Great Knits For Holiday Travel

Happy Holidays!! Those who will be doing some traveling, relaxing, hanging out with family will have a great opportunity to do some knitting too! On a plane or on a train. On a boat or on the beach. Or anywhere at all.

Here are a few great “travelin’ knits” (and crochet) from some of my fave goto sites for wonderful free patterns. All you’ll need is some yarn, the pattern, and some knitting needles. They can even be bamboo or plastic needles for extra transportability. No scissors, extra notions, tools, supplies required! You can do all your final touches when you get back home. And yes, knitting needles and crochet hooks are allowed on the plane. Perfect for a fun, relaxing yet productive time.

So take this opportunity to finish up a project you’ve been meaning to for awhile. Or pick up a project to try for the first time. For me, it’s the perfect opportunity to do some knitting. Free time is hard to find!

HENRY WOVEN TEXTURE SCARF
from Knitty.com
By Mareike Sattler. Single color yarn. So no color changes required. This is an advanced beginner level scarf. (I’m working on finishing this one!) I’m using LB Collection Baby Alpaca in a Dark Charcoal Gray (DK Weight) and Clover Brand Takumi Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles US Size 4 (3.5mm)

DOBBS FERRY COWL from LionBrand.com
This is a quickie beginner knit using some circular knitting techniques! You’ll also be knitting with 3 strands of yarn together making it even more luxurious and quick! You’ll be done in a jiffy, so you can even return from your lovely vacation with a lovely finished knit!

It uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn (Super Bulky Weight!) and Size 19 (15mm) circular needles. Wool-Ease is a fabulous and affordable Lion Brand Yarn that comes in lovely fashion colors. The Pumpkin or Butterscotch is tres chic! They also have a lovely yarn studio (my fave in Manhattan) down on 15th, Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

Note: This is a circular knit so you’ll need some stitch markers too!

STAR CROSSED BERET by Natalie Larson
For those intermediate knitters or if you’d like to try a beginner cable knit! You’ll need a Cable Needle. You can find her pattern and materials on Ravelry.com.

• Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100 grams=216 yards) 1 hank
• US Size 11 Circular Needle, 24 inches
• Cable Needle (she used a US Size10 DPNS)

Note: This is knit in the round so you’ll need some stitch markers too!

For a more beginner beret (and no cables!), here’s an alternative slouchy beret in simple Stockinette that is decent too. It’s more of a sporty style. By John Brinegar (below) called Bounce.

200 by JOHN BRINEGAR
For those who’d like to crochet. Check out this gorgeous chunky quick crochet. It’s 5 colors in trusty Lion Brand Wool-Ease and double crochet all the way around! Mhmm. “200” is pretty much chain 200 then DC or SC all the way home on a Size N (9mm) crochet hook! *You’ll need a yarn cutter here for the color changes. Try the Clover Yarn Cutter Pendant for a travel-safe one that will be fine to bring on the plane! Here are the colors he used:

#189 Butterscotch
#134 Citron
#099 Fisherman
#132 Lemongrass
#112 Raspberry

Find him on Ravelry.com or Yarnballboogie.

While we’re talking holidays… I’ve been seeing these novel interchangeable circular knitting needles around and they’re quite popular! The Addi Turbo Click Set comes in 10 different sizes of Addi Turbo tips (US 4 – US 15), 3 different lengths of Addi’s new, pliable blue cord (24”, 32” and 40”), and one connector piece which helps to either store stitches or combine your cords. Mhmm, these Skacel Addi Turbo Clicks are a pricey little treat for knitting fanatics. $170

You can see them for sale here:
Purl Soho
Yarn.com