Emergency Car Knitting

It's every knitter's nightmare: being stranded somewhere without knitting! 

Or at least it's my nightmare. Last week on my way to work (it's a winding 2-lane highway through the hills) I got stuck behind a car accident with no real way around it.

Luckily, I had my current sock-in-progress with me, and there was enough knitting left to get me through the 45 minute wait. But it got me thinking... what if I'd only had the toe decreases left? How would I have managed the other 30 minutes of sitting in my car waiting for the road to clear? I may well have had to rip and re-knit the toe several times... and while I'm all about ripping and re-knitting to improve a project, I don't particularly want to do that just to keep my hands occupied.

Project bag in the glove box

In order to avoid this potentially horrible situation, I have come up with the Emergency Sock in the Glove Box solution: put a set of needles and skein of yarn in a project bag, and store that in your glove compartment. Then, if you forget to take knitting with you, get stuck waiting unexpectedly, or finish your other project, you've got backup knitting!

Sock in progress in the glove box

 Here's a plain vanilla sock in Biker Chick Hot Shot tucked in next to the owner's manual.

 
Of course, make sure the yarn and needles in the glove box are not your absolute favorite, and that the socks (or whatever you decide to knit) don't have a deadline, because once they've rescued you from that particular emergency you'll want to put them BACK in the glove box! Otherwise, you may well end up in exactly the situation you are trying to avoid...

Ever wished you had your knitting when you were stuck somewhere? 

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24 comments

I got stuck for 2 hours at a gas station recently when my car wouldn’t start. I didn’t have my knitting because I wasn’t going far an only on a quick errand. Lesson learned!

Lara

I try to keep a project in every car for just such times. But I like your idea of glove compartment sock!

Nancy Tiffany

great idea! I always have a sock in a Tom Bihn stuff sack in my car…. Currently, it’s Berlin your color way, Miss Babs, and Hermione’s Everyday sock. I have learned from experience!

Sheila

great idea! I always have a sock in a Tom Bihn stuff sack in my car…. Currently, it’s Berlin your color way, Miss Babs, and Hermione’s Everyday sock. I have learned from experience!

Sheila

ALWAYS, always have a project with me, the current one is knit your love with Miss Bab’s yarn (can’t remember which but it was a kit). It’s in my schlep bag which is with me most of the time. When it’s not, I have my big project with me. Makes me a much more patient patient (or other waiting role!)

Jean

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