Small portable projects

[Sue Carlson Dunn]

We've probably covered this topic before, but Donna's comments about
"late" babies and getting back into crafting prompted me to think
about projects that are easy to pick up and put down at a moment's
notice - very useful with babies, small children and school runs to
take into account!

My favourite take-along project is currently yo-yo (Suffolk Puff)
patchwork. Someone (was it MinnieNeedles?) posted quite a while ago
that they were making a quilt using this method, and her description
of how easy it is made me try it out.

I have a very small gift-bag with cord handles (my preferred type of
project carrier - practical yet smart) containing a pile of 3 inch
circles of material and a small plastic box with thread, needle and
seam ripper which I use instead of scissors to cut the thread. This
bag goes into the car whenever I go anywhere and know I'll have a few
minutes here and there to fill.

Making a yo-yo takes about 5 minutes, and it's something that you can
put down and pick up as you need to with no detrimental effect on the
work.

What favourites do others in the group have?

--
Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
Please take off your shoes to email me!

[Els van Dam]

In article >, "Sue Carlson Dunn"
> wrote:
snip snip
>
> What favourites do others in the group have?

Sue that is an easy one for me Kumihimo naturally.

Els

Have you read any of ReginaldHills' books. ( he lives in Cumbria as well)
I just finished has latest..Dialogues of the Dead. the story is great but
the end a bit of a let down I thought.

Els
>
> --
> Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
> Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
> Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
> Please take off your shoes to email me!

--
delete doba to email me.....:=))

[Brian D]

Hi Sue:

When having to wait for a bit during school pick-ups...(son got out at 2:20
pm and daughter at 3:10) I would knit dishcloths, kitchen finger towels,
scarves, round needle hats. At times I would crochet part of a doily, the
easy part at the beginning where the pattern was not needed.
This year both teens are at highschool and will both get out at
2:20..yahooo....but I usually get there about 10 - 15 minutes early. The
baby loves to read in the van or sing along to her tunes (Sesame
Street..CD).
I will indeed be back into filling that time with my crafts. I have
soooooooo much of any type of yarn / cotton here and I'd like to do
something with it all.
Wishing you all the best!


Donna from Ontario, Canada







"Sue Carlson Dunn" > wrote in message
...
> We've probably covered this topic before, but Donna's comments about
> "late" babies and getting back into crafting prompted me to think
> about projects that are easy to pick up and put down at a moment's
> notice - very useful with babies, small children and school runs to
> take into account!
>
> My favourite take-along project is currently yo-yo (Suffolk Puff)
> patchwork. Someone (was it MinnieNeedles?) posted quite a while ago
> that they were making a quilt using this method, and her description
> of how easy it is made me try it out.
>
> I have a very small gift-bag with cord handles (my preferred type of
> project carrier - practical yet smart) containing a pile of 3 inch
> circles of material and a small plastic box with thread, needle and
> seam ripper which I use instead of scissors to cut the thread. This
> bag goes into the car whenever I go anywhere and know I'll have a few
> minutes here and there to fill.
>
> Making a yo-yo takes about 5 minutes, and it's something that you can
> put down and pick up as you need to with no detrimental effect on the
> work.
>
> What favourites do others in the group have?
>
> --
> Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
> Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
> Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
> Please take off your shoes to email me!
>
>

[SlinkyToy]

I like socks as my portable projects. Except for sewing the toe I can work
on socks pretty much anywhere, including in dark movie theaters...

"Sue Carlson Dunn" > wrote in message
...
> We've probably covered this topic before, but Donna's comments about
> "late" babies and getting back into crafting prompted me to think
> about projects that are easy to pick up and put down at a moment's
> notice - very useful with babies, small children and school runs to
> take into account!
>
> My favourite take-along project is currently yo-yo (Suffolk Puff)
> patchwork. Someone (was it MinnieNeedles?) posted quite a while ago
> that they were making a quilt using this method, and her description
> of how easy it is made me try it out.
>
> I have a very small gift-bag with cord handles (my preferred type of
> project carrier - practical yet smart) containing a pile of 3 inch
> circles of material and a small plastic box with thread, needle and
> seam ripper which I use instead of scissors to cut the thread. This
> bag goes into the car whenever I go anywhere and know I'll have a few
> minutes here and there to fill.
>
> Making a yo-yo takes about 5 minutes, and it's something that you can
> put down and pick up as you need to with no detrimental effect on the
> work.
>
> What favourites do others in the group have?
>
> --
> Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
> Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
> Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
> Please take off your shoes to email me!
>
>

[Noreen's Knit*che]

"Sue Carlson Dunn" > wrote in message
...

> > What favourites do others in the group have?
> >
> > --
> > Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
> > Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
> > Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
> > Please take off your shoes to email me!

Hi Sue!
My favorite take along projects are tatting on handkerchiefs, slippers
(knit), bootsocks (knit).
Hugs,
Noreen

--
Noreen's Knit*che
NATA #447
(my family tree is FULL of 'nuts')

[Sew-Sew Lady]

I like dishcloths for
leave-in-the-car-for-wherever-whenever-I-need-a-project. Lately, though,
I've had a baby blanket for charity as my take-along project. I'm doing a
seed stitch border around a stockinette stitch blanket. No pattern
required.

"Brian D" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Sue:
>
> When having to wait for a bit during school pick-ups...(son got out at
2:20
> pm and daughter at 3:10) I would knit dishcloths, kitchen finger towels,
> scarves, round needle hats. At times I would crochet part of a doily, the
> easy part at the beginning where the pattern was not needed.
> This year both teens are at highschool and will both get out at
> 2:20..yahooo....but I usually get there about 10 - 15 minutes early. The
> baby loves to read in the van or sing along to her tunes (Sesame
> Street..CD).
> I will indeed be back into filling that time with my crafts. I have
> soooooooo much of any type of yarn / cotton here and I'd like to do
> something with it all.
> Wishing you all the best!
>
>
> Donna from Ontario, Canada
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Sue Carlson Dunn" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We've probably covered this topic before, but Donna's comments about
> > "late" babies and getting back into crafting prompted me to think
> > about projects that are easy to pick up and put down at a moment's
> > notice - very useful with babies, small children and school runs to
> > take into account!
> >
> > My favourite take-along project is currently yo-yo (Suffolk Puff)
> > patchwork. Someone (was it MinnieNeedles?) posted quite a while ago
> > that they were making a quilt using this method, and her description
> > of how easy it is made me try it out.
> >
> > I have a very small gift-bag with cord handles (my preferred type of
> > project carrier - practical yet smart) containing a pile of 3 inch
> > circles of material and a small plastic box with thread, needle and
> > seam ripper which I use instead of scissors to cut the thread. This
> > bag goes into the car whenever I go anywhere and know I'll have a few
> > minutes here and there to fill.
> >
> > Making a yo-yo takes about 5 minutes, and it's something that you can
> > put down and pick up as you need to with no detrimental effect on the
> > work.
> >
> > What favourites do others in the group have?
> >
> > --
> > Sue CD...quietly unravelling in Cumbria...
> > Pot Luck Crafts www.howhill.com
> > Sue's Project Pages www.howhill.com/projects
> > Please take off your shoes to email me!
> >
> >
>
>

[Laurie]

I'll crochet dishcloths but mainly my portable projects are cross
stitch things. I keep stocked up on little kits like scissor keeps,
needlebooks, bookmarks, and eyeglasses cases. When I traveled
overseas I was able to pack my entire cross stitch gear in a 10x6 flat
handbag. (I didn't take it on the plane although it would have made
the flight bearable.) I give all the little projects away and even
managed to replenish my stock of kits while in England. All those
manor houses and museums...

At home I stick to crochet and knitting but today I picked up a little
kit and started working it a bit and had an overwhelming sense memory
of London. :-)

Laurie
Washougal, WA

[NoraBalcer]

I always have my crocheting with me. I start an afghan and when it's too big to
carry along, then another one gets started. I always have at least three going.

Hugs,

Nora

[EJ]

In article >,
says...
> I'll crochet dishcloths but mainly my portable projects are cross
> stitch things. I keep stocked up on little kits like scissor keeps,
> needlebooks, bookmarks, and eyeglasses cases. When I traveled
> overseas I was able to pack my entire cross stitch gear in a 10x6 flat
> handbag. (I didn't take it on the plane although it would have made
> the flight bearable.) I give all the little projects away and even
> managed to replenish my stock of kits while in England. All those
> manor houses and museums...
>
> At home I stick to crochet and knitting but today I picked up a little
> kit and started working it a bit and had an overwhelming sense memory
> of London. :-)
>
> Laurie
> Washougal, WA
>

I always have something in my bag...usually whatever project I am working on...sweater
sleeves, smaller cross stitch, crochet...whatever...until it is no longer portable :)
One advantage is that it gets kids talking to me. I move from school to school and when
kids see me working tey start with "What's that?" or "Can I try?" and end up pretty much
aywhere <G> It's a nice conversation-starter with adults too :)

EJ

[Deb]

> What favourites do others in the group have?

Hi there, newbie to the group. I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom
with 5 kids aged 1-9. I find that any project is good for taking
along except if there are color changes. I have a basket I carry that
is 8"x6" and 8" tall. I have a box that I carry my scissors, needles
and hooks, and I put the box, thread and pattern in the basket. If
I'm working up a blanket or a larger project, I'll get an appropriate
size bag or basket for that.

Seems like a good group here - I'm glad to have found you!

Deb
http://www.debsdesktop.com
http://www.debsbookshelf.com
http://www.pineappleplaza.com

[NoraBalcer]

Hi Deb,

I'm happy you found us too, and welcome.

Hugs,

Nora

[Mischief]

My small portable projects are granny squares for lapghans. I usually
have a ball of yarn in the car along with a hook and also usually take
granny squares with me are short vacations and when visiting family.

Darlene in Toronto
http://members.rogers.com/craftkitten


Sent using Virtual Access 5.50 - download your freeware copy now
http://www.atlantic-coast.com/downloads/vasetup.exe

[Mirjam Bruck-Cohen]

Laurie i liked your description
thank you
mirjam
og.net (Laurie) wrote:

>I'll crochet dishcloths but mainly my portable projects are cross
>stitch things. I keep stocked up on little kits like scissor keeps,
>needlebooks, bookmarks, and eyeglasses cases. When I traveled
>overseas I was able to pack my entire cross stitch gear in a 10x6 flat
>handbag. (I didn't take it on the plane although it would have made
>the flight bearable.) I give all the little projects away and even
>managed to replenish my stock of kits while in England. All those
>manor houses and museums...
>
>At home I stick to crochet and knitting but today I picked up a little
>kit and started working it a bit and had an overwhelming sense memory
>of London. :-)
>
>Laurie
>Washougal, WA

[Mirjam Bruck-Cohen]

Oh friends !!!
maybe we all can think about some possibel small carry around projects
, i think first about some carrier bags, Am just sewing one for a
friend who recently divorced , and now she has to combine shopping
with work everytime she leaves the house , thought of sewing a
foldable cloth bag for her, But i also thought that cloth bags, in
fact several of them are ideal to store the small projects. Ever since
i sewed Big cloth bags and keep a project in each , my room looks
tidier [ i don`t mind but the husband does] it keeps all elements
together you can grab it on way out and would get to destinantion ,
far from the house with threads for project A , and needles matching
project B and pattern or page where you calculated measurements of
project C.....
mirjam

[NoraBalcer]

Mirjam,

You are too organized with the cloth bags. I have one stuffed on a shelf ready
to go out the door if I need it.

Hugs,

Nora

[Mirjam Bruck-Cohen]

Ohhh Wonderful you are the second Sunita i meet ,,,
nice to meet you here !!! welcome if i mised you before .
I always find some minutes to work my Bagged project
mirjam


>I usually take a small crochet project along, like a child's hat or
>scarf or socks (yes you can crochet socks!). If I feel like knitting,
>then one of those novelty scarves that needs no pattern or brain to be
>knit. Like the rest of you, I've learned always to pack *something*
>into my bag because down time is unpredictable but frequent. It used
>to be a book, now it's a UFO.
>
>Sunita

[Coggie]

I crochet socks all the time . What is yor favorite pattern ? I use
love to crochet socks or learn to crochet socks , both put out by
annies attic. I am thinking of getting the new crocheted stocking book
also. One thing I like about these books is that the offer patterns
for gartered heels. The only think I do differently is I change the
size needle and yarn so I can wear them in my shoes.
I also knit socks , I just crochet alot faster than I knit.
Coggie
(Sunita) wrote in message >...
> I usually take a small crochet project along, like a child's hat or
> scarf or socks (yes you can crochet socks!). If I feel like knitting,
> then one of those novelty scarves that needs no pattern or brain to be
> knit. Like the rest of you, I've learned always to pack *something*
> into my bag because down time is unpredictable but frequent. It used
> to be a book, now it's a UFO.
>
> Sunita

[Coggie]

not sure if other message went thru.
I also crochet socks and love them . What patterns do you use? I use
either love to crochet socks or learn to crochet socks both put out by
Annie's attic . I have thought of picking up crocheted stockings also
out by them. The thing I love about these patterns is the gartered
heels. I do change the weight of yarn and the size of hook so I can
wear them in my shoes .
I also knit socks but I crochet faster than I knit so I tend to
crochet them more.
Coggie
(Sunita) wrote in message >...
> I usually take a small crochet project along, like a child's hat or
> scarf or socks (yes you can crochet socks!). If I feel like knitting,
> then one of those novelty scarves that needs no pattern or brain to be
> knit. Like the rest of you, I've learned always to pack *something*
> into my bag because down time is unpredictable but frequent. It used
> to be a book, now it's a UFO.
>
> Sunita

[Sunita]

Sorry I took so long to respond, I lost the thread for a while!

I don't really use a pattern. I crochet toe-up, so that I can try
them on as I go. I started out with a pattern from a pamphlet (I
think it was called Stocking Feet?) but the pattern drove me crazy.
So here's what I do. I chain 18-28 depending on size, then slip
stitch into the back bump to make the toe "seam", then start single
crochet with 1 or 2 increases at each end until I get to the right
size. It usually takes about 10-15 rows and makes a little toe box,
or should I say toe boat. Then I switch to half-double-crochet for
the foot body (the stitch # is anywhere from 50-65 depending on the
foot size). 2 inches from the heel I start decreasing for the heel in
single crochet. I decrease by ending one stitch before the last row
ended and no extra chain onthe turn. When I've got down to about half
the # of stitches, I start increasing again, still in SC, increasing
into the previous rows to make the heel (I hope that makes sense). I
usually come out with about 5-10 more stitches than in the foot body.
I leave it for a few rows, then decrease back to the foot body number.
I finish with a post-stitch ribbing of 1 inch or so at the top.

Regia stretch works best, since crochet isn't very stretchy.

This probably makes no sense; it's easier than it sounds!

Sunita



(Coggie) wrote in message >...
> not sure if other message went thru.
> I also crochet socks and love them . What patterns do you use? I use
> either love to crochet socks or learn to crochet socks both put out by
> Annie's attic . I have thought of picking up crocheted stockings also
> out by them. The thing I love about these patterns is the gartered
> heels. I do change the weight of yarn and the size of hook so I can
> wear them in my shoes .
> I also knit socks but I crochet faster than I knit so I tend to
> crochet them more.
> Coggie
> (Sunita) wrote in message >...
> > I usually take a small crochet project along, like a child's hat or
> > scarf or socks (yes you can crochet socks!). If I feel like knitting,
> > then one of those novelty scarves that needs no pattern or brain to be
> > knit. Like the rest of you, I've learned always to pack *something*
> > into my bag because down time is unpredictable but frequent. It used
> > to be a book, now it's a UFO.
> >
> > Sunita