My knitting Go bag – notions I carry/considerations & power bank etc.
I am a fan of that TV series Bones and every time I think of my bags, whether it be for work or knitting, etc. I think of that episode “A Boy in a Tree” about a case at a private prep school and the sign out front reads “Omnia Mea Mecum Porto” and Booth is like what does that mean? and then Brennan and Zach look at him like how could you not know? then in unison they say, “I carry with me all my things.”
Funny enough, while writing this post I came across this Reel on Instagram that explains it all.
So what comes with me?
Well ideally, all the tools I could possibly need for the projects I am bringing with me and the trip I’m going on. Sounds so simple right?
So what do I put in it?
My knitting toolkit, power bag, tablet, projects I’m bringing, etc. I’ve outlined my toolkit below, and I’ll also make one for my power bag
Do I bring these things with me all the time?
My knitting toolkit, yes. Unless of course it dumps out my markers and I’m too lazy to put it back together, then maybe not. If you can find tools that all fit in the container you put them in, it should be pretty portable and fit in just about every bag you use! All the other things, like a power bank and tablet, will ultimately depend on what all I’m getting up to and if I even need the tablet for the pattern or something else.
DIY Toolkit
- Cable Needle
-
I don’t cable all of the time, so I often find them hard to use and have honestly cheated and used a yarn needle or locking stitch marker as a substitute. Food for thought if you feel the same. However, I have decided to carry them anyway because I did find a pair that I like and they can also be helpful when picking up several dropped stitches or other surgical tasks.
- Yarn Needles
-
These are helpful for weaving in ends. Is it really necessary or useful everywhere you go? Probably not. But I am one of those that just putting it my kit for “that time when” helps as I use the same kit at home, literally everywhere. ;)
- Keys
-
This may not be something you include in your kit if you aren’t using interchangable needles. If you do, you can leave your extras somewhere safe at home and just bring one with you everywhere in your kit! If it gets lost well, you know there’s more at home.
- Handi Tool
-
Inevitably, you’re going to drop a stitch and unfortunately that can mean stitches.. even rows if you’re having a day. So yes, some of us are able to pick up and fix with just the tip of our needle but having the Handi Tool can make certain situations a little more bearable and less up the creek.
- Scissors
-
There are tiny scissors in all shapes and sizes out there. I happen to have a pair of folding scissors that fit my case which makes it easy to keep a relatively small case that makes it more portable.
- Stitch Markers
-
If you have stitch markers in multiple colors, I recommend packing 3-4 colors with at least 15-20 markers in each color. This is helpful if you’re on the go and you start a new project, or find a mistake and need to mark things. If you go to a knitting group, you might be asked for tone to borrow so having an extra color is helpful for that.
Another stitch marker to consider packing is the round marker. Not a marker that is round, the one that marks the start of your round. I usually use a different color from the rest that I’m using to mark repeats within rounds as I tend to forget to pack them. However, because I recently had my kit dump all over the place I might fix that soon!
DIY Power Bag
So I’m not a tech blogger, just a tech enthusiast. That said I’m not going to go too into detail here!
- Cables
-
- USB-C to USB-A
- USB-C to USB-C
- Specialty charging cables (like for my Samsung Watch)
- Wall Adapter
-
Anker makes some wall outlet plugs? (idk) that convert to USB-C output so I have a couple of those and make sure to carry one with me just in case. The one I have has two USB-C outputs and one that also has an additional USB-A. Having it always, means I’m ready for just about anything, quick trip or a long trip.
If you are in the market I’d recommend looking at the Anker USB-C Charger Nano II, which offers two USB-C and a USB-A port. The Anker Nano offers two USB-C ports and is a little smaller, great for charging phones and tablets!
- Power Bank
-
I have solar power banks that don’t have much capacity (some random unknown brand I found on Amazon). I also have two power banks by Anker, one so old it has a USB-Micro B input and takes forever to charge. Just as well because it takes forever to discharge and can charge my phone twice over. I semi recently got a new Anker bank that offers a USB-C and a USB-A out though, so if I’m on a trip and have all the many types of cables needed for what I’m bringing, I have the ability to charge it without having to bring more adapters, etc.
