Tuesday 5 February 2008

Ideas please

I will be travelling to Britain in a few months and will be spending a long time on a plane. A LONG time! Three flights in all, two short ones and ten hour one. And then I have to do it all in reverse two weeks later.

So I’m looking for ideas for something to knit on those lovely ten hour flights, and while sitting in airports, waiting. It seems to be hard to find specific rules for UK airports, but I thought I’d take some wooden knitting needles (home made from dowels). After all, they can’t be considered any more dangerous than a pencil! The question is....what shall I knit?

The project (or projects) needs to be something that I can pick up and put down easily, so preferably no pencil and paper required, or referring to a complex pattern. Nothing that will need lots of colour changes as I won’t be able to take scissors on the plane. But not so easy that I get bored with it quickly.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find a suitable airline-friendly project for me. Links are good. Type of yarn doesn’t matter, as long as I can substitute it for something vegan (non-animal fibre). But nothing felted, as I don't use wool.

I intend to put together a mini-prize for a winner, drawn at random from the list of ideas. Tell your friends, mention it on your blog! It won't be specifically a knitting prize, so non-knitters will enjoy it too, and I will mail anywhere in the world. I'm picturing a little box, filled with little treasures. I will start collecting things soon.

Leave your comments on this post - I will put a link to it at the top of the sidebar so others can find it easily.


Raw Score:
Monday 90% (yay)

18 comments:

Susan said...

How about this Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf

Anonymous said...

Oh Nicola, I love anticipating a trip -- how exciting! Two knitting ideas from me. Both are smallish with a memorize-able pattern. And the most important bit -- both are truly lovely! Here goes:
--Razor Shell Neckwarmer
http://ebonyelite.blogspot.com/2007/12/razor-shell-neckwarmer.html
(lots more good pics: http://knittingiris.typepad.com/knitting_iris/2008/01/razor-shell-nec.html
--Simple Yet Effective Shawl
http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/?p=443
(you'll find many "projects" for this on Ravelry)
I've made the shawl and have the neckwarmer is on the needles. Happy knitting. --Nancy in NC (nancywalters44@hotmail.com)

Doodlebug Gail said...

I travelled on British Airways to London from Toronto last year and they took my knitting needles away from me! There seem to be different rules for different airlines .... if I were you I'd contact your airline direct and specifically ask the question about knitting needles.

Have a wonderful trip.

Penny said...

Knit a pair of socks using some bamboo yarn. There is some lovely non sheep yarns out there now for socks.
Or you could knit up a shawl using a one pattern row on the knit side and a purl row on the purl side. There are some lovely one row patterns out there.
Of course you would have to use wood or bamboo needles for either

Anonymous said...

Hi there!
I love these:
http://www.coats.de/PDF/reg_zehenfusslingENG.pdf
You an use small wooden needles, and can't stab anyone with them :-)
Love Vigdis from Norway!

Anonymous said...

How about knitting a set of fancy face cloths and guest towels out of some soft cotton yarn for your host/hostess?

Elizabeth sheeptosweater@att.net

Anonymous said...

How about using the time for some charity knitting, such as chemo caps, or mittens for needy children?

Anonymous said...

I would suggest mitten, gloves, dishcloths, small toys, baby size afghan all of the above could be made using bamboo needles. Get one of the thread cutter necklaces and no scissors required.

Linda Willard

Anonymous said...

Hello, Nicola.
I saw your post on the Knit List. England and airplanes make me think of knitting a shawl. One on my personal "queue" is the Flower Petal Shawl found here:
http://www.elann.com/productdisp.asp?NAME=elann%2Ecom+Camila&Season=&Company=&Cat=100%25+Natural+Fibre&ProductType=5&OrderBy=&Count=4

It uses Camilla, a DK weight cotton/linen blend. The pattern looks easy enough for plane knitting.

Another idea is the Drop Stitch Shawl with Twist, found here:
http://www.knitpicks.com/Dropped%20Stitch%20Shawl%20with%20Twist_PD50354220.html

This also uses a DK weight cotton blend. I made this for an airplane trip my mother took last summer.

Hope this helps!

Renee
from WNY

PS I noticed that you are a homeschooler. I just ended 9 years of homeschooling with my kids. I wouldn't trade that experience. Best to you.

LizzieK8 said...

Because there is limited room in the airplane seats, I'd suggest something small or at least narrow as well as easy to put away. And I'd suggest two different projects so boredom doesn't figure in. Socks would be good if you want to take smaller needles.

Home made needles generally are a size ten or so although you can get smaller dowels. You can use pencils to knit with, just coat the points with clear nail polish to avoid the graphite getting on your projects. Or paint your wooden needles to look like pencils!

Scarves, slippers, socks, hats, washcloths, towels, neckwarmers...

http://www.whoknits.com/ISSUEdec07/PATTneckwarmdec07.htm
http://jimenita.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/pattern-for-chunky-braided-scarf/
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTeverlasting.html
http://acunningplan.typepad.com/andsheknitstoo/files/skull_scarf.html
http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/071011_b.asp
http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/archives/000079.html
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTfoliage.html
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bumblebeas/needleart-2
http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=2242
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTarisaig.html
http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTkureyonkozy.html
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTaskew.html
http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/020704_a.asp

Have a good trip!

Anonymous said...

Something compact: socks, scarf, hat, cowl. On last trip, I found the airplane lighting poor so would suggest a light colored, easy to knit yarn. Flew from San Francisco to New Zealand and after checking with three people, I was able to take knitting on plane. On the return flight, I had to check the knitting. Someone suggested, taking a stamped self addressed envelope to mail needles and yarn home if not able to take on plane. Don't know that's a realistic solution or not if the screener decides the needles can't go on the plane. Would suggest not taking a favorite yarn or needles in carry on that you'd hate to lose just in case you're not able to board with them.

knitmomma said...

I just flew on a short flight, and opted to take crochet instead, as it seemed that there was less risk of having a crochet hook taken away.

However, I had thought to bring my "Fidget" scarf - the repeat is easy to remember, but fun enough to keep me occupied. The pattern is: http://www.onesheephill.com/fidget.html

Another similar scarflet that I intend to try is called "Fourteen" - http://www.yarnballboogie.com/?p=124 I don't personally love the yarn he used, but I have seen some on Ravelry that I really liked. I have also seen that stitch pattern in other things, and I think it is appealing.

Finally, should you prefer a little more challenge, how about the Yarn Harlot's "Unoriginal Hat"? http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/11/06/an_unoriginal_hat.html

Nail clippers work to cut yarn (bulky yarns just take a bit more effort) and in my experience are accepted on planes. If you have begun your projects, have a lifeline installed, just in case they take away your needles - they shouldn't care about your project! And pack in your checked luggage needles that match, so you can work on your project once you arrive.

Also, I have heard that you can bring a self addressed, stamped envelope to mail yourself your needles should they be taken away. I even saw a kiosk in an airplane terminal at the start of security with envelopes for people to use for just that purpose! Don't know if those are everywhere, though.

Andrea said...

When flying to mexico, no one could guarantee my knitting would not be taken away from me (and not returned) so I opted for crocheting. However, I did have one wooden dpn knitting needle that stowed away in my knitting bag, hiding with all the crochet hooks and didn't get caught.

Fran Rickenbach said...

This is a great time to learn how to knit two socks at once using the Magic Loop method on one circular needle... that shouldn't alarm TSA, no needles to drop and you just need to keep the two balls of yarn separate.

Where are you going in England? DH and I were there last year... quite expensive, but exhilerating. Visited Loop in England... small but excellent yarn.

thoughtfulknitter said...

You could also just bring mechanical pencils w/o the lead in them and use them. They work great. Hmm...perhaps you could just make up an interesting scarf as you go?

Noble Retrievers said...

I would suggest several small projects to diminish the chance of boredom. Socks would be nice since they don't require large needles and a nice pattern can be easily memorized.

You might consider dishcloths, potholders, scarves, or slippers as alternatives. There are several easy but lovely patterns at http://www.jimsyldesign.com/dishbout/kpatterns/knitting.html

m said...

Have you thought about learning to tat?
The shuttle is small, and the yarn is fine.
I'm not sure why I am suggesting this, but it would be something new and hopefully not too frustrating.
I can't remember what I did when flying out to Edmonton from Heathrow a couple of years ago, but I certainly couldn't take any knitting with me.
I may have had a plastic crochet hook with some yarn.
Most likely I just read and slept.

Lisa said...

I love the other posters suggestions and would add the "Ribbed for Her Pleasure" scarf from the Stitch 'n Bitch book. It's just K2 P2 rib with size ten needles (plastic is safe for the flight) with bulky yarn as long as you wish to knit it. Or a straight up scarf double stranded worsted and some eyelash? Again, just mindless knitting.