I know..  

you’ve just read the title of this blog and it makes you smile with stitching memories far from home.

I toyed with the idea of calling it ‘Train Sewing’ but decided it was a bit limiting and really there are trains and there are trains…

Train/travel sewing is one of my favourite things to do. Seeing new places, stitching, watching the world go by - the ultimate relaxation.

In April I spent the month away from home, taking a break, practicing my french and generally taking some time to just be. Being a one woman small business owner, it was something that was long overdue.

For me, travel sewing is a different way of approaching your stitching. I’m more of a spontaneous creator, so it can be a little difficult. No, just running to your stash to add that perfect check/stripe or Liberty print. It can be limiting but with a little organisation, so rewarding.

If you know me, you’ll know I love a good list - so here are my top tips for travel sewing.

1. Choose a project that has some repetitive sections

Think quarter circles, six pointed stars, hexagons, one block repeat quilts or something that is part of a bigger quilt or design but doesn’t need grand areas to layout your blocks as you work out which pieces go where. A block with say 48 pieces - for me when I’m travelling, just isn’t fun.

The possibility of losing an important piece down the side of chair or a piece blowing away when you’re alfresco sewing - it happens. I speak from experience !!

2. Cut out your pieces before you leave if possible

This allows you to develop your colour palette and make sure you’re heading in the right direction creatively. Batch cutting any backgrounds also saves so much time.

Snap lock bags are wonderful - not sure how we sewers existed before they were invented.

I don’t always have all my sewing lines marked before I go but I do travel with my sandpaper board, template and marking pencil. So time in airports or waiting for trains passes quickly and productively.

3.  Fil à Gant thread

If you’ve been here awhile, you will have heard me wax lyrical (pardon the pun) about Fil à Gant thread - life changing as it was first described to me.

Fil à Gant, a french gloving thread is a beautifully fine cotton thread with a wax coating.

At 120wt, there is no chance of your stitches showing, stitches glide through your fabric and the wax coating makes threading your needle a dream - especially on moving transportation.

4.  Pins and Needles

In my carry on luggage I keep 3-5 pins and 1 needle with my thread. I love Sohmo Entomology pins and their Sharps needles - beautifully fine but strong and it’s probably tempting fate saying this but I haven’t lost a needle when travelling yet. That said I always keep spares in my checked in luggage - just in case.

5.  finger Pincushions and cutting threads

My latest trip was the first time I’d travelled using a finger pincushion and my Clover thread cutting ring. It was the perfect combination !!

No chance of my pincushion falling off the table and bumping across the aisle under someone else’s feet. Yes - I’ve done that too.

The thread cutter ring was fabulous, with no worrying about losing scissors going through security checkpoints.

Just two things you need to watch out for..

Don’t run your hands through your hair with the ring on ;) and turn the ring around so the blade is facing towards you so the you don’t catch your thread on it and accidentally cut the thread while you’re sewing.

6.  And as for pressing..

I like to finger press as I go and usually wait until I get home to do the final block pressing. Liberty Tana Lawn is such a beautifully fine fabric and I don’t like risking scorching it on perhaps dodgy hotel/airbnb irons. Besides the prospect of pressing everything when I get home gives not only a wonderful sense of achievement but brings back the holiday memories as I remember where I stitched which blocks.

my latest travel sewing

As you might have noticed - I went with a blue Liberty theme together with some low volume fabrics. I’d like to say I had a quilt design planned but the simple truth was that the Liberty Tana Lawn blues had been calling to me, as had the Double Wrench blocks - ever since making my Saving Liberty Quilt.

My thoughts were - ok, let’s make a whole heap of blue Double Wrench blocks. There were possibilities for a medallion quilt, alternating the blocks with a fabulous Liberty print or simply sashing with a beautiful blue Linen. But when something starts to come together, usually you know when it’s right. I’m finding the fabulous secondary pattern formed with the blocks next to each other hard to resist. What do you think?

Whether travelling for a day/week/month, enjoy the change of scenery and the new perspective.

A breath of fresh air, a change from the norm.

Time to recharge your creativity.

Happy Travelling

Mel