Why Portable Projects Matter

In our lifetime, we will spend approximately 60 hours (5 years!!!) waiting for something. Doctor's office, car rider line, road trips, etc. If you're anything like me, you can't sit still and just... wait. I have to be doing something with my hands! Sometimes I'm calm enough to just read or scroll on my phone (even though I'm trying to do less of that), but more often than not, I have to be doing something active like knitting, crocheting, or hand sewing. 

Sometimes people will also ask you what you're working on! It's always exciting to talk about your craft with others, and you may even make a new friend!

What Makes A Project Portable? 

The easiest projects to bring with you are projects that have a small footprint, require minimal tools, and are easy to pause and restart. Bonus points if you can fit everything you need in a small bag or pouch! Let's break these all down. 

Small Footprint

Having a small footprint refers to projects that don't take up a lot of physical space. Examples include: hand sewing EPP hexies, knitting socks, embroidery, etc. Bigger projects such as sewing a large quilt top or crocheting an afghan definitely do not have a small footprint!

Minimal Tools

The less tools you have to bring with you, the less stress you have about dropping something and never finding it again! Hand sewing just requires a needle and thread (and your project). Sure.. pins, seam ripper, and some other tools might be helpful, but they aren't completely necessary. Crochet and knitting are good for minimal tools, as you only need the hook or needle and yarn!

Easy to Pickup

Have you ever stopped a project only to pick it up months later and you have no idea where you are or what to do next? A good feature of a portable project is that they are easy to put down and pickup, but still know what you're doing! The easiest example of this is EPP hexies, because you're just sewing them together into flowers. Very repetitive, so you always know where you are! Crochet and knitting projects may be a little more difficult to just put down and pickup. If your project has a different stitch pattern for every row, you have to know what row you're on to continue, but if you are doing a project that uses the same stitch pattern row after row, it's easier to figure out where you are!

Projects to Take On the Go

Hand Sewing Projects

• English Paper Piecing
  • Small & repetitive
  • All you need is fabric, EPP template, needle, and thread
  • Store pieces in ziploc bags 
• Hand Quilting
  • Can be bigger depending on size of quilt
  • Keep it under control by using a small quilting hoop or quilting a mini quilt or smaller
  • All you need is the quilt, needle, and thread (hoop is optional)
• Visible Mending
  • Bonus points for making something old new again
  • Embroider over a stain or small hole
  • All you need is the piece of clothing, needle, and embroidery thread

Knitting & Crochet Projects

• Socks
  • Great for repetition
  • Easy to toss in a bag
• Hats
  • Easy in both crochet & knitting
• Granny Squares
  • Perfect "one square at a time" project
  • Collect them all to stitch into a cardigan or afghan later on
• Dishcloths
  • Beginner friendly
  • Quick finish

Other Portable Creative Projects

• Embroidery
• Cross Stitch
• Sketching
• Watercolor (especially if you use a waterbrush that holds water in the pen!)

How to Build a "Grab & Go" Project Kit

I like to have a medium size bag with plenty of pockets and space to put other smaller bags in. Depending on what your craft of choice is, the contents of the bag may be different, but the general list is the same. 

• Smaller zip pouches or project bags to organize things
• Scissors (either with a cap or the TSA approved ones that can fold)
• Needles (use a needle book for sewing needles, or a case for crochet hooks & knitting needles)
• Small notebook
• Pencil
• Copy of your pattern (bonus points if you just have it on your phone and can mark it up there)
• The actual project (fabric, yarn, etc)

The project bag that I made in this blog post currently has either my crochet baby blanket I've been working on or the Sophie Scarf I'm knitting! I do have a hexie quilt that I'm working on, but it's been a while since I picked that one up. Maybe soon!

Where I Actually Use Portable Projects

My favorite place to take a project is, of course, the coffee shop. I love to sit there with my friends across the bar, working on a project, and sipping my favorite drink! Other places I love to craft are: 

• At church while listening to the sermon
• On road trips
• In the waiting room
• While watching TV

The Creative Benefits of Portable Projects

Having small but longterm projects like a hexie quilt or knitting socks helps build consistency in your creative practice. They keep creativity woven into daily life. With waiting times that could be long or short depending on the Doctor's schedule, you could get one row done or 10, but this just shows that even the slow progress is meaningful! These projects are also very low pressure. You don't have to complete an entire project in one day!

If you want to start today, here's the steps to take: 

• Pick one small unfinished project
• Put it in a pouch
• Keep it in your bag
• Start with just 15 minutes of work (you won't want to stop though!!)

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I want to know what your favorite portable project is! Let me know in the comments, and join my email list to keep up with my creative endeavors!