You know how sometimes, when things seem to be going really well, despite all kinds of barely-avoided pitfalls? Well, it seems the other shoe has dropped. Today, after finishing the gusset decreases on my sock and getting over half-way through the foot, I lost my little knitting bag. In it was my yarn, needles, tape measure, and mostly-knit sock.

The view from the apartment early this morning. (Standing in the same place and turning 90 degrees to the right would give me the view from yesterday’s photo.)
I know it’s a small thing. I know that it isn’t a make-or-break the holidays thing. I know I’m in Switzerland with my family. I know all of this, but still, I’m upset. You know how knitting is soothing and can helps manage stress? Well, I love my family, but sometimes when we’re all together I really need to knit, if you know what I mean. I knit during long car rides on impossibly winding roads, and while we’re sitting around together in the evenings, and especially on long transatlantic flights.

We were already on the road to Geneva to meet my sister’s flight as the sun was just starting to break over the top of the mountains.
I was, in fact, so concerned that I might get through my knitting early (and, at the rate I was going, probably would have had a pair of socks by Christmas) that I packed extra yarn. The rub? I didn’t pack extra needles. So now I’m here, with my knitting lost, extra yarn, and no needles. I’ve been doing some Googling and it looks like this is the closest knitting store, and it’s an hour away. I e-mailed the owner and I am super hoping it isn’t closed for the holidays. I have a long return flight alone, and without something to knit, that time is stretching out before me in a very daunting way.
I’m not without hope, though. I’m pretty sure I know where the knitting fell out of the car. We went back there tonight and no one had handed it in, but I was quick, so maybe they just hadn’t had time. I mean, who wants to hold onto someone else’s knitting, right? And any knitter would turn it in to the nearest shop or tourist office, right? (Right!?) I’m going skiing tomorrow and I’m going to spend the day believing in the goodness of people. Tomorrow evening, I’m going to make another round of inquiries with my fingers crossed.
I’ll let you know how it goes.

Same mountains as the first photo, but taken from the road farther down the mountains and looking back north.
(Since I can’t show you pictures of what I’ve lost, I thought maybe a selection of mountains would be in order.)
Yikes! Quite the knitting emergency. Any chance that a larger store might have a small craft section with something to get you through? With the mountains and snow, there’s got to be some knitters lurking around. This blog post from earlier this year mentions the Manor Department store in Geneva: Knitting in Geneva .
The mountains are beautiful though, I’m quite jealous of your view!
Oh, thank you for this! I ended up going to another big grocery store (Migros) and got a set of dpns. They’re not beautiful, but they’re 100% better than nothing.
maybe you can spot other knitters in the wild and buy a pair of needles from a local?
Oh no! Personally that is a major bummer in my book. I really hope that someone turns in your project bag. Fingers are crossed for you!
Thank you! I feel it’s the kind of thing that only another knitter/crafter can really understand.
oh no!!! You poor thing!! I hope you get the needles soon, or find your knitting.
I don’t envy you one bit. Really hope it works out and you’re knitting away again soon.
I’m so sorry, that’s an awful thing to happen. I really hope you recover it soon!
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