Anyone got any tip for managing hobbies and crafts on the road?
Unlike at home where space isn't a problem, the van has limits on space and weight. So how do you manage to carry your stuff?
Any tips to share?
Rip and Rosie said
04:35 PM Oct 14, 2013
I leave most of my "stash" of wool and yarn at home.
I usually take one project with me, and try to make it one using acrylic yarn and never of one single colour - which I will invariably run out of and not be able to match. Mostly a small or smallish project - i.e. never a large tablecloth or bedspread etc.
If I finish a project while travelling, I buy more yarn at the $2 Shops and start another, but I have to be discplined as I am often tempted to have 2 or 3 on the go like at home.
I have a fabric bag about the size of a pillow case with a drawstring- everything has to fit in that.
These days all of my patterns are electronic - thank you Mr iPad !!
freehazzas said
05:36 PM Oct 14, 2013
We found after three years on the road we outgrew our van so have brought a truck and fifth wheeler. This is home for us so everything has to come with us. I have my paintings, jewelry that we sell at markets, hubby has his golf stuff, plus we have a boat and bikes. All our hobbies just needed more space. If you put together too many items try doing some markets to sell some. A bit more travel money, or donate the money if you dont need i. One way to lighten the load.
pambaz said
08:48 PM Oct 14, 2013
I take hand work only with my quilting. It all has to fit into a bag smaller than a pillowcase. That includes the box with pins, threads and pieces of fabric. I cut everything out before I leave home. We only travel for a few months at a time so it works for me.
I do scrapbooking too but that is impossible to carry it in the van. Too much "stuff"
Books are all on my IPad and if I pick a book up at the laundry I offload it at another laundry.
Goodness knows how I would manage if we lived full time in the van!
Pam
golivers travels said
06:53 PM Oct 15, 2013
I do small projects like Pam.
Always precut, organise scissors, threads, etc into a small tub prior to travelling.
Also organise a knitting project that had to all fit into my knitting bag, usually a jumper or cardigan for our grandchildren so not a lot yarn needed.
We spend 4 weeks each Febuary at Port Fairy, not that far from home, so often take my machine along at this time but not when 'on the road'.
Cheers
Glenda
Rip and Rosie said
07:00 PM Oct 15, 2013
I had a couple of friends who were buying a van, She said "As long as there is room for my sewing machine, I don't care what else there is."
Happywanderer said
01:13 AM Oct 16, 2013
I have the same problem, have left a lot in storage back in Biggy. Can pick it up on the way through next Winter.
So I'm sticking to crochet and reading and photography this trip.
Would love a bigger van, am working on it.
shekon said
04:19 PM Oct 17, 2013
I have packed my sewing machine and my quilting stuff, then again I am on my own so have the extra room. My problem is that I have two queen size quilts to finish off with bindings so will do that while I am here in Sunbury. Kindly been given permission to use the dinning room table. So off to Gisborne today to buy the fabric for the bindings. What a wonderful day it will be to be amongst the fabrics again.
neilnruth said
04:27 AM Oct 18, 2013
Like others I precut, prepare all the bits for a project and make it fit into a small bag. I also have some knitting (even did a shawl on circular needles last year) which stays in the car for when we are travelling. I did buy a very small sewing machine in case I want to take it with me one day. I only sew quilts by machine if we're staying for a longer period of time in one spot. Van is just too small. But I do have to take more than one small project otherwise I get bored doing the same thing all the time.
countryroad said
11:03 PM Oct 18, 2013
I have 10 embroideries to complete to go in a quilt. Not very complicated, stem stitch or backstitch, French knots simple stuff. 9" x 9"
Hexagons to fill in the gaps in a Margaret Sampson quilt from a magazine, I'm not making the whole quilt. It's 7 gorgeous fabrics about 12 " oval, mine are a hodgepodge of colour and subject, really ...your choice,each surrounded by 18 x 1" hexagons finished, can be toning colours to frame the gorgeous fabrics or contrasting. Most of mine have cream background, one is an owl with a decided Japanese look so he has Japanese fabric hexagons, another is a funny yellowy colour of a lady in a patchwork shop holding bolts of fabric, I have 3 blue, or blue greys, 3 pinky reds to raspberry and 1 yellowy almost citrine wouldn't have thought they'd go together.
I buy the 1" hexagons 100 for $6, can use several times as I don't stich into them.
It will eventually be used on my Oak barley twist gate leg table, which needs regluing as it's wobbly.
In a past life someone has used it as an ironing table with a wood fire iron and left it to burn it's outline into the table top.
Like the idea of the pillowcase to restrict amount carried....discipline
Rip and Rosie said
02:48 PM Oct 20, 2013
countryroad wrote:
..........................Hexagons to fill in the gaps in a Margaret Sampson quilt from a magazine,.................It's 7 gorgeous fabrics about 12 " oval, mine are a hodgepodge of colour and subject, really ...your choice,each surrounded by 18 x 1" hexagons finished, can be toning colours to frame the gorgeous fabrics or contrasting. Most of mine have cream background, one is an owl with a decided Japanese look so he has Japanese fabric hexagons, .......................I have 3 blue, or blue greys, 3 pinky reds to raspberry and 1 yellowy almost citrine wouldn't have thought they'd go together............................
Love to see a photo.
vixen said
10:14 PM Oct 23, 2014
My sewing machine and overlocker are with me as this is our home too . I have taken over the whole of under the bed, under my dinette seat and we have built a shelf in the back of the Cruiser where I slide 4 "under bed" rolly boxes. My haberdashery is all stored in plastic lunch boxes which pack nicely into the rolly boxes. When we stop for any length of time I have a set of those pack down plastic shelves (from the dollar shop) to put my supplies on. I made a sewing compendium with pockets for my scissors, pins, markers, tape etc so that's all in one handy carry bag. I also crochet and knit, hand and machine embroider. I scanned most of my patterns and craft leaflets into my laptop before we became permanent van dwellers (I also backed them all up on HD) I am very good at Tetris and it shows by my packing Fortunately my husband has no "bulky" hobbies.
wendyv said
03:20 PM Oct 24, 2014
I take a green supermarket bag full of wool (bought on special) and knit squares and dog coats for the local animal refuge, mostly whilst going along. I usually have a hardanger project on the go - that does not take much space. If trip is several months, will take fabric shapes cut out at home, and hand piece the top for a quilt - fabric, stitching needs etc go in a small plastic box that will fit under a bed. Reading matter is on e-reader.
-- Edited by wendyv on Friday 24th of October 2014 03:21:55 PM
Anyone got any tip for managing hobbies and crafts on the road?
Unlike at home where space isn't a problem, the van has limits on space and weight. So how do you manage to carry your stuff?
Any tips to share?
I usually take one project with me, and try to make it one using acrylic yarn and never of one single colour - which I will invariably run out of and not be able to match. Mostly a small or smallish project - i.e. never a large tablecloth or bedspread etc.
If I finish a project while travelling, I buy more yarn at the $2 Shops and start another, but I have to be discplined as I am often tempted to have 2 or 3 on the go like at home.
I have a fabric bag about the size of a pillow case with a drawstring- everything has to fit in that.
These days all of my patterns are electronic - thank you Mr iPad !!
I do scrapbooking too but that is impossible to carry it in the van. Too much "stuff"
Books are all on my IPad and if I pick a book up at the laundry I offload it at another laundry.
Goodness knows how I would manage if we lived full time in the van!
Pam
I do small projects like Pam.
Always precut, organise scissors, threads, etc into a small tub prior to travelling.
Also organise a knitting project that had to all fit into my knitting bag, usually a jumper or cardigan for our grandchildren so not a lot yarn needed.
We spend 4 weeks each Febuary at Port Fairy, not that far from home, so often take my machine along at this time but not when 'on the road'.
Cheers
Glenda
So I'm sticking to crochet and reading and photography this trip.
Would love a bigger van, am working on it.
Hexagons to fill in the gaps in a Margaret Sampson quilt from a magazine, I'm not making the whole quilt. It's 7 gorgeous fabrics about 12 " oval, mine are a hodgepodge of colour and subject, really ...your choice,each surrounded by 18 x 1" hexagons finished, can be toning colours to frame the gorgeous fabrics or contrasting. Most of mine have cream background, one is an owl with a decided Japanese look so he has Japanese fabric hexagons, another is a funny yellowy colour of a lady in a patchwork shop holding bolts of fabric, I have 3 blue, or blue greys, 3 pinky reds to raspberry and 1 yellowy almost citrine wouldn't have thought they'd go together.
I buy the 1" hexagons 100 for $6, can use several times as I don't stich into them.
It will eventually be used on my Oak barley twist gate leg table, which needs regluing as it's wobbly.
In a past life someone has used it as an ironing table with a wood fire iron and left it to burn it's outline into the table top.
Like the idea of the pillowcase to restrict amount carried....discipline
Love to see a photo.
My sewing machine and overlocker are with me as this is our home too . I have taken over the whole of under the bed, under my dinette seat and we have built a shelf in the back of the Cruiser where I slide 4 "under bed" rolly boxes. My haberdashery is all stored in plastic lunch boxes which pack nicely into the rolly boxes. When we stop for any length of time I have a set of those pack down plastic shelves (from the dollar shop) to put my supplies on. I made a sewing compendium with pockets for my scissors, pins, markers, tape etc so that's all in one handy carry bag. I also crochet and knit, hand and machine embroider. I scanned most of my patterns and craft leaflets into my laptop before we became permanent van dwellers (I also backed them all up on HD) I am very good at Tetris and it shows by my packing
Fortunately my husband has no "bulky" hobbies.
I take a green supermarket bag full of wool (bought on special) and knit squares and dog coats for the local animal refuge, mostly whilst going along. I usually have a hardanger project on the go - that does not take much space. If trip is several months, will take fabric shapes cut out at home, and hand piece the top for a quilt - fabric, stitching needs etc go in a small plastic box that will fit under a bed. Reading matter is on e-reader.
-- Edited by wendyv on Friday 24th of October 2014 03:21:55 PM