I’ve seen it on Ravelry, and read Facebook posts and tweets about it, time and time again – What are the travel essentials for knitting? What bag should I use at my carry on? Well look no further than the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Vogue Knitting.
The answer is right there, plain as day, in color. The Rio is the bag you should use as your carry-on. With all of its pockets, compartments, and circlets to knit on the go, no one will ever know that technically this is designed as craft bag.
More than looking effortlessly chic while traveling, the Rio provides the kind of organization and size to keep you moving seamlessly through the crowds and your current project.
Don’t forget to scoop up the latest issue of Vogue Knitting, out now!
For many of us, shopping online has become our primary way of purchasing, especially for those of you who live out in the boonies or the cuts or the sticks, whichever is your preferred lingo for not living close enough to a retailer that sells the product you want.
With shopping online you lose out on the ability to touch, feel, try on, and simply experience the product prior to purchasing and you gain the bundle of questions and research (lucky you) that go along with making a decision to buy a product from a computer screen.
Didn’t you think buying online was supposed to be easier too? In many ways it definitely is – the stress-less, line-less, wait-less ease of shopping from my couch – I can think of only a few things I love more.
We want to make things as easy and smooth as possible for you to make an informed purchase so Jordana has created an easy-to-read chart on how all Jordana Paige bags size up against each other.
Curious as to what bags have a zippered divider? It’s in there. Need to know the exact dimensions to be sure your electronic device will fit? That’s in there too. Must find out how many credit card slots these babies have? Bam! There.
We’ve got you covered because the last thing we want is for you to not be 1000% satisfied when you finally get your Jordana Paige bag in your crafty little hands.
As smart and on top of it as we think we are, we know there is a chance we left something out YOU were wondering about. If we did, be sure to leave a comment or email us with any inquiries about any Jordana Paige product as we are always here to help.
I once carried a large clear plastic purse (don’t ask) and a friend commented that everyone could see what was in my bag and I replied with “I have nothing to hide” and guess what? Neither does Stefanie Japel.
A while back we started a What’s In Your Bag? series on the blog and today we have the next installment featuring the amazing knitwear designer, Stefanie Japel. Over here at Jordana Paige, we are HUGE fans of Stefanie’s and any chance we get to collab with her, we snatch right up.
Currently, she is rotating between two Jordana Paige bags, our Rio and the recently discontinued L.J. Kaelms, and she is letting us look inside BOTH! Talk about a cool woman. We are showing you what she is carrying inside her Rio. To find out what is inside her L.J. Kaelms hop on over to her blog.
Here is the lineup of everything in her bag straight from Stefanie:
I can fit my 17″ PowerBook, 3 knitting projects, cable for the laptop, notebooks, files, myriad lip glosses and pens, and a portable hard drive in there!! Amazing!!
Okay Stefanie, we promise to stop bugging you now to show us what’s in your JP bag! Thanks so much for sharing. What can you fit in your Jordana Paige bag? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
That’s right, people. Nothing but love around this neck of the woods. Love of Knitting magazine knows a thing or two about the topic ( I mean, the word is in the title…) and they have plenty to go around, especially for Jordana Paige’s Rio.
Love of Knitting magazine if you are listening: the feeling is mutual!
The Winter 2012 edition spotlights the Jordana Paige classic saying this:
Sleek and stylish, this gorgeous bag is sure to go on every knitter’s wish list!
Oddly enough (or not odd at all) we completely agree! Be sure to scoop up this months issue for this great feature and more.
If you read our blog, you know that in addition to loving all things fiber and fashion, we’ve also got a bit of a thing for travel. That’s why when Kathryn Vercillo of the blog Crochet Concupiscence offered to guest blog about traveling with yarn, we couldn’t resist.
She also opens up her bag for another edition of What’s In Your Bag? Read on? We think so:
Knitting and crochet projects are an excellent diversion for any plane ride. The repetition of stitching is soothing and relaxing, which is exactly what most of us are looking for on our vacations. The stressful part of it all can be figuring out what projects and craft tools you are allowed to take on the plane, how to pack them properly and how to work on them in those crowded little seats. This guide will help you figure that all out so that you can travel smoothly with your craft.
What Can I Take on the Plane?
The first question on everyone’s mind is, “What will I be allowed to take on the plane?” After all, with all of the tightened security rules that the airlines have these days you never know what they might take away before you get to the gate. Here are some of the basic rules to follow based on current TSA guidelines.
Crochet hooks are almost always okay. These are not considered sharp or dangerous so you should have no problem getting them on the plane.
Rules on knitting needles vary. Here’s what the TSA currently says: “Items needed to pursue a needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside which cannot go through the checkpoint and must go in your checked baggage.”
Scissors must be small. The rule is that metal scissors with pointed tips must have blades no longer than four inches. Alternatively you can bring blunt-tip scissors.
Sewing tools. Sewing needles and pins are allowed on planes so you can pack them if you’ll need them for your project.
Note: Keep in mind that that these rules are subject to change and may vary depending upon where you are traveling. Always check the TSA site and your own airline’s guidelines before you pack if you want to be sure.
What Should I Take on The Plane
Just because you’re allowed to take your tools on the plane doesn’t mean that you should. Here are some tips for the best yarn tools on planes:
Choose plastic or bamboo hooks and needles. They look less threatening and therefore are more likely to easily make it through security than aluminum or steel tools.
Choose smaller size tools when possible. A long, pointy knitting needle looks more dangerous than a smaller, rounded needle. Most airplane security people won’t care either way but if you want to get through security smoothly then this is something to keep in mind.
Circular knitting needles. Many knitters recommend this option because if you drop a straight needle on the plane it will be a lot more likely to roll away and get lost. Note that it is commonly recommended that circular needles be smaller than 31” in length.
Kids’ scissors. You may want to bring kids’ craft scissors since these will cut yarn just fine and aren’t considered a safety risk.
Stitch markers. You may have to stop in the middle of your project so make sure that you have a way to mark your place.
Best Projects for Airplanes
Once you’ve got your tools settled, you need to decide what project is going to be best for the airplane. Here are some tips:
Choose a project without too many color changes. If you pick a project that includes twenty different yarn colors with color changes at every row then you need to pack twenty skeins of yarn in your carry-on luggage and that’s a hassle. Choose a project with one or two colors of yarn instead.
Consider yarn weights. Your yarn will require less space in your carry-on if you choose fingering weight over bulky. Think about that since you can only bring a small carry-on on board.
Select a mid-sized project. You don’t want to bring along an afghan worked continuously because the project needs to fit in that small seat with you. However you also don’t want to make zillions of little blocks or tiny amigurumi pieces because you risk losing some of them on the way. Choose mid-sized projects like a cowl, shrug or 12” blocks for a blanket.
How to Pack and Organize
Once you have the right tools and the right project, it’s time to pack it all into your carry-on to use on the plane. The two important things here will be to choose the right carry-on bag and to organize everything for ease of use during the trip.
First, you want to make sure that you choose a good carry-on bag. Although you can take large carry-ons onto most planes, you may want to go with a smaller bag to ensure that even if the plane is fully packed your bag won’t get moved to the plane’s underbelly. You want to choose a bag that has lots of pockets and separate spaces. This allows you to easily separate your yarn project from other important things like medication, electronic gadgets and snacks. The Rio and The Satchel by Jordana Paige are great choices because they are large enough to carry many items but small enough to fit nicely on a plane. Plus they have lots of pockets to keep everything you bring well organized.
Even if you do pack a reasonably small carry-on bag, you will want to pack a smaller bag inside of it that contains the project that you want on the plane. This way, you can easily pull out your project and keep it under the seat in front of you in case your bag does get checked or gets placed somewhere far away from you on the plane. Your smaller bag should include just the most necessary items:
The portion of the project that you are currently working on.
The yarn you need to complete that portion of the project.
The hook or needles needed for that part of the project.
Stitch markers in case you need to stop in the middle of your project.
Everything else can stay in your larger carry-on bag. You may want to keep your tools safely organized in one place by putting them together in a carrying case such as the Crafter’s Tool Butler.
Your craft project should be a joy during your trip, not a hassle. Pack smartly and it will be!
This guest post was written by Kathryn Vercillo of the blog Crochet Concupiscence. Kathryn’s work has been published around the web on sites like Crochetvolution, SF Indie Fashion, Whip Up, Handmadeology. Her newest book, Crochet Saved My Life, will be out in August 2012.
We’re always looking for creative and adventurous stories of yarn, travel and handbags on our blog. If you’re interested, please let us know in the comments or email us!
When looking for a good mechanic or plumber, most people end up asking their friends who’ve had some experience with a good one. Generally, we want to hear from “real people” about what they liked or didn’t like about something we’re thinking about spending our hard-earned cash on.
That’s why we love to hear from the bloggers out there in the world about what they think about our Jordana Paige bags. And Leslie and Laura over at The Knit Girllls vlogged about taking their Rio and L.J. Kaelms to Stitches.
You can watch the whole episode here or skip forward to 9:00 for the review.
Overall, the ladies loved the bags, saying they “look nice” and are “holding up quite well” for how hard they are on them. And they say that all in a southern accent.
The girls have also reviewed our Crafter’s Tool Butler, and had some great things to say about that as well. Thanks ladies! We know loads of your virtual friends take your advice and we appreciate the kind words!
One of the best parts of working within our crafty niche of yarn mixed with fashion is perusing the different types of art out there. From crochet playgrounds to yarn graffitti, there’s pretty much something for everyone.
That’s a big part of what Crochet Concupiscence is all about: appreciating the art in crochet fashion. It’s also about telling great stories and recently, reviewing our Rio!
Kathryn wrote about how many people ask her about how to carry crochet WIPs.
One of the options that I think a lot of women are seeking is a really stylish bag that is large enough to carry their everyday stuff along with their current WIPs. I think that the stylish bags from Jordana Paige may be the answer.
What is it about peaking inside someone else’s purse? It’s kinda like peaking in someone’s home: you want to see how they use their space, whether for inspiration, to ooo and ahhh or just to satisfy your curiosity.
Jordana did a post awhile ago about what was in her purse, and we thought we’d show a few more. We started with Donna Druchnas and her L.J. Kaelms. We were thrilled when she offered us a peak into her latest super-secret design project.
Here’s my bag. What’s in it? The inspiration and ideas for my a new pattern line I will be publishing next year. I can’t say much more now, but you can see in the photo that travel is involved.
And as in most of my design work, there will be strong cultural and historical influences. When I travel, the bag becomes my all-purpose carry-on + knitting bag, but when I’m at home for a stretch of time, it becomes my business-planning tote.
I love that my L.J. Kaelms is so versatile, light-weight, and comfortable to carry. Don’t know how I ever lived without it. An exaggeration? Maybe just a little.
Aww can you feel the love? And since Rebecca hasn’t opened up her purse to you yet, let her spill her (handbag’s) guts:
I went to Minneapolis awhile back and decided to check a bag, which meant I could carry something fabulous on board instead of the usual backpack/luggage blahness.
When I pulled everything out after I’d set up my Rio, I realized I carry two of pretty much everything. And my husband couldn’t believe I fit it all in there. He has no idea. This isn’t even as packed as I’ve had it.
Two cameras, two pairs of glasses, two journals, two books, two yarn projects — that’s Sante’s fancy scarf there and a crochet creation I’m just playing with. Plus I need snacks and LOTS of water when I travel.
I was pretty impressed the Rio closed with all my stuff stashed in there, but honestly that’s kind of what I use my Rio for. I love my Bella, which goes with me everywhere, but if I need more than one way to entertain myself (long bus rides, plane rides, car rides) the Rio is my go-to. It gets abused even if it isn’t used every day.
What’s in your Jordana Paige bag? We’d love to see how you organize your knitting and everyday things! Email us the photo, post it on our Facebook wall or tweet it at us. We love to see our products in action!
Have you seen the latest Knit ‘n’ Style? It’s got a really cute sweater design in it called Getting Ready for Spring by Sandi Prosser. And what else is in there? The Rio in blue lapis!
The Rio does know how to pose for a fashion shoot. Thanks to Knit ‘n’ Style for the love: “fashion-forward” and “gorgeous” are very nice compliments indeed! Who knows? Maybe I’ll be toting around the yarn for the Getting Ready for Spring sweater in a Rio soon!
