travelling ups and downs

[wickedtats]

I'm all geared up for my 3 week vacation to see the better half =) saved up the whole year! Both on my leave and of course $$.

BUT now that I'm in my packing frenzy I'm faced with a dilemma! Help me oh fellow tatters!

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO TAT??

I mean i can pack the hooks and the shuttles and the snips... but WHAT THREAD? WHAT PATTERNS? LOOSE PATTERNS?? BOOKS???

So exiciting yet so frustrating!!!!!!!!!

:w00t2:

[Deann]

I am glad you are getting to go see the better half. Hope you have a great trip and a wonderful time with bh once you arrive. I don't think it matters a lot whether it is books or patterns. If you take patterns you can take more of the ones you actually want to work on. If you do this put them in a plastic ziplock bag so you dont have to struggle to keep up with them and keep them from getting messed up. I would also put my thread in a bag that I could close or a plastic box that fastens. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

[Lynn]

Please don't take your original patterns. Take Xerox copies; things that don't matter if they get messed up or go missing.

Take a couple of simple patterns that you don't have to pay a lot of attention to. You're on vacation! Enjoy the sights and foods and people without having to fret over a difficult pattern or taking out mistakes.

Avoid patterns that require a lot of beads. That's just something else to get loose and cause frustrations.

Unless you know that you're going to have a lot of uninterrupted down time, like 18 hours on a plane or something, don't plan to learn a new technique. Keep to stuff that you can do in your sleep. Then, when you are tired or distracted, you can still keep your hands busy.

[HJ Hess]

Have a safe and happy trip!

[Josie Passell]

Dear Wicked Tats,
Have a lovely time.:smile: I usually try to take just one book with appropriate thread or a theme or project, thus limiting the number of different coloured threads and books. I do check to make sure I have all the special materials, tools needed for that pattern. It has helped me do a collar(no distractions), a set of snowflakes, handkerchief edgings etc or a competition entry.:smile:

[tattrldy]

Hope you have a wonderful vacation! Have fun!
I agree with Lynn, very good suggestions. I was away from home for 2 weeks recently. I had three colors with me, two that complimented each other. I made sure I had easy patterns with no complicated techniques. On vacation you have other things to see and do, but it's nice to have the tatting for the long trip and for a few quiet moments.

[Judy]

Great suggestions for spending time usefully on the trip. Now, about the time in transit..The hours just flew by as I puzzled out an old pattern that I wanted to do in the future. No needles, no thread, just paper and pencil as I worked out a diagram from the fine lines of text pattern. I was very satisfied; I had it all ready when it was time to think about colors and split rings to avoid ends.

[CindyK]

I would bring small motifs or bookmark patterns to make and keep for future. Hearts for Valentine's Day or make doodles for cards? Two or three colors thread that coordinate. Most of all, have a great trip and enjoy your other half!

[TattingChic]

Please don't take your original patterns. Take Xerox copies; things that don't matter if they get messed up or go missing.

Take a couple of simple patterns that you don't have to pay a lot of attention to.

This is exactly what I was going to say because this is what I do when I go on a trip! You can fold the photo-copy of the pattern up and put it into a sandwich baggy that has the thread, tatting shuttles and mini folding scissors (http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=DRITZ-177) or that round thread cutter (http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=123-3104) that people travel with and it can slip into your purse for the airplane ride. That way it's conveniently available for you should you want to tat while flying. Otherwise it can go in a pocket (a big pocket in a sweatshirt, LOL!) or your suitcase!
Have a fabulous time while visiting your honey and his family!