In a few weeks I am going on a trip to Costa Rica and staying at an all-inclusive resort. I have started making a list of things that I need to get that I normally wouldn’t take on vacation – extra sun screen, bug spray and maybe some tablets for stomach issues. What I am having trouble figuring out is how much yarn should I take with me.
A couple of years ago I went on a cruise and we had several days at sea. I didn’t plan well and ran out of yarn on the trip. There were activities such as a knitters and natters group and outdoor movies both of which allowed me to have a lot of time to crochet. When we were reached on port that was close to a Walmart, my new friends told me to go there to get more yarn. Walmart in warm climes don’t have any yarn. Two of the ladies in the group also went to check because they didn’t think I would go. I had started rationing my travel stash to crocheting only during the time our group met.
This resort is remotely located and there is a lot of time to relax by the pool and beach, and there’s a long ride from the airport to the resort so I want to make sure that I have enough yarn on the trip. I will be going away or six days, plus the flight time so I don’t know. I was thinking of bringing several small projects – enough for five scarves and a few skeins for hats.
Deciding which clothes and shoes and extra medical/toiletry supplies I need is less difficult to determine than it is for projects. Just as on the cruise, there are going to be activities and time to relax, read and sit in the shade or sun. I crochet to relax and can read my Kindle while doing so. How many projects do I need?
Trip Advisor and general all-inclusive recommendation lists give suggestions about bringing an insulated cup for your beverages and aspirin or other things that might cost considerably more at the resort. Most resorts have books available to read, but they suggest bringing a paperback or two to read. No one gives suggestions about how many projects to bring for an all inclusive resort.
When I went on the cruise, I finished five projects because a new friend gave me some yarn and I combined it with the leftovers of the other projects I brought. I didn’t just sit around and crochet all day on vacation. We stopped at several ports and I didn’t take a project when we went sightseeing. I took glockenspiel lessons, went to lectures, shows, talks about the different destinations, participated in wine tastings and happy hours, enjoyed the scenery and other activities where I didn’t have time or light to crochet, yet I still ran out of yarn. I think I need to ask my friends in my knitting group how much they think I should bring. They would be able to give me some guidance. As of today, I am considering enough for five scarves and three or four skeins of yarn that I use for hats. I can make at least two hats from a skein, three if they are less ornate. Hopefully, that will be enough since there is a lot of time for relaxing and a scarf takes about 3-4 hours to make and a hat about 45 minutes. Sitting around and lounging pool side with a drink and project sounds fabulous. It will be more fabulous if I can chat and have a conversation with friends while drinking a cool beverage and working on a project. This will still give me an opportunity to read, participate in activities and nap of course. When I have crochet projects, I can still talk to people and not be cut off from the conversation as I am when I’m reading.
Ideas, suggestions? Yarn for five scarves and four skeins for hats. That should keep me occupied. The amount is what’s the issue. I generally have a couple of extra hooks with me, just in case I lose one.
