Crafters Holiday Checklist

Planning your next holiday, and wondering which craft project to bring? Take the stress out of holiday packing with my handy Crafter’s Holiday Checklist!

Figuring out which craft project to bring can be the most time consuming decision of your trip, whether you’re going on a long summer vacation or a quick city getaway. This year, do yourself a favour and don’t let it come to the very last minute to decide what you’re going to bring along. But now I think about it, the steps in this packing guide really only take a few minutes – so go for it!

Step 1 – Ease or Entertainment?

First up – let’s talk projects. We all know it can be the most difficult thing to decide which project to work on. So instead, ask yourself what you want to pack for.

Do you want easy projects that you can take out at any point during your trip, so you can squirrel away at it even for 10 minutes at a time? Do you want to get straight into crafting, without figuring out where you are in the pattern?

Or, do you want projects that will entertain you during your holiday, and will relax you by engaging your brain?

If you’re going on a citytrip, small easy projects like socks are probably your best bet, as they don’t need a whole lot of space to be spread out on while you work.

Citytrips are short and action-packed, so you may not have a whole lot of crafting time. You want projects which are easy to just get out of your bag to work on, even for a short bus ride.

For longer holidays, you can get a little more elaborate. You will probably have more time to have a proper sit-down with your project. Maybe at the pool, on the beach, at the campsite, wherever you are.

No-Measure, just knit!
Afterthought Heel Socks

Forget needing to check where you are in the pattern, or when to start for the heel – knit Afterthought Heel Socks!

Just knit knit knit until you’ve reached the entire length, then add in the heels when you get home.

Free Pattern

Chevron Boulevard Shawl

Have you got some more brain-space to focus on your project, but still want to relax and just craft on?

The Chevron Boulevard Shawl is so relaxing to crochet. Changing the yarns every 2 rows keeps it entertaining, and seeing the gradient develop is SO gratifying.

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Challenge yourself with
the Rustic Lace Square Shawl

Looking for a more challenging pattern, that will actively engage your brain and drown out all the noise?

With the Rustic Lace Square Shawl, you get the full benefits of engaging lace crochet, while only needing to pack ONE ball! (yes, just one!)

Free Pattern

Step 2 – Packing Space

Next question: How much space do you have for your project?

For instance, if you chose ease in the first step, and you have lots of space, perhaps a blanket pattern is the way to go. A pattern with a simple 1 row repeat, or a blanket consisting of easy squares.

If you chose entertain, but have little space – consider taking an embroidery project with you, or amigurumi!

Rainbow Seawaves Blanket

Yes to ease and YES to space:

ding-ding-ding!

The Rainbow Seawaves Blanket is the pattern for you. SO delightfully relaxing, and a fun new colour each row.

Free Pattern

Madly in Love Socks

Yes to ease but NO to space:

Try the Madly In Love ankle socks. You only need about 60 grams of yarn, and an easy peasy colourwork motif to keep things interesting.

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Colourwork Sampler Blanket

Yes to entertain and YES to space:

How could I choose anything else than the Colourwork Sampler Blanket?

Super entertaining, only 1 square at a time so it doesn’t get too warm on your lap, and delicious colourwork row after row:

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Cosy Moments Shawl

Yes to entertain but NO to space:

The Cosy Moments Shawl is sure to keep your brain busy with its gorgeous lace patterns, and it only takes ONE cake of yarn!

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Step 3 – Remember to take these:

Don’t forget these:

stitch markers
measuring tape
scissors
darning needle
interchangeable needle key

Did you – despite all your good intentions – forget anything on your trip? Don’t despair, because 9 out of 10 times, you can use a substitute for the thing you’re missing.

Instead of stitch markers to mark your repeats, tie a little bit of yarn around your finger to form a circle, and then use this as your marker. A low cost easy alternative!

A bobby pin (hairpin) is SO versatile when it comes to crafting. You can bend it open in a large V for a cable needle substitute, or leave it closed and use it as a darning needle.

Another great alternative for a darning needle is a crochet hook. This will allow you to at least secure your ends a little, before you get home and finish the job with a proper needle.

Haven’t packed any scissors? While you may be able to break woollen yarns, cotton and mohair are notoriously difficult to break. Use a nail clipper instead, or hold the yarn taut and rub against it with the sharp end of a key. Heck, I’ve even used a restaurant knife!

And lastly – consider any travel restrictions for your knitting and crochet tools. We all know that bringing metal needles and hooks might be tricky on a plane, since various airports have different rules.

When in doubt: take wooden needles/hooks. If you must use metal, take interchangeable needles, unscrew the tips and put them in a pencil case.

Your craft scissors might also be considered dangerous, but luckily there are lots of alternatives for cutting yarns, such as using the sharp bit in a dental floss case.