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I have a long trip to California coming up (I live in Florida) and I need something to keep me happy.

For me, good airplane travel knits shouldn’t take up too much space. I don’t want to haul a large sweater or lots of yarn. A few balls of yarn is all I want to bring with me.  So after giving it a generous amount of thinking and pattern search I decided on a knit dishcloth/potholder.

Dishcloths and potholder are great travel knitting fun. By the end of my trip I’ll have something useful. Now I’m going to pick it up a notch and do some double knitting. Why? Well, since I’m knitting both sides, it will take me twice as long to finish.  Perfect for my long trip.

This is what will kept me happy.

Cute pattern from Elizabeth Evans, you can download from Raverly here.

If you’ve never tried double knitting, this would be a great project to use to learn the technique. Double Knitting Video. By the way, there are dozens of videos in Youtube on this technique.

Trip Tip:

• 1.  Needles are allowed (USA): According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) knitting needles are allowed. Their website reads…

“Knitting needles are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage.

Items needed to pursue a Needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside which cannot go through the checkpoint and must go in your checked baggage.”

Here’s their link to check for any changes. TSA

If you’re traveling outside the US, security restrictions may differ.

• 2.  My rule of thumb is to take a project that I could make with no more than 2 balls.
• 3.  Washcloths, dishcloths, potholder, etc. are great travel knits that can be worked flat.
• 4.  Scarves are a good choice too.
• 5.  If you like working with double pointed needles (DPN’s) socks, mittens, fingerless gloves, etc. are great too.
• 6. Take waste yarn: The TSA reserves the right to take anything they feel may be a security risk. We just never know for sure if they’ll take our needles. Take precaution and always have waist yarn to capture your stitches should you have to give up your needles.
• 7.   Don’t take your expensive needles, just in case. Also, wood or plasitc is always less threatening than metal.
• 8.  Nail clippers are acceptable. I always travel with them. They serve as little scissors for cutting yarn.
• I stay away from projects that are too special. The thought of loosing my work is just not worth it. I leave my nice lace pieces or other delicate work at home.

I’m sure you have travel tips too. I’d love to hear them.  Post your tips in our Endless Knits Facebook knitting group.