to carry.Your tips are ever so useful and practical. Thks a ton!
For on-the-go projects, I wind the skein into a medium sized ball, and place the ball in a zip lock bag. This works best when you have more than one color needed.The balls take less room then a whole skein. The balls do not tangle, and when you are using them, just let a tiny opening in the bag for the yarn to come thru, and it won’t get tangled with the other yarn and “stuff” in your bag when you carry it and when you actually use it.
Also, I use those safety pin type markers and, depending upon the project bag, I attach them to the straps of the bag so they are handy, or keep one within each Zip lock bag.
Pinch type clothespins make handy yarn winders.
Pencil cases work well to carry hooks and extras.
Love this post! Its really helped me get focused for going on a weekend trip. I liked your post so much I blogged about it. Hope that is alright. Here is the link:http://www.kittyscrochet.co.uk/2013/07/just-visiting.html