Crafting on the go.
Tips for making while traveling.
INSIDE: crafting travels, patterns galore, starry mending, fiber arts in the wild, all the reads + maker inspiration.
I've just been to Sydney with my family, and we had a lovely mini break.
While there, I got the chance to knit in some beautiful places and visit some gorgeous yarn shops. Keep your eye out for more on that in a future Fiber Friday.
I take my current project everywhere I go. So inspired by my recent trip, here are some tips for crafting while traveling:
Choose smaller lightweight projects like scarves, socks, or hats.
Before your trip, take some time to plan, decide on patterns, choose your yarns and even do a few rows to get the project started.
Avoid complex patterns that require constant referring to your instructions.
Invest in good quality crafting bags with compartments to keep everything organized.
Know the rules for flying and use plastic or wooden needles and hooks instead of metal ones. My articles on knitting and crocheting while flying provide you with plenty of pointers. But I always check the rules for each airport and airline before I travel. I don't want to be in a situation where my needles or project are confiscated!
Store digital copies of your patterns on your phone or tablet to save space and make them easily accessible offline.
Opt for durable yarns like cotton and acrylic blends that won't tangle easily.
Carry a project journal with you. It can be a small notebook, or a digital app dedicated to your crafting.
Put together a mini tool kit with the essential crafting accessories like stitch markers, a measuring tape and a needle gauge, but make sure they comply with travel regulations.
Pack an extra skein of yarn and additional supplies in case you run out or lose something.
Explore local craft stores or markets to find unique materials and connect with locals who share your love of the fiber arts.
Stay flexible with your crafting schedule and use unplanned downtime as an opportunity to craft.
Take pictures of your work in different locations to document your journey.
Most importantly, remember to relax! Travel can be hectic, and a few quiet moments spent crafting can be a wonderful way to de-stress.
And another question for you: What's your favorite project to take on vacation?
It's Black Friday today. If you'd like to take advantage of the sales happening on crafting supplies, yarn and more, I've written a guide for knitting and crochet.
Please let me know if you find any bargains I might have missed. I'd love to hear about them.
My New T-Shirt Design Of The Week
Something that’s important to me is instilling a love of learning in my kids.
We started homeschooling in 2015.
My youngest has an incredible eye for what looks good visually, so I’ve encouraged him to learn graphic design.
He’s self-taught and created the designs below today.
Some fun festive sheep themed t-shirts that bring holiday cheer! There’s one with text and one without. (You can also get it on many other products like hats, cushions, mugs, and of course, a sticker. 😉)
My True Nature Tee body is nearly complete, and I've just got the twisted ribbing at the bottom left to knit and then it's onto the sleeves. That's pretty exciting!
I'm not done any more on my next project, which is Flow by Trin Annelie, but I'm looking forward to getting that started.
As inspired by the conversations we've been having here on Substack, I was keen to try visible mending.
If you aren't familiar, it's a mending technique where you intentionally make alterations visible on the fabric and make it a lovely design.
I have a beautiful Merino and very small amount of cashmere sweater which has worn out in the area where my handbag was rubbing that side of the sweater. It had rubbed so much that it’d begun to pill, and it looked unseemly!
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of using a razor blade to try and remove the pilling and then I thinned the fabric and as a consequence, holes appeared. I know that I'll never do that again! Lesson learned.
I thought, this is a perfect opportunity to try visible mending. Carina from
recommended starting with the Star Stitch as an embroidery feature. She has a video tutorial on how to complete that stitch.It's one of her favorite embroidery stitches, and she said, if you ever want to add a bit of glitter to your design, the Star Stitch is the go. It’s very pretty!
I ended up using some scrap Merino wool yarn from a previous project, which was my mosaic shawl. The strand of the wool is a little thick, but I was really pleased I could use what I had in my scrap collection.
The star stitches on top of the visible mending have come up ok. Now, the sweater has a cool new addition!
It'll be interesting to see how the rubbing will affect the embroidery I've done there because I continue to wear my handbag on my side.
My son has also recently made a few miniature Gods’ Eyes or (Ojos De Dios in Spanish) and they originate from Indigenous and Catholic people in South America, commonly Mexico and Peru.
When my kids attended Crece Verde, which is an outdoor education program for homeschooled kids in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, one of the Mums taught a workshop on how to make them. He's made them occasionally ever since.
They're a quick and easy craft with a rich history and perfect for using up scrap balls of yarn.
A trip down memory lane…
When I was living in Adelaide in South Australia, early last year, I was working in a library, and I found a flyer for a free monthly meet up called Yarnistas.
It's where you can bring your works-in-progress and sit and either knit or crochet or do whatever craft you're currently working on and be with like-minded crafters.
I just looked it up online to see if it was still happening and I'm pleased to see yes, indeed it is. I'd highly recommend going if you're in the area.
When I was at the library working, that coincided with the Yarnistas meetup. So, I decided to ask if I could go in and join them and just move around the room and ask everybody about their projects.
There were many skilled and friendly people there. I loved seeing what they were up to and learning about their experiences of the craft they do.
I ended up writing a post for my blog (Knit Like Granny) to spread the word about being a part of a craft group and how you go about creating one.
If you're lucky enough to be involved in a crafting circle, I hope you get lots of joy and pleasure from being with wonderful people.
What I’ve loved this week: reads, listens, visuals and gratitudes…
I thought I'd do a mini roundup of “In Case You Missed It: Substack Fiber Arts,” where I share some interesting reads by people here in Substack.
- had an interesting post on people's attitudes on where and when it's appropriate to knit.
- from wrote about her weaving process accompanied by charming illustrations.
Sky from
, talks about the history of knitting and what she learned from her reading on the subject.- from discusses the fun of curating a stash and managing your yarn collection. Very helpful advice!
- from writes beautifully about her trip to Venice and all she discovered.
- from has an important reminder for the creative process.
Remember, if you want some ideas on lovely fiber artists to read here on Substack, visit my list of recommendations.
I'm a member of Crafts Industry Alliance, which is a trade organization for the craft industry. They run a fascinating podcast which features interviews with yarn store owners, Etsy shop entrepreneurs, pattern designers, product manufacturers, and many more creative people.
It’s worth a listen if you want behind the scenes look at the creative business.
This episode of Fruity Knitting was a delight to watch. I always learn something new about knitting from Andrea and her daughter Madeleine.
I've been looking up different methods of embroidery on knitting. In this episode, it amazingly features an interview on Dario Tubiana who uses Intarsia and embroidery in his designs.
It was interesting to see how he creates his knitted pieces.
A clever developer called Nathaniel has made a fun little pattern generator which has a 1980s aesthetic. You can choose from various options like colors, filters, patterns and more to create your own pattern which you can use.
However, for those of you who sew, you could make one to print on some fabric for your projects or just something fun to play with. If you like the vintage look, pair that with inspiration from this online wiki for vintage sewing patterns.
And a few weeks ago, I stayed in a camping ground surrounded by such beautiful nature and a lake. The sunsets and sunrises are magnificent with such vibrant colors. It's amazing to see these and it's typical of some parts of Australia.
As there's daylight saving now, during spring and summer, the days get longer, which means walking in the early evening is so lovely. Especially when you're surrounded by bushland and the changing colors in the sky.
I also saw a rainbow arching across this scrub. Isn't nature stunning?
I'm grateful for crafting in new places. Each creation and reminder of the places it was made, and portable projects are lifesavers on flights or train rides.
I appreciate how travel inspires my work, bringing new colors and textures from the cultures I've encountered, and let us not forget the local yarn shops!
A thought for you to ponder this coming week…
Take a moment to think about crafting during your travels. Whether you're in a cozy cafe or a sunlit bench in a bustling city, each stitch holds a piece of that place and time. Let your surroundings guide your work, blending the new sights, sounds and experiences into your project.
So, may you appreciate wherever and whenever you craft.
How’s your crafting going? Leave a comment or press reply!
(Disclosure: Any purchases made through links may earn me a commission.)
Before you go…
Great tips for knitting while traveling! As much as I’d like to believe I’ll knit on the plane, I have to be honest with myself and put my knitting in the checked bag to ensure my needles aren’t confiscated unnecessarily. I can hardly get comfortable enough on a plane to knit even on small projects. Visiting local yarn shops and connecting with other crafters is sage advice, on my current travel I’ve had the privilege of doing both and I’ll never forget the experiences 😊.
Your kiddo(s) amaze me yet again with their skills and crafts. Kudos to you and the other adults in their lives instilling these awesome skills.
Can’t wait to see the True Nature Tee all finished! Soon come
Jodie, such a fun site with so many wonderful links and insights! I'm up here in the Pacific NW of the US. But no worries, great crafting tips know no boundaries! Crafting while traveling is a great way to start conversations. Sometimes with people who also craft and many times with people who want to learn how to knit, crochet or whatever needlework you are doing. It is also a way to learn from fellow travelers about new locations! I like to take-in the scenery when traveling on the road, so I tend to take very easy projects like long scarfs, or afghans that are done in blocks or long panels to be stitched together later. This keeps the tools and yarn down to a minimum and allows me to keep an eye on where we are. Looking forward to seeing your pretty new Tee!