My recent vacation trip made me think about the portability of my fiber addiction. A small confession – I am not a big fan of just sitting. While I am by no means hyperactive (a good book, a crackling fire, and a nice cozy chair make for a lovely afternoon), I cannot seem to “just” sit at a meeting, ride in a car, fly in an airplane. But I do all those things with glee if I can keep my hands busy. Knitting is my personal solution.
Commuting…
I live on an island with no bridge to anywhere. Here in Puget Sound, the Washington State Ferry System is part of our highway system. While the island is large and has all the necessary things (like doctors, grocery stores, and restaurants) many of the residents have to commute to Seattle to work. That involves a daily ferry ride and ferry waiting lines. I am proof that a person can actually learn to knit and become proficient over the course of years of commuting. For the car ferry commute, I had a basket made to fit my car’s front seat. I filled it with a couple of projects and whatever notions I needed and ferry lines were less of a burden. My backpack filled the same function while I was in a vanpool or rode the foot ferry. Now I use a large purse or project bag wherever I go.
Traveling…
There is nothing better for a long plane ride than a nice scarf or shawl with an easily remembered repeat. Circular needles are nice because you don’t have to worry about poking your neighbor or losing stitches when you jam the project back in the bag, but I have knit with straight needles and double pointed needles on planes with no problem. There were a few years where it caused comment, but now it just generates pleasant curiosity. It is almost always a conversation starter and a great way to meet people. A nice bonus – it is much lighter than a book. (Usually I scan the patterns or download the .pdfs to whatever electronics I have with me to avoid carrying the physical patterns.)
Meetings…
Okay, I really don’t like meetings although most of my working life has been centered around participating in or conducting them. When I attend a meeting, I find my attention and patience improved immensely by a knitting project. Even at our weaving guild meetings almost everyone has needles or crochet hooks out. And since my goal at meetings is to listen and participate, I need something that takes minimal attention. Socks are my project of choice – small and discrete but charming and colorful. I recommend variegated or self-patterning yarn with a simple pattern.
What do I consider essential to drag along? My little bag of tricks includes a spare needle or two crochet hooks & darning needles for fixing problems or inserting beads, scissors, stitch markers, tape measure, finger nail file, and my smart phone. Here is my pouch of goodies – what is in yours?
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