Knitting on holidays

Taking your knitting with you on holiday

One of the best times you catch up on your knitting and crochet projects is when you're on your summer holiday. All those hours spent killing time at airports, on planes, trains and boats is time that could easily be spent casting on and getting stuck into the first few inches of a new project. If you're not driving, so much the better: plonk your knitting bag by your feet, strap yourself into the passenger seat and get those needles clacking. Take it from us, you can get through an awful lot of stocking stitch in a round trip from London to Cornwall. Given the unpredictable British summer, working on a cover-up on your way to week away makes a lot of sense.

If you're traveling overseas, you'll probably need to pack light. A small crochet or knitting project such as a child's top is ideal. You might need to plan ahead about how to transport it, though. Airlines have differing policies about what you can take in your hold luggage. Aviation regulations state that you can take your knitting and crochet with you on international flights leaving the UK, but we wouldn't take a bet on you managing to get your favourite 30cm needles past security.

Short bamboo and plastic needles with blunt ends have a better chance of being waved through, but you're still at the mercy of the whims and mood of the airline ground staff and the airport security staff.

Single Point Bamboo Knitting Needles

Security advice changes frequently, so check current rules about what you can and can't take onboard in the terms of carriage for your airline as well as on international aviation websites. A piece of yarn onto which you can thread your in-progress knitting is a wise precaution. Some airlines confiscate projects as well as the projects they're on, so don't take a favourite project on your trip.

Don't take aviation policy as gospel either: Gatwick Airport has recently changed its policy and now expressly prohibits knitting needles. Crochet hooks may be okay as they are less likely to be seized on as 'sharp objects that could be used as a weapon'. As if!

Other airports that are part of the same airport group as Gatwick now also ban knitting needles, so if you've previously snuck some bamboo needles through in your hand luggage at Manchester Airport or Edinburgh, you may have to rethink your plans for what to pack.

We've taken circular needles on Easyjet and other European airlines without fuss (in fact, the Easyjet cabin crew thought it was a great idea and thought they might follow our lead and take up knitting in between shifts too). However, the Easyjet dangerous goods page says knitting needles mustn't be carried on the person or in the cabin, so perhaps we just got lucky.

At the BA check-in desk at Heathrow Terminal 5 they told us we couldn't take knitting needles in our hand luggage (until we waved a piece of paper showing the airport's regulations contradicting them). Internal US flights specifically say you're allowed to take your knitting stuff with you (as long as scissors are blunt and shorter than 4in), but whether you make it through security with them is down to security staff's discretion.

On flights from Stansted, for example, the security policy is that knitting needles are allowed.

Eurostar says it's happy for passengers to take and use knitting needles as long as you don't walk around the carriage brandishing them.

You can take a print-out of the rules stating that you're allowed to carry your crochet hook or needles, but there are plenty of anecdotes online of people still coming up against airport staff who won't let you through security with them.

In summary, your best bet is to make tracks for the US, since you can knit onboard when leaving the UK and on your return and spend a blissful 12 hours knitting in each direction. Or you could take a train (perhaps the Eurostar) or enjoy a staycation instead.

Bamboo Ciurcular Knitting Needles

Julieta who knits anywhere and everywhere says: "if you want to take your knitting onboard I would recommend to take circular bamboo needles they are shorter and look less threatening. I would also recommend to take cheap needles, that you don't mind loosing (just in case) and a spare string so if they take the needles off you you can at least safe your knitting and get a new set when you arrive on your holiday destination."

One last thing for you to consider, the policies from your returning country or airport will most likely be different again! So make sure you are prepared and know the rules and policies in other countries and airports.

Links to this blog:

Easyjet dangerous goods page: http://www.easyjet.com/en/dangerous-goods

Gatwick Airport security advice: http://www.gatwickinformation.co.uk/gatwick-airport-INF-information-security-rest-proh.php

Heathrow Airport security advice: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/faqs

knitshop.co.uk bamboo needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/278-bamboo-single-point

knitshop.co.uk bamboo crochet hooks: http://knitshop.co.uk/290-bamboo-crochet-hook

knitshop.co.uk circular needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/309-metal-circular

Manchester Airport security advice: http://www.manchesterairportflightarrivals.co.uk/manchester-airport-INF-information-security-restr-proh.php

Stansted Airport security advice: http://www.stanstedairport.com/stansted-airport-guide/airport-security/security-faqs#Sharpitems

Eurostar knitting needle statement: https://www.facebook.com/eurostar/posts/10151128733736426

UK government aviation rules: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items

US TSA regulations: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items#4

Product of the Month July

Look chic in a classic summer top

This Attractive Affair is a fantastic classic summer knit. This vintage short-sleeved top can be worn as either a loose-fitting jumper or as a jacket. It’s quite the number to be seen wearing as you stroll down the promenade on the French Riviera.

Devised by wonderful vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford, This Attractive Affair is a loving recreation of a garment from the 1940s. The two-tone colour scheme is an exact match for the colours that would have been available to knitters in the early part of the 20^th century too: the pattern has been specially designed for Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn. The shades for this 100 percent mercised cotton yarn were handpicked by Susan, who is renowned for her painstaking research into all aspects of vintage knitwear.

This Attractive Affair

The shades of Coquette used in our version are Oyster and Wine. However, there are now 13 shades of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn to choose from as we have recently added Sapphire, Carnation and Snow to the range.

This Attractive Affair requires between eight and 13 balls of Coquette for the main colour, plus three to five 50g balls of the contrast colour. Instructions are given for 32in to 48in busts. Since the colours are changed at the end of a row, you don’t need to have much experience with colourwork in order to make this lovely top.

Julieta wearing This Attractive Affair

The main part of the garment is knitted in four pieces, with both main body pieces knitted side-to-side. You then knit the side panels in the more usual top-up manner. The jumper’s set-in sleeves are also knitted sideways and have separate cuffs grafted on to them. The intriguing oversized collar is made from four small pieces. The pattern is knitted on straight 3.25mm needles. You will also need four small buttons.

This Attractive Affair is one of 79 patterns featured in Susan Crawford’s book A Stitch In Time Volume 2, which you can buy from knitshop.co.uk along with the needles and Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn you’ll need to make this striking garment. 

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn

This Attractive Affair was featured in the current issue of The Knitter as a pattern on page 41. We currently stock a limited amount of printed pattern that are available to purchase from the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green or per mail order +(0)20 7099 8864

Coquette usually costs £4.95 for a 50g ball of 125m of mercerised cotton. As the newest addition to the knitshop.co.uk range of yarns, Coquette is available for just £4.45 per ball for a limited time.

Previous blogs about A Stitch In Time 2 

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/stitch-in-time-volume-2-is-finally.html

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/pictures-of-stitch-in-time-vol-2-using.html

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk: http://www.knitshop.co.uk

This Attractive Affair pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/this-attractive-affair

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Susan Crawford Vintage: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html

A Stitch In Time Volume 2: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/patterns-magazines-books/2141-a-stitch-in-time-2.html

July Workshops

Boost your crochet skills this July

Summer lends itself to cool cottons and lighter knits, so this month’s workshops focus on some of the more delicate projects you can get stuck into.

We start July with a crochet class covering how to read a pattern containing instructions for lacework. Our Lace Crochet workshop on Friday 12 July is ideal for anyone who knows how to crochet and wants to learn how to combine the tight chains of double and treble crochet with the more open fabric that you can create with lace. We’ll build on the basic doubles you know to how make and show you how to make double doubles, slips and half trebles to add variety to your crochet design. We’ll be using fine crochet threads and small steel crochet hooks, so prepare to concentrate in order to complete your first lacy crochet project. 

If you like the idea of crochet but haven’t yet mastered holding a crochet hook and turning chains, our Crochet For Beginners class on Friday 19 July is just for you. We’ll use the techniques demonstrated in this two-hour class to get you started on your first crochet ‘make’. Choose whether you’d prefer to crochet a flower or to learn how to make a classic Granny square. 

Crochet Cotton Granny Square

With the school holidays starting later this month, we’ll also be offering two classes aimed at under-16s. Our Let’s Get Hooked class on Friday 19 July and 26 July shows kids aged over five how to knit with their fingers. Those who quickly master the technique of finger-knitting will then get the chance to try their hand at crochet.

All classes are held at our Outlet Boutique at 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ from 11am to 1pm. 

Workshop at the Boutique Outlet

We’ll provide all the materials needed for each class and, where relevant, give you a pattern to take away with you so you can complete a project you started in our workshop at home. We’ll also provide plenty of support, so feel free to email or call us should you get stuck with a project we’ve shown you in our classes.

Note that children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times when attending knitshop.co.uk classes. Hot and cold refreshments will be provided.

Once you’ve learned the basics you’ll be able to try making some of the downloading projects in our pattern library or featured in our magazines. We’ve a great selection of cotton yarns and crochet hooks to get you started.

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk Cotton Yarn range: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/22-cotton-yarn

Metal crochet hooks: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/311-metal-crochet-hook

Crochet For Beginners, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2793-beginners-crochet-workshop.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2791-lets-get-hooked.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 26 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2792-lets-get-hooked.html