If you follow me on Instagram, you know the saga of my week and why I was AWOL from the blog yesterday. Tuesday morning I was scheduled to fly to Seattle, arriving in the afternoon and launching into a few days’ photo shoot. As I was walking out the door, I got a text message that the flight was canceled and I would need to rebook, and for the next 6 hours I praised the universe for my good fortune. The rebooked flight would still put me into Seattle at a reasonable hour, but meanwhile I got SIX WHOLE HOURS that didn’t exist before. So what did I do? Lots of things. But what I did first was repack.
Due to lack of time to edit, at that moment I had two big suitcases in the back of the car, and I fervently wanted to only take one. I never, ever check luggage but packing for a shoot meant I had no choice, so I at least wanted to enjoy the benefits of that act. The second suitcase had been a last-minute, early-morning act of desperation. I’d woken up frantic about things that didn’t make it into the first suitcase, about whether that suitcase would survive being checked, and most of all about the fact that my beloved, irreplaceable Sawkill Farm yarn was in there. So I’d packed the second suitcase, intending to carry it on.
The do-over was a gift. After pulling everything out of both bags and whittling it down, I had what I wanted: one suitcase to check and one backpack on my back. Hands-free travel, with perfectly organized knitting. My plan was to have my most immediate knitting in my Field Bag in my backpack. (With backup knitting in the suitcase, obvs.) Upon boarding, I would stash my backpack in the overhead and keep the Field Bag with me. I’d done all the planning to cast on my Sawkill sweater in flight, but I also had myself convinced I needed a new extra-warm hat for this trip and might knit it on the plane. So in my trusty Field Bag, I had my swatch; a wound skein of yarn; all the necessary needles; waste yarn; my tool pouch; balm; kleenex; a random extra tape measure; and eventually nuts and cookies handed to me by the flight attendant. Five more skeins of the Sawkill were bundled up in a large linen Bento Bag in the bottom of my backpack. But because I’m neurotic about having options and had also convinced myself I needed a new bulky hat for Seattle and might knit it in flight, I also had a (leftover) triple-wound skein of Lark and all the needles needed for the hat, tied up in a small Bento and tucked into the Field Bag along with the rest. I like to take a Russian-nesting-dolls approach for maximum organization: projects in bentos in a Field Bag in a backpack. Dreams come true.
It’s good that I managed to get so organized because I wound up being in transit for almost 24 hours (not counting the six from the first delay). I got to Seattle a full day behind schedule, after spending the night in Denver, and launched right into the shoot. So it’s been a bit of a week. But it’s also been a great one — I’m here shooting the holiday goods with Kathy and can’t wait to show it all to you! And I’ll be at Tolt this weekend for the anniversary party and book launch. Are you coming?
IN SHOP NEWS: The sparkly winter issue of PomPom arrived yesterday, along with additional copies of the fantastic fall issue that sold out so quickly — you can get your hands on either or both at Fringe Supply Co.!
Happy weekend to you all—
How did you manage getting your knitting needles on board? Sofar they have pulled the knitting neeldes out of my knitting work for security reasons. One of the needles was a bamboo one. I was told theat bamboo crocheting hoos and knitting needles were allowed on board.
Please let me know. I travel a lot. without my knitting and c
crocheting work.
Ingrid
In the US? I’ve been knitting four years, can’t count the number of planes I’ve been on in that time, and it’s never been an issue.
I’ve flewn throughout Europe, to North America and to Asia, always with Knit Pro wooden circulars. They’re very similar to pencils, I guess. And I’ve never had any problems. Never even had to show them my needles or my knitting. Flying to Milano, Italy, next week, and debating on what to take. :) Moscou is next, it’s a first, so I hope I’ll get my needles through security! :)
I’ve never had knitting needles confiscated and always take either yucky plastic round ones or bamboo round needles. Scissors and a pocket knife would have been had I not gotten to the airport early enough to stow them elsewhere.
I haven’t had to relinquish knitting needles. Only scissors or a pocket knife. I only travel with bamboo circulars now. I used to take only yucky plastic ones until that cartoon in The New Yorker “afghans for Afghans” was published.
I’ve never had trouble in the US, but in the EU I’ve learned to check my knitting. Plenty of stories of needles getting confiscated, although as you say bamboo are usually OK.
Oh, man, what a trip. I can’t wait to see what came of all this. The logistics of travel–the proper suitcase, what goes where–are a sort of game for me. What you’re describing sounds very familiar to me!
I love the title of this post. Sums it all up.
Go, Karen!! This is such a great travel story and I always wonder what non-knitters would think if they ever looked into our carry-on backpacks! Have a wonderful weekend!
I truly believe my knitting kept me from going insane during a trip to Italy last month.
Looking forward to reading all about this anniv weekend & wishing I still lived in Olympia so I could go!
One can never knit enough hats in the great NW! I live in Portland and am going to Seattle next week with a trip to Bainbridge to visit Churchmouse Yarns. Will knit as hubby drives. I am new to knitting and am discovering how many great places are in my “neck of the woods”. Tolt is on my list soon!
Churchmouse Yarns is one of my favorite spots, and I adore Tolt Yarn and Wool. Have fun!
Love this story and doesn’t it sound familiar! Knitting is always the first thing I organize before a trip (even if it’s just a day trip!) long before I think of clothes and what to wear! Russian-nesting-doll approach…brilliant descriptive term for how a lot of knitters pack!! It made me giggle. In fact, I just realized that I NEED your awesome Field Bag and just ordered one (along with a few other goodies!)
Have an awesome time at Tolt! Love that shop! I just wish it was closer than a 3 hour drive south of the border! hehehe
I usually plan a crochet project for travel, because crocheting is just so forgiving, takes up less elbow room, and security will seldom take away a hook. Russia to Turkey was the exception and the security gal even found my backup hook! I told her I had been through a half dozen countries without those hooks being confiscated…. to no avail. I think she must have been in need of some fine #2.5s. ;-) Luckily we were on the way home by that time.
Wishing you a great shoot and safe travels!
What a trip! Glad you made it safely albeit a tad late but people are so forgiving with travel these days.
Have a good time.
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It just cracks me up how we knitters, when getting ready for a trip can worry more about what knitting, how many projects to take, where we will knit, the accessibility of our knitting and all the “what ifs”… more than what we will wear. I love it!
It’s really funny how many times I spend more time worrying more about my knitting than about whatever else I need to pack; You’re right!
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