From the Tactile Travel, the blog post, Just the pill I needed, reviews The Knit Kit.
On the road, knitting accessories disappear with random, yet repeated frequency. A cable needle falls in between the train seats, a tape measure must have wiggled out when I pull out my journal… and scissors cut loose all of the time. To a certain extent, my answer is “sigh” and get on with it. On the other side, I just try to live without… doing cables without the needle, estimating length along my hand and arm and using a dental floss cutter for yarn. It works.
But row counters can be tough to live without, and so I don’t. Janet at my local LYS (Sit N Knit) suggested that I just tie my row counter to the tail of the work, so it’s virtually impossible to lose. Before heading to Maryland for the @GuidoS Dreamy After Party, I cast on a new project, and it needed a row counter. Of course, row counters were already tied to other projects. In a past life, visiting a yarn shop was part of the trip preparation process anyway (yarn shops are still stress reduction mechanisms, so I was overdue for a visit). An hour before departure, I stopped by for a $1.95 row counter….
And left with a $20 Knit Kit.
This white plastic oval disk was not just a row counter (with a lock!). There’s a tape measure, thread cutter, crochet hook (which I used as a cable needle) and a grommet so you can attach the Knit Kit to your knitting bag (or even onto a cord, if you’d like to keep it around your neck).
On the back side, open what looks like a battery case, and Voila! A pair of collapsible scissors, some stitch markers and needle point protectors are tucked inside. The scissors are blunt edged and TSA approved…. which means you should be able to take them with you on the plane without problem. I have done so twice successfully. Talking to Tiffany at Knit Kits this morning, she said that they traveled to TNNA with 30 Knit Kits in their carry on luggage and all was well.
At first, I wondered if its size might make it a bit unmanageable on the road. A few days of use chased those fears away. It slips easily into smaller purses yet is easy to identify by touch within my bag.
At the @GuidoS party, the Knit Kit garnered many oooos and aaahs! A few days later at my knitting group, the question was, “Is that a pill case?” but the enthusiasm was evident. And at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool, I met folks were pleased to score their own. For a product that’s been on the market for just a couple of months, there’s certainly a lot of awareness.
As one who adheres to William Morris’ adage that things be both beautiful and useful, I must admit the white plastic pill container image was the only drawback. But Knit Kit is so practical, you could always pass this little duckling off as a conversation starter… Tiffany mentioned that the Knit Kits will soon be available in a range of colors… will they become as ubiquitous as the ipod? Then I heard about the folks who are “personalizing” their Knit Kits, and all of the sudden, the idea of a blank canvas became very appealing.
Too cool. I sent mine off to my mom, and soon I’ll be off to pick up another one!