If you regularly find yourself collecting ideas to create, have trouble sitting idle, and enjoy new hobbies, you probably are a crafter. Crafters generally have a love of what they can make, and are often the family members that have the coolest homemade gifts for friends and families each holiday season. Their children’s teachers are also often spoiled by cool, one-of-a-kind gifts that are memorable and cherished.
If this sounds like you, you can’t imagine not having a project going on, and may find travel a bit dull despite the relaxation it brings. But don’t despair, there are many crafts you can easily take along on your travels. These ideas are all easy to pack, take up very little room overall, and are easy to make without requiring a lot of supplies or too much effort.
9 Amazing Crafts You Can Make While Traveling
Travel, Crafting, and Your Mental Health
Those who struggle with mental health triggers, such as anxiety, stress, and depression will love to hear that both travel and crafting are excellent ways to help alleviate your strain. Whether you only find yourself struggling from time to time due to unexpected outside forces, or worry regularly due to the challenges in your life, chances are your crafting is an outlet for you.
People also choose to travel to help alleviate these forces, despite the rise in stress it might initially create. Planning and packing can be a bit overwhelming, and the rest and relaxation you crave might not begin until you have reached your destination- so your crafting can really come in a handy while ‘on the road’. Refocus, destress, and create while sitting idle as you travel.
Craft Ideas
The following ideas are perfect for your travels. They also provide a ton of creative license for you to personalize, and are all compact – requiring very little supplies which make them easy to pack.
Cross-Stitch
This is an old hobby that is not only easy to do but takes up very little room for travelling, especially if you decide to work on a small pattern. Once you are comfortable with this skill, it is incredibly easy to design and make your own pattern.
Knitting
Knitting is an easy task to learn and allows you to make a whole array of useful products, such as scarves, hats, socks, and mittens with very little effort. As you get better, you can knit clothing or even blankets- all of which are easy to fold into your carryon travel bags.
Crocheting
Crocheting is even easier than knitting and an incredible amount of useful objects can be fired off while you travel. Doilies, scarves, small stuffed animals, coasters, key fobs, bookmarks, and other quick and easy patterns can help pass the time. Be sure to look for suitable ergonomic crochet hooks for you, especially for long travels.
DIY Oil Diffusers
Felt balls, a needle and yarn or colorful thread, and your favorite essential oils provide a quick and easy way to make aromatic options to hang in your vehicle, closets, or give as gifts.
Decorative Hair Clips
Plastic and metal hair clips make a great foundation to attach jewels too, wrap colourful threads upon, and make decorative, customized hair options for parties, formal dinners, or even young children’s day to day fun!
Reusable Makeup Wipes
Soft felt and colourful fabric are sewn together to make awesome reusable makeup wipes. Not only are they perfect for travel, but they are also perfect to make while you travel. A half dozen can be packaged together for an awesome gift addition, plus they are super easy to hand sew in very little time.
Headbands
Your choice of a rayon stretch fabric makes an awesome headband. You can make them as thick or thin as you like, and provide a fun wrap around flair to it, or even a cute way to tie it up. All you have to do is cut your material and stitch the sides to help keep it from unraveling.
Finger Weaving
Finger weaving or knitting is a fun way to pass the time both for yourself and your children. You can make thin scarves and other fun options that can be later sewn together into something larger. It also is a way to pass the time as it doesn’t require a lot of attention and is calming in its movement.
Friendship Bracelets
Friendship bracelets aren’t just for elementary-aged kids. Weaving and braiding these threads and hemp together with beads and semi-precious jewels is a fun way to make unique jewellery.
Conclusion
These are only a few suggestions to consider to take along when you travel. Be aware that vehicle travel and air travel differ enough that you may need to make sure certain things, such as knitting needles, should be bamboo or plastic rather than metal as they may not be allowed on a carry-on.
