Today let’s talk about your project bag. We all have one or twenty. LOL Way back when I first started posting on YouTube, I made this video. As you can see I hadn’t truly fallen down the rabbits hole yet. I will not even begin to try and go through what I have now, I mean that was 6 years ago.
Honestly what does the perfect project bag hold? In my opinion the purpose goes beyond the merely holding your WIP (work in progress). The best one should essentially be your traveling craft room. If it has all that it should, you can do whatever you must no matter where you sit.
Contents of the perfect project bag
Ok let’s do this. My bag always has my knit kit. This kit has everything I need. A pair of scissors, a crochet hook for dropped stitches, stitch markers, a tapestry needle, a counter and a measuring tape. Are you thinking well geez GG that’s a lot of stuff? To that I ask, have you ever been out with your crafting and had to stop because you needed at least one of those tools listed above?
Now outside of the actual tools needed for my project, my bag also has the following items. I usually have my wallet my iPad, my ear-pods, charger for my iPhone, tissues (because I am snotty Pipen), extra masks and hand sanitizer (because Covid-19). The same bag will also have lipstick, lipgloss and some sort of moisturizer for my hands. I think I shared while I was at Stitches West I fell in love with Lolo Body Bar, so I keep that on my person. I am crushing on the Ginger Amber scent. What’s in your bag?
I feel like I owe you an explanation about this particular bag. This orange beauty was a gift from the one and only Joji & Co. The bag is called the CBA Tote. Check out here website she updates often.
Absolutely love your new orange bag! My go-to is my Bagsmith canvas standing bag; discovered these years ago, when I worked in a yarn shop. This is the one I took to group – it’s a good size, with lots of pockets inside, and two zip ones one one side, with a clear pocket for patterns on the other – and it stands on it’s owen (but also collapses for easy carry). Mine is still packed with the project I was working on at group 🙁
I have one of those too. I miss the BagSmith
I love that bag 😍 I just got a Pampa bucket Bag from Joji. My bags only hold my WIPs and my pattern and a pen. And usually I have an index card in there if I’m ticking off rows I’m completing. I have everything else in my purse. All of my bags are pretty small, I think I only have 2 sweater size bags and they don’t have good pockets for carrying things other than my knitting. I’m drooling over those Joji backpacks though. I’ve wanted something like that for a while.
I’m an undercover pack rat so I always have large bags. Yea Joji bags are 🤩
Currently my wip is living in a Wurthering Sheep bag. Plenty of space for tools, and I like the snap yarn guides. I’m doing a marled sweater, so those little guides are handy. My cousin gave me a small Kate spade bag a few years ago. It’s been perfect for small projects, like a hat or socks. Plus, it’s super cute!
Those yarn leads are super handy
Thanks Gaye! My bag has pretty much the same things other than the Lolo body bar. Thanks for the reminder as I’ve been meaning to get some. And I love the Joji bag you have! Gorgeous!
I am in love with my Lola body bar 🥰
I love your list. I have so many WIPs that I have many project bags. I have a knot kit like yours, and it’s clear plastic so I can find things, because I tend to have more than one of all the things you mentioned! Plus a needle gauge, stitch holders, a few spare yards of yarn (helps with so many things) and point protectors.Sometimes my knot kit gets moved from bag to bag as I’m working on different things, but mostly it lives with my main project or biggest, fussiest project (think sweater). I often create mini knot kits for the other projects, that have just what that project needs (usually a crochet hook, scissors, and a few stitch markers). A lot of my smaller projects are things like socks, that need very little by way of notions.
Rather than put my wallet, hand lotion, inhalers and phone directly into my knitting bag, those go into a small purse that can fit inside a larger project bag. Again, easy to take out and move if I’m bringing a different project along.
Oh my gosh! You have everything except a change of underwear and the kitchen sink! I love it. I have a number of project bags, depending on what my project is, I am a sewist and a quilter so I make my own bags. Each one has lots of extra pockets in it for the essentials. I also have a rectangular plastic box with stitch markers, darning needles, pins, scissors, crochet hooks, stitch holders, pen, pencil, tools for my Chiaogoo needles and my Knit Pick needles cause I have projects on both. Oh, forgot the lip balm and a small 6″ ruler plus a tape measure that is hooked onto the end of the box. It fits into all my project bags because I can’t go anywhere without it. I may still have to take a purse with me if it’s a smaller bag, but if I’m taking a bigger bag, anything else like phone, kleenex goes into the bag. It’s a whole different story if I’m travelling though. Then I have a very very large bag that folds down for storage that holds all the projects and extra yarn and needles that I may need while away.
Love this post, I have lots of bags! Sometimes I sew my own project bags, some I buy and have gotten a few freebies. I have a notions pouch with all the necessity items, like biz cards, calculator, extra hooks, tape measurer, stitch markers…
Before COV-id I would always have my purse and a big bag packed with a number of projects.
Hm I guess my project bags are compared empty. ( literally right now as my wips are next to me on the bed). I normally only have yarn related things in my bags. A Wip or two. Some tools in a notions pouch and maybe a note book with a pen (yes old style). All other stuff is in my backpack if I go out and my project bag will ve in the backpack. Have a great day.
I have a lot of tote bags for knitting. My projects are in their own zippered bags and I have a ton of them. My notions are in little fabric notion bags and I have them in almost every room of the house and one in each tote bag that gets used a lot. I love bags and occasionally retire them when they wear out. Love your Orange tote.
I keep a pencil case with me all the time with the same as your items! My little Purl Soho scissors fit perfectly! Add to mine a tiny roll of lifeline yarn for the inevitable frog, a few bobbins and stitch holders! My WIP moves around different project totes from my favorite yarn stores. Ya just can’t leave home unprepared because ANYTHING can happen- and if it doesn’t you need to get knitting!! 😁
PS- your tote is gorgeous. I noticed it the other day in a photo you shared!
Thank you!!
A bunch of years ago I bought a plastic pencil case. You know the hinged kind elementary kids use. It is clear and about 6 inches by 4 by 1.5. It is great for holding all my bits and tools, small scissors, a needle case, a tape measure, a ‘wallet’ with stitch markers, a note pad, any unused double point needles (sock size) and a pencil, a photo copy of a current set of directions (if necessary) and I think that covers it. Because it is a hard case, the scissors and needles don’t ‘poke’ or snag on anything. It is easy to find and because it is a ‘case’ nothing falls out when you open it (unless you drop it). And it was inexpensive. I’ve had it for 10 years or more (I can’t remember when I got it.) It also will help keep a sock in progress from slipping off the needles as I can place the whole sock and needles in the box and close it. The yarn isn’t damaged by being ‘clipped’ by the closed lid. I heartily recommend it.
🗣 Thank you for sharing
I have a Tom Bihn bag I splurged on years ago. It has been on so many road trips and even went with me to England and Germany. I have other project bags too. I carry my tools in a zippered pouch (long things, like crochet hook, scissors, DPNs) and a wee tackle box for stitch markers, blunt tapestry needles, etc. Sometimes I carry hard candy, pencil, pen in the clear pockets. I have drooled over Joji & Co bags on their website, but may have to put that on a Christmas list ( #need$$$$ )!
PS I finally finished that Hipster Shawl!! And found another project I’d laid aside. Onward…
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 to onward
Firstly: orange is my absolute favorite color. It looks awful on me and I don’t give a cluck.
Secondly: I have yet to find a project bag I really love so I am tapping into my inner child and am currently on a mission to create my own.
Finally, I don’t know how I ended up here but I’m glad I did. Love from Portland, OR.
K
Welcome and thank you for my first giggle of the day! I don’t give a cluck 😂🤣
I loved reading this. I’m currently looking for a “proper” knitting bag. I also carry loads in my purse. I knitted “My constant companion” and used that but no inner pockets. I have a big B&N book bag to carry swatches and a little favs of future knits. Found a Donna Sharp quilted bag about 15 years ago with so many pockets inside, 2 outside. I use that mostly. Many little sock bags. My notions are all make up bags with duplicates of what GG has. I adore Jojis bags and like the roll top dellaq. Planning/hoping to get one for myself for Christmas. I’m a total pack rat without a good knitting bag ! I still knit like mad so……. xoxo