Patience is not one of my virtues. It is something I have to work on regularly. Waiting for fifteen or twenty minutes at a doctor’s appointment feels more like two hours. Unless…I pull out my yarn and hook. It never fails, I pull out my yarn and hook and no sooner than I start our name is called. I get a little something done and I feel like I haven’t waited at all. Sometimes, (ok let’s not kid ourselves), often times, I am downright disappointed that I was called and hat to put my crochet project away. Portal projects are the greatest way to handle a waiting period.

Small projects that repeat are great for carry along projects. Some portable projects for the kitchen are potholders. Wash clothes and pot scrubbers are also great kitchen items that are small and portable. Use a worsted weight yarn, which comes in great colors, to make all kinds of kitchen items.

You can also make all kinds of bathroom accessories on the go. Wash cloths, hand towels, and facial cloths are fun and portable. These are also great ideas for thank you gifts and house warming parties.

Accessories can be used for all kinds of gifting occasions, birthdays, baby showers, and bridal showers are just a few ideas. Wrist warmers, booties, slippers, socks and jewelry are all small portable projects that keep the waiting blues away.

You can also work on charitable projects such as hats and scarves for shelters in your free, appointment waiting times. Give back a bit of that wonderful crochet talent to your local community.

Many large projects can be broken down into portable sections and assembled at a later time. One of my favorite sites is Happy Yellow House. They have many wonderful, free; yes free, patterns, which are perfect as portable projects. Many are made of small blocks (about two inches square) using two to three colors. Then later you join them to create these wonderful designs.

There are also multitudes of block patterns that you can make using the granny square and its many variations. Other block patterns can be crocheted while waiting and later joined to create one of a kind masterpieces or just a great snuggly afghan.

Portable projects are a great to carry around and work on gifts in your spare (“waiting”) time. That way you always have a small gift to say “thank you” or “happy birthday” or even “I’m sorry” to your friends and family. These small projects are also a great way to advertise your crocheting abilities to the public. You will be surprised at the conversations and contacts you make while crocheting in public, people love to discuss creativity. Especially in times of reccession, you never know who you may encourage to learn to crochet.