We all love to bring our knitting and crochet projects with us on vacation, right? Whether we’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, we need something to do with our hands. We want a project that will remind us of our experiences. We need an excuse to buy a skein or two of our favorite yarn from a new-to-us local yarn shop! There are so many reasons crafting and vacation go together so well.

Today we’re sharing some of our favorite vacation projects for on-the-go knitting and crocheting. These projects are great when you only want to bring a few skeins on your trip. They’re also perfect for when you want to purchase a few skeins of yarn when you visit a shop while on vacation.

Are you ready to craft on vacation?!? The first real step to being ready for a great vacation project is organizing your materials. We created a free download to help you get started. Click the image below to download it to your desktop. You can use this planning document to keep yourself organized—just fill it out and toss it into your project bag!

Ok, let’s talk quick vacation projects!

Granny Squares

We love a good granny square project. They’re quick, easy to make, give you the chance to play with color, and perfect for on-the-go crafting. Check out our list of 7 Free Granny Square Projects for an awesome selection of hats, bags, slippers, socks, blankets, and more. Want to learn how to make a basic hexagonal granny square? Find a good tutorial (with color inspo!) here.

Comhar Socks

Socks are a fantastic vacation project and a go-to for many knitters on the move. You usually only need a skein or two to make a pair of socks. The Comhar Socks, shown above, call for two skeins of Nature Spun Fingering, but you could also make them with Wildfoote Sock Yarn. We shared 7 Free Sock Patterns one year for Socktober—check them out for a great place to start with knitting socks!

Olivine Top

It’s the summer, so it’s obviously a great time to knit a lacy sleeveless top! The Olivine Top in Cotton Fleece is one of our all-time favorites. It’s effortlessly chic and only takes 2-4 skeins of yarn, depending on your size. We included it in our list of Favorite Summer Tops—which you should definitely check out for more inspiration!

Bliss Tank

Alicia Plummer’s Bliss Tank is such a beautiful and elegant knit, and of course, perfect for the summer. Available for free, the Bliss Tank is perfect for a summer yarn like Cotton Fleece!

Busy Boy Sweater

If you have a baby to knit for, you can’t go wrong with a quick baby knit. Super portable and fast to make, a knit like the Busy Boy Sweater in Cotton Fleece only requires a few skeins of yarn. Download it for free alongside other baby knits on our blog!

Easy Pot Holders (or Blanket Blocks!)

These Easy Pot Holders are knit with Lamb’s Pride Bulky and felted, but this simple and free pattern could be turned into a number of fun knits. Make enough of them, and you can seam them together for a scarf or a blanket. Modular makes are perfect vacation projects! Explore the Easy Pot Holders and more projects that use small amounts of yarn in our Great Scrap Projects post.

Pressed Flowers Kerchief

Amy Kristoffer’s Pressed Flowers Kerchief is an adorable knit—and a great excuse to play with two colors in a fun mosaic pattern! Two skeins of Prairie Spun DK will give you two kerchiefs, so you can reverse your color dominance and see what that looks like. These make great gifts—and it’s never too early to start gift knitting!

Garden Vines Bandana

You would only need a single skein of Nature Spun Sport to knit the Garden Vines Bandana. We love this knit for keeping your hair back on hot summer days. It feels elegant and chic, and could double as a small scarf!

The Simple Thing

Speaking of an elegant and chic scarf, The Simple Thing is made for vacation knitting. You’ll need exactly one skein of Cotton Fleece or Prairie Spun DK. Plus, it’s garter stitch, all the way down? Just knit, knit, knit, knit?? Sign us up.

Are you ready to cast on a vacation project? Join us in the Brown Sheep Company Crafters group and let us know what you’re planning to make!