One of the best things about cross stitching is that it’s ultra portable: the supplies are super light, it takes up almost zero space in a backpack or purse, and you can pretty much take it anywhere. I’ve stitched in cars, trains, buses, planes, parks, breweries, friends’ houses… you get the idea.
Car rides are awesome for stitching, as long as you don't get motion sick. My No Face needleminder is from GrandmaGirl Designs.
Personally I love having a project to take with me on a long car ride or a day out when I know I’m going to have down time between activities. It makes a great alternative to sitting and staring at your phone, and sometimes it can even spark interesting conversations with the people around you.
So if you’re ready to take your stitching along for the ride, here are a few tips on how to do it best:
Keep it clean. Maybe you already have a favorite way of storing your works in progress, but if you intend to take it on the road, I suggest using either a sealable plastic tote like these ones from ArtBin or a Ziplock bag. They’ll keep your project safe, contained, and most importantly, away from the elements.
These are my two primary sewing storage boxes, ready to rock and roll.
Tip for the backpackers and hikers out there: stick your stuff in a Ziplock bag with a seam ripper in place of scissors, and bam, you have the ultimate ultralight camping project. Just make sure to bring a headlamp.
Get some travel scissors. If you’re anything like me you’re probably pretty attached to your favorite scissors. Rather than potentially losing them on the road, I recommend getting a pair of dedicated travel scissors. This is especially important if you’ll be taking your stitching on a flight of any kind, where you run the risk of losing your scissors at security. I like these TSA-approved travel scissors from Fiskar–not only do they fold up, but they’re pretty cheap, so they’re perfect for whatever kind of adventure you’re going on.
Use a needleminder. If you don’t already use one of these bad boys in your day to day stitching I HIGHLY recommend getting one. Ever lost a needle in your living room? Imagine losing it on a train, or in your car, or anywhere else where some poor unsuspecting stranger might sit on it. :( Do yourself and the world a favor, and use a needleminder.
Flaunt it, yo. When I first started stitching in public I definitely got some weird looks. I still do. But over time I’ve realized that people do more embarrassing things in public all the time, like playing Pokemon Go or reading Fifty Shades of Whatever. No disrespect if you like either of those things (I personally play the hell out of Pokemon Go) but seriously, don’t waste your energy wondering what the people around you think. You’re awesome and you know it. If you want to spend your commute stitching away, more power to you.
So, what's your favorite non-typical place to stitch?