It’s getting to that time of year where many of us are either thinking about a holiday or lucky enough to be counting down the days until we need to pack our cases. Yet for crafters far and wide, the same question always remains: can I take my project with me?
There are so many of us who get to those moments of downtime when we’re away and dream of our WIPs back home, kicking ourselves that we didn’t spend five or ten minutes checking as to whether we can actually bring it or not. Nine times out of ten, it’s possible!
Last year, Alex informed us all about whether we can take our knitting needles and crochet hooks on a plane. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, it’s worth taking a look at what she had to say HERE, yet be sure to double check with your specific airline to see whether their guidelines have changed since then. While Alex has covered those disciplines, I thought I’d share how to make your cross stitch kit holiday friendly, wherever your time may take you.
Staycation 🚗
If you’ve found an idyllic place that doesn’t require a passport, packing your kit will be that little bit easier as you won’t be needing to think about airline regulations regarding sharps and the like. What you will have to think about, however, is whether you really need all your typical wares when it comes to travelling with your kit. The honest answer is no.
Taking everything but the kitchen sink will not only bump up your baggage, it’ll also feel like you’re drowning in your project if you don’t have as much space as you’re used to. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a sucker for starting a new project to take with me when I go away, but there is method in my self-confessed crafting madness.
If you’ve kept up with my posts, I’ve been working away on some larger projects – both of which require my Lowery workstand. Now, my Lowery is collapsible, yet having to take it apart and even entertain the worry that I lose a small bracket or clip is not something I’m willing to do, let alone believe I’ll have the time and space for it for when the trip rolls around.
That’s why I will take a very minimal kit of a small-ish size, minimal colours and something I can keep in around an A5ish size project bag. I’ll take a small marker and a small pair of scissors and know that’s all I need to keep my work all together throughout my holiday.
Having something small you can shove in a beach bag or a small rucksack is ideal and this way, you’re able to take it with you just in case you have any downtime.
Annette’s bag’s on the left, where she’s got everything she could need for a good stitching day away!
My final tip for this is to get started on a couple of rows before you go. This way you won’t waste any time trying to figure out those middle stitches, and if you’ve already got the bug after starting, you’ll look forward to adding to it where you can. Not only will it soothe that crafty itch, it’ll also encourage you to get in some much deserved relaxation.
Abroad ✈️
I know I said it from the off, but first things first, please make sure to check with your specific airline regarding sharps. This will include scissors and, potentially, needles, so be sure to check. Some airlines do not permit any sharp objects in the aircraft cabin, yet others may allow scissors that are under 6cm measured from the fulcrum. A small pair of round-ended safety scissors will more than likely be your best bet as you head through security.
When it comes to the kit itself, I would typically follow a similar work-through as I did in the above Staycation section. The smaller the better and, again, packing something smaller won’t feel as overwhelming to complete, especially if you’re still warring with your WIPs back home! Plus, when it comes to that precious carry-on allowance, keeping your kit small will not only be a benefit there, your seatmate will also thank you.
If you’re looking for further tips on how to set up your kit, be sure to check out another of our Tip Time posts HERE to get you started.
Safe travels and happy stitching! ☀️