Like Winifred I've been AWOL the past couple weeks because I'm leaving for a cycling vacation in two weeks and have been getting extra hours on the bike getting the old body ready for it. I love my cycling vacations, but I have done enough bike tours to know that by day four I'm exhausted; so this year I'm attempting to prevent a little of that exhaustion by getting extra time in the saddle. This diary is not about my vacation though (two week cycling pilgrimage from Lisbon to Santiago de Compestello, with some additional site seeing in Lisbon at the start thank you for asking); it's about the craft project I take with me.
I'm one of those people who do not like to fly. I'm not scared of flying, I just don't like it and I get very nervous. I don't like the feeling of flying, I don't like the cramped spaces, and I most certainly do not like turbulence. I used to always bring a book to read on the plane, but I have trouble reading in a moving vehicle, so that never worked out well. However, back in the 90's while traveling for work I made the happy discovery that knitting on an airplane is soothing and even helped me stay calm during turbulence. Since then my trip planning whether for business or personal travel includes a "what am I going to knit on the plane" decision. Last year during my vacation travels I was working on a tank top which still isn't finished, I think finishing that tank will be my Tour de France project, although if this year's tour is as boring as last year's TourI won't make it through the three weeks - but knitting and the Tour de France will probably be a topic for a July diary. Anyway I decided that this year I'm not taking an easy knit, I'm taking a project that actually excites me so I will be knitting a pattern called Vicissitude Tank and Cowl. It's a lacy tank that can also be worn as a cowl. I saw it displayed at the Yarn Over truck and just fell in love with it and bought the pattern and the yarn from the truck. (Side note, the Yarn Over truck is a mobile yarn store that travels all over southern CA) between weaving projects, Christmas gifts and baby gifts I haven't had a chance to start on Vicissitude so why not take it with me? In the past I have stuck with simple projects, but this year I'm branching out, I'm an experienced lace knitter, I think I can follow a pattern on a plane.
Does anyone else do this type of planning for their travels? Does your packing include winding skeins into balls and stuffing into the carryon? Do you worry that TSA will confiscate your favorite needles (because there is no way I'm taking my least favorite needles, I want to enjoy my knitting time). Do you travel with nail clippers, not to cut your nails, but to cut your yarn? I certainly hope I am not alone in this.
What are you working on, or thinking about working on?