I don’t know about you, but when I travel I have to take some form of stitching along with me.

Now, if I’m travelling by car, it means I can take as many accessories, lights, magnifying glasses and several projects to choose from as there is always room for ‘just one more thing’ in the back of the car.

However, most of my travelling these days requires me to get onto a ‘plane. And that means I have to be judicious about the number of projects, accessories and stitching aids I can realistically fit into my suitcase. It also means that if I want to stitch on the ‘plane I have to be able to get through the airport security screening without having to hand over various items deemed ‘hazardous’ by the security personnel, and have a small, but successful stitching ‘kit’ which works in the confined space of the ‘plane seat.

So I have devised a very simple, but successful stitching kit which I take with me on my travels. It works very well on a ‘plane flight. It also works very well in a classroom situation where you are restricted for space. It also means that you don’t have to lug heavy lights around with you in your suitcase, and worry about transformers etc when travelling to a stitching class in a foreign country.

I had some specific requirements when I built my kit. It had to be able to be tucked into my carry-on luggage (which is a laptop computer bag – so quite restrictive). It had to be light (obviously), reasonably quick and easy to assemble once on the ‘plane, and able to be collapsed flat and stored on my lap under my tray table, when breakfast/lunch/dinner was served.

So … here is my tried and tested kit – a jumping off point for a kit of your own which you can personalise to make it work for you and your travel requirements.

JHD Travel Kit Components

1. Container
The container needs to be made of rigid plastic to support the magnifying light and deep enough to cope with the jaws of the magnifying light clamp. The one I use holds an A4 size chart and is about 2.5cm or 1″ deep. I found these boxes in Officeworks in the document storage and presentation aisle.  I use these boxes all time to keep my various stitching projects safe as they stack on shelves easily and I can see what’s in them at a glance.

2. Thread Storage Pocket
Now, we all have our favourite ways of thread storage. But this is something else! I found this at Needle Nydle Noo and it’s made by Ristal Threads. You cut your threads into approximately 60cm lengths and pull them through the little pocket ridges. The threads are kept clean, straight and all together and there’s room to put the thread number tags for identification, all very useful considerations when your space is restricted. This particular storage system allows you to pull through only as many ply of a particular colour thread you need at any one time. There is room for 16 different threads in one sleeve.

3. Nail Clippers
The Australian airport security checkers are still very strict about scissors, even embroidery scissors. I have given up arguing with them about points on scissors and have decided that a nice new pair of nail clippers is the way to go. They are sharp, and enable you to cut the threads close to the fabric, which means no messy dangly ends to catch into your work by mistake. They also breeze through the security checks without any hassle at all!

I thread my clippers onto a length of ribbon, which when tied into a loop allows me to wear them around my neck. This stops them from falling down onto the floor of the ‘plane.

4. Thimble & Hoop
I can’t stitch without a thimble. It’s a bit like I can’t think without my glasses on … but that’s just a personal quirk and you don’t have to have a thimble unless, like me, it’s a given that you wear one when you stitch. I need a hoop for speciality stitches, but don’t take one if I am just doing cross stitch. Again, a personal preference thing.

5. Flexible Neck Magnifying Light
Some of you with younger and stronger eyes than mine might just need a clip on light, but I need a magnifying light. This one runs on 3 AAA batteries and lasts forever. And just in case forever is up and your batteries run out – this type of battery can be bought all around the world, and is a type that most airport newsagencies carry.

The gooseneck allows you to position the rimless magnifying glass in just the right position, and the LED light is cool, and perfect for stitching in a dimly lit plane.  In Australia you can buy these here. There are other sorts of flexible necked magnifying glasses and lights – your local needlework shop will probably have some to choose from. Just make sure that you choose on of the clamp variety, and that it will clamp onto your container.

OK – so how does this all work for me?

Packing
I prepare my fabric, and ensure that I have at least four embroidery needles of the correct size tucked into a corner of the fabric if I don’t have room in my container for a  needlebook. I thread my plastic sleeve with the project threads. Then I pack the project chart, fabric, thread pocket, nail clippers, thimble and hoop into the project container. I pop it and my magnifying lamp into one side of my laptop bag and I’m good to go.

On The ‘Plane
I get my magnifying light and container out of my laptop bag. I unpack the container and close it. I use the clip that keeps my tray table secure against the back of the chair in front of me to hold my chart up.  I put my nail clipper ribbon around my neck and put on my thimble. I select my first threads, and then fold the thread pocket in half and place under the container which is on my lap.

The container then becomes a mini lap table. I clamp my magnifying lamp onto one side of the container, turn on the light, thread my needle and I’m ready for several hours of stitching.

When a meal arrives, I quickly fold everything up, pop the fabric into the container for safekeeping, lay the magnifying glass and chart down on my lap over the container, undo the tray table and eat my meal.

When it’s time to land, I just pack everything back into the container, and slide it, and my lamp, into my laptop bag.

I hope this has helped you think about how to set up your own travel kit. As I was typing this I thought it was probably something I could make up and sell here on the website. Are you happy to make up your own kit? Or would it help if it was something that you could purchase already assembled? Leave your thoughts below.

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