Is your knitting pattern good for beach knitting?

Do you like to knit at the beach or the back deck? I see lots of pictures on social media of the sun ‘n’ sand knitters. I’ll bring a knit with me, but honestly I’m there to relax. Listen to the sounds of the waves, swim, and people watch. Not much knitting happens in the summer sun for me. If knitting while sunning near the surf is your thing, I’ve got some tips for you.

1. Keep it small – both the project and the project bag. Smaller things are always quicker and easier to put away. Socks, cowls, cup cozies, hats, jewelry, bags, or smallish toys are truly portable. If you suddenly have to chase after a child or want join in a spontaneous game of volleyball, you don’t want to be hastily wrestling your oversized cable sweater or blanket back into a bag.
2. Pick a really easy project. Chose a knitting pattern that you can quickly memorized so that you don’t have to keep referring to the pattern for every row/round.
3. Use beach friendly yarns. Remember you’re going to be handling suntan and bug lotions, and perhaps sticky treats for the kids. What’s on your hands will get into your yarn too. So maybe leave the lacy and mohair yarns at home this time.
4. Bring hand wipes – see #3.
5. Bring the printed pattern pages and ditch the cell phone/i-pads! Oh ya, going old school. Sure, I love my phone. But in the sun? It’s too difficult to see the screen. Maybe you’ll have service at the beach. Maybe you won’t. This is when paper excels. I fold mine so that it’s small and only the part I’m working on is showing. Paper is easier to read in the sun and you don’t have to worry about the battery running out!
6. If you don’t have prescription sunglasses and you need readers, then you might want to knit with thicker yarns like DK or worsted. They’ll be easier to see without the need for regular glasses.
7. Can’t stand the idea of knitting with wool in the hot sun? Make the switch to cotton, linen, soy, hemp, or other plant based fibers.
8. Save the mommy juice for later 😏. Okay. If you must have that special mommy cup full of fun, try to stick to colorless “juices” – no red wine. Clear spills won’t ruin your knitting.

Have fun! Remember, it’s just string and sticks. Whatever you mess up at the beach can be fixed later on.

Do you have a summer knitting tip you’d like to share with the group?