pack a park day knitting bag with me

Come spring and summer, my knitting is more on the go than the chilly winter months. heading out to the park is one of my favorite things to do on a weekday afternoon with the kids, and you best believe that I pack my knitting. so, come pack a park day knitting bag with me!

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I want to spend as much time as I can outside when it starts getting warm and the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds. So, being a homeschool family who finishes school by lunchtime, we often head out to the park in the afternoons to meet up with friends. This is what I pack in my knitting bag for park days.

Why knit at the park?

Should your knitting stay home? Can you even watch your kids or talk to other moms when you’re knitting at the park?

For me, I listen better when I have knitting in my hands. I also get less nervous and awkward by other moms at the park when I have a comfort knitting project to work on. I mean, I’m still awkward, but at least I have my comfort knitting.

And the best park knitting projects are small and portable.

the best park knitting projects

I typically bring socks. One, I usually know the pattern and construction by heart because I knit them so often. Two, it doesn’t take long to knit a pair of socks, so I always keep a sock knitting project in my car that is mindless. And three, It’s small, portable, and easy to set down quickly if someone is climbing too high or trips on stairs.

Basically, take mindless knitting. Something that you don’t need to check a knitting chart or mark rows on.

to tote or not to tote

Depending on the weather (drizzle, wind), you’ll want something to carry your knitting project in. I love to use my small Trader Joes’ tote, because I don’t have to fuss around with zippers. I can leave the top open and just knit with the yarn ball sitting inside the tote.

However, I’ve also taken a small basket, Little Red Riding Hood style. I like that the basket is sturdy and gives a more durable layer between my yarn and a picnic table or bench.

If rain is apossibility, grab a bag with a zipper.

what i pack in my knitting bag for park days

I’m assuming you’re already packing for the park as a person already (water, snacks, sunglasses, etc.). So here is a grounded, no-fluff way to look at just the knitting related items.

Besides my knitting project, I always throw a small notions bag into my tote. Since my bag is small, I throw the essentials into an even smaller pouch so it’s not taking up so much room in the bag.

The worst thing you can do when knitting at the park is to pack your entire craft room. Simple is better. Odds are, you’re going to find more to do at that park than just knit, whether you walk around the perimeter for exercise or wander with the kids to look at birds or a pond.

the essentials for my notions bag

Assuming this isn’t my lounge around at home or somewhere I can sprawl and knit notions bag, I pack light. While my main, larger notions bag has more bonus things I could use (needle stoppers, an abundance of stitch markers!) my park bag has just a few main things.

Since I usually knit socks, this is what I put in my park bag to knit:

3 stitch markers to mark my gusset increases and toe decreases
two double pointed knitting needles in the size I’m using*
small scissors
a yarn needle to weave in ends
a small amount of fingering weight scrap yarn**

*The only caveat is that if I’m already on the heel of my sock and have DPNs on my project, I have the circular needles in my bag instead. Ready for picking up the gusset!

**Although, I am enjoying knitting an afterthought heel more often these days, and worrying about the heel at the end.