"The most important piece of luggage is and remains a cheerful heart" - the "Heath Poet" Hermann Löns is absolutely right. And the second most important thing is the knitting - at least when I'm travelling.
I used to travel a lot. I knitted during my adventurous bus journeys in the Peruvian Andes or when we explored Botswana by jeep. The longer the journey, the thinner the yarn had to be so that as many metres as possible would fit into my luggage for knitting. Whether it was hours of travelling on crowded transport or another puncture somewhere in Africa - I always had something with me to keep me occupied and relaxed. The time of my long-distance travelling is now several years in the past. As a family, we now mainly travel by car and caravan or train and like to have our bikes with us. And a cheerful heart. And of course my knitting - that hasn't changed.When I wrote about the World Wide Knit in Public Day, I already mentioned that I love knitting while travelling - in this case the Tatto shawl from our Berührung collection. I simply find it fascinating to look for places where I can fulfil my passion. When I'm somewhere in nature or in a spot in a new city and I'm knitting there, it's so peaceful. Then I have the feeling that I can absorb my surroundings with real joy and openness. To outsiders, it may seem like I'm missing half the journey because I'm concentrating on the needles instead of the surroundings. But I myself have the impression that a place where I have knitted once touches me particularly deeply in my heart. Knitting makes travelling even more valuable for me.
I also like it when my knitted items tell a story afterwards. They are no longer adventure stories from Africa or South America, nor are they love poems from "my" Porto. But the colours of the Uckermark and the sound of the Dutch sea flow just as wonderfully into a knitted piece. They tell of how beautiful it is to be close by. "A little journey is enough to renew us and the world," says Marcel Proust. Even at home, right on my own doorstep, there are so many wonderful things to discover. Just grab your knitting and start walking. Explore new paths. And where it's nice, stay for a while, knit and take a deep breath. A little break from everyday life.
Maybe you fancy a knitting trip on a sunny afternoon or a balmy summer evening? The other day I packed a blanket and some goodies, my knitting and my family. And then we explored a path between woods and fields - and found a wonderful spot. While my children ran around, I had a great knitting session with coffee, a marvellous panorama and lots of anticipation. Because I'm finally knitting myself a cosy cardigan in my favourite pattern: the Anker's Cardigan - My Size from PetiteKnit in our Cheeky Merino Joy Melange Pur.
.From time to time I also find it nice to be out and about on my own. The €9 ticket comes in very handy and so I visited my parents by train. Travelling by train is often full of surprises, so I was well prepared with my knitting when the train cancellation was announced when I changed trains. While I was annoyed on the platform, I was delighted to be given an extra hour of knitting time. In the station café, I continued knitting the Festival Sweater for my daughter. The pattern is also from PetiteKnit and knits up really well from our Lovely Merino Treat. Twice as relaxed, I finally made it to my destination.
I wish you many wonderful knitting journeys too. Whether big or small, far away or at home - the main thing is that they do you good!
