Well kids, I embark on my first trip of the new year next week. Off to the colder climes of New York City. Aaahhh Manhattan, an environ in which I've spent a lot of time working and playing AND as a result, a locale that I've come to think of as my home away from home. Seriously, I average 1-2 weeks a month there at this point!
Needless to say, I also spend a lot of time flying around in a big metal tube, which I've come to terms with as it affords me relatively uninterrupted knit or crochet time. This, I love! Sitting in uncomfortable seats and trying to get the frakin' video system to run without a hitch, not so much. Nonetheless, I usually take comfort in knowing that my yarn, needles or hook will pretty much get me through any travel-related irritants no worse for the wear.
Aside from figuring out which project to take along with me on a journey (this can take hours, even days), I've gotten really good at toting my crafty gear around in a user-friendly, I'm-packed-in-like-a-sardine-seat-conditions-so-my-stuff-needs-to-be-easily-accessible kind of way...
First and foremost, I do NOT attempt to bring along a new project. Too many variables here from gauge to yarn amounts needed to sustain me for the trip to possible reference books needed if directions elude my poor little brain. Nope, unless it's already on needles or ready for immediate hook insertion, it ain't making it into my bag.
Second, WIP, yarn, and collateral supplies must fit into my Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube. If this stuff exceeds the confines of my zippered containment system (and I have the biggest one they offer) then this stuff gets to see me again when I return home from my journey.
Third, I have a small zippered pouch (fits inside the big cube) for stitch markers, tapestry needle, crochet hook (knitters, you should also have this with you at all times...makes picking up dropped stitches A BREEZE), smallest post-it notes I can procure from the cube farm, a small pair of scissors (or the Clover ninja star thread cutter), a pencil and/or a pen. Oh, and this little pouch is attached to a lanyard so that I can wear it around my neck during the flight. This way I don't drop anything and my supplies are easily accessible.
That's my patented Have-Yarn-Will-Travel system and trust me kids, it works. I do not have trouble going through security (even toting my little scissors), I can obtain my crafty cube easily out of my larger travel tote when crammed into my seat and I can easily manage my crafty implements when seated for the duration of my flight. Definitely makes for happy trails for this yarn obsessed Lady of the Linoleum!
Friday, January 07, 2011
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12 comments:
Good way to go!...Thanks for sharing! :-)
How do you manage to bring on the scissors? Are small ones ok for airport security? I love to crochet on long haul flights - so less boring - but have so far left behind the scissors.
I was afraid to bring on one of those yarn cutters - it might have changed but at the time I checked the TSA was saying small scissors were okay but that those cutters were prohibited. (You'd think it would be the opposite, wouldn't you?) But packed away they're not likely to notice it or realize what it is even if they do notice, I bet.
Hee hee... sounds like a good plan! Bring your snow boots... we've got lots... well north of the city we do! You'll have slushy eww mess. Still good for boots! :)
It's always good to have a plan! I hadn't tried to crochet on the plane before, because I didn't know about taking scissors. I tried on my flight back from VA and I was surprised I could keep them. Boy, do you get a lot of looks and questions when you crochet on a plane! I even had a child climb in my husband's seat while he was in the bathroom, and sit and watch me and talk to me, until his dad finally came along and told him I was knitting... which I had to correct... and then they both stood there watching me until my husband returned! Awkward LOL!
Great system! I have always found that nail clippers are a great substitute for scissors and they're 100% TSA approved. Plus, it's always good to have some nail clippers around...
Can't wait to see all your in-flight goodies!!!
There's an award for you at my blog!! Please, stop by and see it. :)
Just stumbled across your blog and thought I'd say hi!
I'll have to echo a couple of other commenters here. As far as I know, small scissors (< 3 inches long) are approved for carryon, but when I last checked the TSA's guidelines, the thread-cutter pendants weren't allowed. I do agree that it seems odd, but there it is.
Hope you had a great trip!
xoxox,
CC
Have you ever had a problem with taking aluminum needles. I'm going on an international flight (to Turkey) and I was worried about that. I want something to do in the plane for 10 hours!
ya.... it will travel....
I took a 14+ hour international flight last summer... I wish I had thought of crochet for the flight! Great idea.
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