The photo show a circular knitting project placed on the photographer's knees. In the background you can see crystal blue water of the ocean. The photographer is knitting on the beach — *Knitting on the beach. What a dream!*

This post will give you some inspiration for knitting projects to take on your next trip so you never have to be without your knitting! If you’re a crocheter, stay tuned; there’ll be a post for you coming soon!

When it comes to travel, whether it's a long journey or a short weekend getaway, having a compact and portable knitting project can make the trip all the more enjoyable.

For many of us, the thought of leaving our needles and yarn behind can be disheartening. But fear not! Plenty of small knitting projects are not only travel-friendly but also satisfying to work on while you're on the go.

Going on a plane? Many airports and airlines allow crochet hooks and knitting needles on their flights. However, it is always good to check with each airline first, and you can get more tips for that in my previous blog post.

This is one blog post in a series of crafting while travelling tips. If you want to know more, you might also be interested in:

7 packing essentials for knitters and crocheters

5 travel destinations for fibre artists

5 crochet projects for on-the-go crafting

Local Yarn Store tours

To get alerts to related blog posts, portable patterns and travel vlogs, you’ll want to subscribe to my newsletter to get the news straight to your inbox!

Prefer to watch and listen? I’ve also summarised all of this blog post in a video, which you can find linked below.

Socks

Socks are a classic knitting project that are not only practical but also portable.

With just a skein of sock yarn and a set of double-pointed or small circular needles, you can knit away to your heart's content. Socks are also a great way to experiment with different stitch patterns and techniques, making them an engaging project for knitters of all skill levels.

My Journey Socks were specifically designed with travel in mind. They are knit in a tube, with an afterthought heel. It’s a simple stitch pattern repeat so you can keep your hands busy, but still enjoy the view of your travels! The socks are part of a collection, also including a hat and cowl.

Sonder socks by Sonder Yarn co. are a very simple sock design, that’s also great for beginner knitters. A vanilla sock means simply stitches, and sometimes when I’m travelling a lot, I just want something a bit mindless to knit.

In the foreground are socks, on the photographers feet. They are knitted with pink yarn, following the Journey Sock pattern. In the background is the landscape of Kathmandu — *Knitted socks I made while in Nepal. The pattern is The Journey Sock pattern.*

Headwear

Headwear projects (from hats to bandanas) are very portable as they require minimal yarn and can be completed relatively quickly.

Whether you prefer a simple beanie or a more intricate cable design headband, knitting a headwear is a great way to stay productive during your travels. Plus, they make practical gifts for friends and family! I have a couple of hat patterns that would be great for this.

While researching for this blog (and video) I became a little obsessed with bandanas. The Urla bandana by Seda Çeken ia a cute knitted bandana, that I think could be styled both over the head and around your neck.

The Headband seed stitch twist by Brome Fields looks like a simple, but engaging pattern, using a seed stitch, which may keep you a little more engaged than simple stockinette stitch if you prefer that.

Cowls

Keep your neck cozy on chilly days by knitting a cowl or scarf. These small accessories are perfect for travel knitting, as they typically require just a single skein of yarn and can be knit-up in no time.

Bonus, you'll appreciate having a cowl on hand if you’re heading somewhere cold! My Journey Cowl is a great beginner pattern.

3 images. Left to right: A male wearing a blue knitted hat, The Journey Hat. The second image is two feet wearing the Journey Socks, knitted with pale blue yarn. Last, the desinger, wearing The Journey Cowl, knit with dark blue yarn, — *The Journey Collection. A series of patterns designed to be made on the go*

Garments

Arguably slightly out of scope for portable garments, I think they right project might be just the thing. I sometimes like to work on a garment during my daily commute as I like to see it come together a little bit more each day. Garment making is probably better for times when you want something with a little bit more of a challenge compared to a vanilla sock. The patterns I’ve included here use only 1-2 skeins of yarn, so again, they won’t be taking up too much space in your bag.

The Michelle bralette by Vibely Strik is a one shoulder top knit with sport weight yarn. The description says that it is mostly worked based on your own measurements, with a neutral ease.

Following the bralette theme, the Framework bralette by Jessie Maed Designs is a pattern I’ve previously made and found to be an enjoyable project. Knit with a DK weight yarn, and graded to 5XL, the maximum about of skeins required is 3.

an image of the author holding up the sock she had been knitting on her flight. She is sitting on the plane and you can see the plane tv on the back of the seat in front of her — *Knitting on the plane!*

In conclusion, knitting doesn't have to take a backseat when you're on the road. With these small knitting projects, you can keep your hands busy and create beautiful handmade items wherever your travels take you. I also find this helps with any anxiety I may have related to travel (or just day-to-day).

So grab your needles and yarn, and get ready to knit your way around the world! Happy travels and happy knitting!