Last week, my kid and I went on a short camping trip, just the two of us. The campground is a little remote, so there was no internet access at our campsite (heaven). There was also no running water, just pit toilets and regularly refilled tanks where you can get water for washing/cooking.
And because I am who I am, I brought my knitting along. It gave me an opportunity to think about the ideal camping project and some helpful tips for knitting while camping. Thus, a blog post was born!
So let’s get down to it. Here are five things that stood out to me during my knitting-while-camping adventure. Details about the campground, one of my favorite places in the world, are at the end of this post.
#1: The best projects are small and lightweight but high in yardage.
Most of us, when camping, are operating under conditions where space is at a premium. I drive a fairly spacious vehicle, but between the tent, sleeping bags, food, chairs, and other gear, we were still loaded up pretty full. A large blanket project that needs to travel in its own basket would not be ideal under those circumstances.
If you’re a backpacker, you’re probably going even lighter. RV campers might seem like they have it easier, but even most RVs have limited space compared to a house.
So I brought a Musselburgh Hat knit with fingering-weight yarn on US size 2 needles. It’s one skein and takes up almost no space, but because the yarn and needles are so fine, it’ll take plenty of time to finish it. I knew there was no way I’d use up 400+ yards of yarn in just two days.
#2: Wool is an ideal knitting-while-camping fiber.
Wool is naturally odor-resistant, which is great for camping. Every time I come home from a camping trip, all my belongings smell like campfire smoke. This time, even my water bottle smelled like it when I got back!
But the wool hat I was knitting? No scent.
If you’re worried about having knitting that smells like camping for ages afterward, wool is probably your best bet.
#3: Don’t bring yarn that can’t be washed or that traps small particles easily.
Campgrounds run the gamut of tidiness, from the pristine to the extremely rustic. Within that spectrum, you’ll also have a range of dust and other grime that is more or less easy to get on your yarn. Depending on your camping style (RV v. tent v. backpacking), you may be more or less likely to get dirt all over yourself, too.
Because of that potential for dirt, it’s best not to bring yarn that can’t handle much washing. Your extremely delicate cashmere or most precious silk-mohair should stay home where they won’t get dirt and little bits of vegetal matter stuck to them.
If you bring yarn that can be washed, then you don’t need to stress when you accidentally drop your project in the dirt. Uh, not that I did that. I definitely didn’t do it more than once. Nope.
#4: A little handwashing goes a long way.
On our trip, we were tent camping, playing at the beach and in the creek, and touching all sorts of things. My hands got pretty gross on this trip, and they definitely should not have been allowed near yarn in their state.
Under ordinary circumstances, grimy hands aren’t that big of a deal because you can just wash them. The problem here? Remember, our campground didn’t have sinks.
Luckily, I had brought some tubs for washing dishes and hands, plus a 5-gallon jug for filling up at the water tanks. If you plan ahead to have ways to wash up, it’ll save you a lot of frustration down the line.
#5: Simple projects are great for knitting in the dark.
One of my favorite times for knitting while camping is while sitting around the campfire in the evening. That might sound strange, since campfire lighting isn’t exactly ideal for working on craft projects, especially projects in fine yarn on tiny needles.
That’s where a simple stockinette project comes in. Once you’re comfortable enough with your knitting, you can do it mostly by feel, and that’s exactly what I like to do around the campfire. A pair of vanilla socks, a stockinette hat, or a top-down stockinette sweater (past the point of dividing for sleeves, anyway) are great choices for nighttime campfire knitting.
About our camping destination: Montaña de Oro State Park
We went camping at Montaña de Oro State Park, which is located on the Central Coast of California about half an hour from San Luis Obispo. It’s a spot where I’ve been camping with my family since I was a preschooler, and it’s really special to me. It’s also really special to a lot of other people, though, and it’s not very big, so plan trips ahead of time and reserve your spot early (reservations open up six months in advance on reservecalifornia.com).
As you can see from some of the photos, this spot can be pretty chilly even in summer. We were there June 30-July 2 and wore sweatshirts 90% of the time, with thicker jackets and hats once the sun started setting.
If you visit, be very diligent about putting away food and throwing trash in receptacles. The raccoons are fearless and will steal food right out of your hands.
We saw lots of exciting wildlife while we were there, including deer, otters, dolphins, quail, raccoons, hawks, rabbits, and a rattlesnake (very drowsy at the side of the trail in the early morning). Remember, this was their home first, so give them space and leave the park in good condition for them when you leave.
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I’ve been RV’ing in small rigs for years and always have my knitting with me. In fact, myself and another friend even bring our small spinning wheels with us and spin while camping! The only thing I would warn people about is sparks from the campfire landing on your knitting. I have lots of holes on the front of my camping fleece jackets to prove that that does occur, so be careful.
Definitely worth thinking about, and another reason wool is such a great choice! It’s slow to burn, so you have more time to shake off an ember before it causes real damage. Would love to hear more about your current rig (am trying to convince my spouse that I need, simply neeeed a little Scamp or Casita). I grew up camping in a tent trailer and then a big class C motorhome as we kids got bigger.