Vacation Knitting–Finally!

Volcanos of Washington State taken from the window of the airplane
Volcanos of Western Washington taken from the window of the airplane.

It’s been a tough waiting for this time off. With so much happening at work and in my home life, I’m completely stressed out. This trip to Scotland is a ‘do the right time this time’. And hopefully that means lower stress travel, but I must admit, I wouldn’t mind just sticking around the house and finishing my WIPS and starting a few more summery ones. I’ve still got Nick’s sweater (to be worn in Scotland) on my needles and this is the only project I’m taking with me despite so many beautiful things catching my eye of late.

My queue grew by two more items only just today! My additions? Purl Soho’s Notched Hem Tank and the Paloma cardigan. I have Instagram and the Fringe Association blog to thank for these additions respectively.

It’s funny how different people do different things to save weight when packing. My husband never brings liquids—prefers to buy them or use hotel goods and I try to minimize clothes by using a color system, which, when technical gear is involved, is much less successful. I almost decided to only take my small waterproof camera (well suited to Scotland), but ended up remembering some of the great shots I’ve gotten in visits before.

The one thing to do plan to do is take a “techie” fast, since that is so much of what I do every day at work. I even own the same laptop that is my standard work issue, so I’ve just make the executive decision to leave it behind. So I’ll have to do my posting on return. But while I’m away, here are a few shots of where I will be; the Isle of Skye, part of the Inner Hebrides in the Scotland Highlands.

The Red Cuillins
The Red Cuillins
The Black Cuillins
The Black Cuillins
Cloud Cloak 1
Cloud Cloak 1
Cloud cloak 2
Cloud Cloak 2
Cloud cloak 3
Cloud Cloak 3
Cloud sliding down (4)
Cloud Cloak 4

Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Ferries and Buses too!

2 airline boarding passes, a train to Birchington, London tube pass, and a Heathrow Express ticket, plus hotel
2 airline boarding passes, a train to Birchington, London tube pass, and a Heathrow Express ticket, plus hotel

I’ve been traveling quite a lot lately. Partly it is because of back and forth with the move, but most of it is work related travel. I’ve been knitting on quite a lot of it and trying to capture cellphone images (thus the so-so quality of the images) as I go-go-go.

Catching the morning bus
Catching the morning bus
Here's the bus home!
Here’s the bus home!

One thing I’ve found is I LOVE my bus. Unlike most folks, I have just the one—it takes me to and from. And while, yes, it is more time, I get to knit, Instagram, or Ravelry all the way. I arrive happy and ready for my day or unwound from work before I get home. What’s not to like!

Plane knitting cuff of sweater sleeve
Plane knitting cuff of sweater sleeve
Bus knitting sleeves for Nick's sweater today
Bus knitting sleeves for Nick’s sweater today

My main project is the sweater for Nick which will sadly not be done in time for Scotland, but I’ll take it just the same to make sure I show it off to the gals who spun and dyed the wool in just three days’ time.

Tomorrow I’ll be boarding a plane for Denver. And it’ll be those sleeves that make the trip with me. I’ve only a quick overnight before I have to catch the plane to Scotland, so I packed for both trips tonight.

Car knitting on the pillow covers for the throw pillows.
Car knitting on the pillow covers for the throw pillows.

Other honorable mentions are the pillow cases for our throw pillows. This easy, but pretty boring project has largely been done on ferry rides or in the car to and from the ferry.

The Violet Waffles hat I finished on a business trip to San Diego is another fond favorite.

Hotel knitting--finished the waffle hat in San Diego
Hotel knitting
Ferry knitting the first waffle mitt
Ferry knitting

Another travel portable project is the first of the two waffle mitts knit mainly on the ferry to Orcas, where I taught numerous women to knit or rekindled their desire to pick up their needles.

Knitting during travel is a great conversation starter. And flight attendants, in particular, love to ask what I’m up to.

So what’s on your travel needles?

Created with Nokia Smart Cam
Mount Rainier from the airplane window
Cloudy take off to DC
Cloudy take off to DC