by Danielle | January 12, 2010
I have had so many folks ask about traveling with knit and crochet supplies. TSA has an entire page dedicated to this topic. Here it is. I recommend that you print this page and should you have any problems when going through security, present them with this information (nicely, of course).
Now, if you are planning to travel abroad, call the airline. Many countries are very militant about knitting needles. I have heard stories of people having a stewardess run down the aisle and almost tackle someone for knitting on the plane. Anyone else have a story to share?
- 10 Comments
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On January 12, 2010 at 5:32pm, Sandy said...
Recently flew from Reagan to Philadelphia to Oslo; return from Oslo to Munich to Philadelphia to Reagan. Also had an in-country flight from Kirkenes, Norway to Oslo. Took knitting thru security at each place. No one commented. I knitted almost nonstop on the planes. Only one who took notice was a seat mate from Kirkenes to Oslo who only spoke Norwegian. She was very interested in me knitting a pair of socks with 4 double point needles.
On January 12, 2010 at 5:52pm, Aimee said...
Ahhh, something I know a little about!! I travel lots. Really. Lots of miles racked up in the course of a year. When I pull out knitting on the plane invariably a flight attendant stops by my seat with her own knitting and asks me if I can help her fix a mistake. Seriously. So, it’s a pretty safe bet if the flight attendants are knitting, you’ll be in good company.
As for international flights…when I was flying to the UK more than I am now I didn’t have any problems. However, I’ve heard that things have changed and Heathrow isn’t as accommodating. Truly, stitching in space
On January 12, 2010 at 10:27pm, Steph said...
I flew to London and back in November (Dulles to Heathrow), with metal crochet hook and a wooden spindle in my carry on, I packed a plastic hook as well just in case they made me ditch the aluminum one. I had no problems at all in security, and crocheted and spun the entire way there and back without a single comment except the steward asking what I was doing when I was spinning, and several people commenting on my crochet project. I did read that UK flights do not allow metal needles over a certain length.
On January 13, 2010 at 10:10am, Latrilla said...
Are the portable scissors with folding blades allowed?
On January 13, 2010 at 1:52pm, Danielle said...
doubtful
On January 13, 2010 at 2:14pm, Melinda said...
Scissors – metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches are ok in carry on according to TSA website.
On January 18, 2010 at 9:01am, Jennifer said...
I just flew back from Germany and on several flights within Germany. No one commented. At one airport, Frankfurt, they hand checked every piece of carry on luggage. The woman checking my bag felt the end of the needles after she took them out. Maybe she was checking how sharp they were? Anyway, my sister and I were knitting through Lufthansa flights with metal and bamboo needles.
On January 19, 2010 at 8:24pm, Trudy said...
I flew to and from Seattle in the last few days. I was nervous of heightened security. I took two projects in different bags in case the obvious project got pulled by TSA, but no problems. Just a wistful comment from the lady across the aisle, “I haven’t carried my knitting on a plane for years.” She had wrongly assumed she couldn’t carry needles on board and never fact checked it.
On January 20, 2010 at 10:35pm, Deirdre said...
Thanks for the link – it looks like they’ve updated and relaxed their rules. We checked before flying in December and there was a statement about it being up to individual screeners and circular needles over a certain length not allowed. I had to check my moebius scarf project – now I can carry it on and work on it the next time. Thanks, again!
On January 26, 2010 at 3:10pm, Leslie said...
I have had my needles confiscated in Athens (on the way to Cairo), Dublin (on the way back to the US), and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (on the way to Atlanta). I have had them held by security at the Reichstag in Berlin, and was warned not to even try to get them on board flying from Cairo back to DC. YMMV.