Here are tips for traveling with needlepoint, taken from my book, Needlepoint Trade Secrets (available here or on Amazon).
When you are traveling, carry a battery-operated folding LED light. You can use this even when light bulbs can’t be replaced.
Going on an airplane anytime soon? Prepare stitching kits which will be in anything carried on. I bought a plastic case of gum to hold my traveling supplies. It has in it extra needles, but only a few, blunt scissors and a needle threader. Drop this in my project bag and I’m ready to go.
If the poor light in hotel rooms is a problem for you, put a bright light bulb in your checked luggage, well wrapped, and replace the hotel bulbs with that. Just remember to bring it home with you!
Going to the beach or pool and want to do some needlepoint? Make sure it is something that is lightweight (this is not the time for the wool pillow) and has colorfast threads (in case it gets wet).
Put into your stitching kit for trips or classes a portable ort container. This could be a mint tin, an origami box, or even a small cardboard jewelry box. Use it during class and then empty it before leaving.
Traveling with a floor stand? Disassemble it and use masking tape to tape it together. Put the hardware in a plastic bag.
Never travel with your expensive scissors. Buy an inexpensive pair (Mass Marketers are great for this) and put them with your travel project. Then you won’t mind if they get thrown out.
Do you spend lots of time in the car? I keep a small, not too hard, needlepoint project in the car to work on while I wait. They need to be small and on stretcher bars so that they fit with the wheel in the way. They shouldn’t have stitches that require pulling or couching. I love Christmas ornaments for this.
If you are going on a beach vacation, think about doing a plastic canvas project; it is far more resistant to water than canvas. 14-mesh plastic canvas uses the same threads as 18-mesh mono canvas. Since it’s easy to finish the projects, you can complete them while there.
Traveling by car? Work on projects which don’t need stands or use large frames. Many people find these uncomfortable (not to say dangerous) in cars.
Lighting in airports and on planes is poor. Pick projects to work on which have easily distinguishable colors.
When traveling by air, bring a self-addressed, stamped padded envelope with you. Anything you can’t bring past security and can’t live without, you can put in the envelope and send it home.
I like geometrics for my travel projects, the repetitive stitching in many areas makes them easy to stitch when the lighting is poor.
If you are stuck in a plane or an airport for many hours, don’t forget to take breaks. Look around every couple of minutes to avoid eyestrain and get up and stretch, or take a little walk every hour or so. This prevents fatigue and is good for you — even if it’s only a walk to get more coffee.
Swimming pool or beach, needlepoint near water can be a challenge. First off make sure all the threads you are using are colorfast. You don’t want an errant drop of water to ruin your work.
Your project for travel should be one that doesn’t require lots of pages to consider. If you need stitch directions use ones in books you have on your phone or iPod. Or use smaller size guides; there are many of these out now.
Make sure that everything you need will fit into a project bag. These should be waterproof and zip closed. This is not the place for mesh bags if you will be near water. Keep your bag closed unless you are actually pulling out a thread. Nothing is worse than the bag tipping out all your thread and tools inside a plane or car. If you can’t recover stuff easily, you are stuck not stitching.
If you like plastic canvas, use it when stitching near water. Since there is no sizing, it won’t fall apart if it gets wet.
Boats move on the water, even when docked. Try to needlepoint and if you don’t like it, keep your stitching on shore.
If you needlepoint at the beach, expect sand and only bring things where you won’t care about that.
If you are bringing projects in your luggage, don’t have them on stretcher bars, take it off the bars and roll the canvas around them, it packs better. Keep all parts of the project together. If on stretcher bars your project needs to be small enough to fit comfortably into your project bag with the zipper closed.
Car needlepoint needs to be something that can be stopped and started and which can be done either on small stretcher bars or in hand. If your seatmates object to needles flashing near them, precut short stitching lengths.
Here are great ideas for travel projects: Painted canvas is nice because the canvas tells you what to do. Bargello is nice because once the first line is stitched the canvas also tells you what to do. Single sheet charts are also good because you can fold them up and have them inside your project bag if the sides are clear.
There are many styles of portable LED lights out there. Try several before you settle on one or two for your traveling stitching kit.
A travel tip from Anna Pearson: One
never knows how much stitching opportunity will present itself, however, I suggest taking an additional piece just to be safe. On this last trip, I finished my one piece with still a 14-hour flight to get back home!
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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