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.
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!
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?
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!
I try to keep a project in every car for just such times. But I like your idea of glove compartment sock!
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!
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!
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!)
I always have a project bag in my purse with a baby hat on the needles. I knit 200 baby hats a year to donate to my local hospital. The hospital likes to give each new born with a homemade hat. I go absolutely, no where without my knitting you never know when you will have a few minutes to knit. I also carry a book with me at all times.
i keep no look knitting in the car for whenever hubbie and I are out together. He drives, I knit. Right now, it is the endless black stockinette of the body of Whistler 2010, from Dale of Norway.
I keep a project bag in my car so when I visit my 93 year old dad I have something to do when he dozes. I just flipped out because my son has my car and I have my husbands. No knitting bag in there. I guess I will have to put a bag in his car now. My hands are itchy.
I always have a book with me. But, once I learn to knit socks, I will make sure to always have that project and spares handy !
I always bring a pair of socks with me to work on no matter where I go. Even when we go out to the desert offroading I bring them along. I usually have about 4 pair in various stages of doneness in my bag to bring along, and I always bring my little needle case and sock ruler. I went with my husband on an errand yesterday and we were driving along the freeway and realized I hadn’t brought a sock, I almost broke out in hives. LOL