Thank you for posting this. I have a flight scheduled for next week and I am an anxious flyer anyway. It will be nice to not be worried about my knitting.
Good tips! I travel frequently & pack a plain vanilla sock to work on, no pattern required as I’ve made so many of them. Once I had my needle case taken out and examined by TSA but only because they weren’t sure what it was. Nothing has ever been confiscated.
I always knit on the plane. Something simple like a beanie in the round usually. A couple of months ago my small scissors were confiscated coming out of Heathrow airport. I was so annoyed. Lesson learned there.thanks for the folding scissor tip. Also, for tbe tip on putting tips on cable needles. Great idea.
Has anyone had any experiences walking onto a cruise ship with knitting needles? I’m cruising from Vancouver to Hawaii and back to Vancouver in September. I couldn’t possibly go 16 days without knitting at that time of the year. I think circular needles and a small pair of scissors and a yarn needle should be OK in checked luggage?
I just love your personality and how well spoken you are. I thing I like to do is put a stamped, self addressed envelope with my carryon that I could mail myself if something is going to be confiscated.
Turkish Airlines doesn't allow knitting needles on board at all no matter where you're leaving from. Plus going through Istanbul, the security there does not let knitting needles through in carry on. Checked luggage only.
There is no mention of knitting needles in the list of banned or restricted carry-on items on the Turkish Airline website. In the “sharp items” category, only items with cutting blades are mentioned.
Thanks for this Rachel! So based on this, I should be fine with my one sock project left on my needles? Or should I put them on waste yarn and pack the needles separately?
Great tips! Just an FYI Mexico does not allow knitting needles on the plane. So while you can bring them on the plane flying into Mexico from the US, you will not be permitted to do the reverse.
Before and after 9/11 I have traveled extensively by air in the US, the UK, the EU & non-EU European countries, to South Africa, South America, etc. I mostly take long flights, and sometimes some long train rides. Sometimes the connections times are very long, too. I’d go nuts without some knitting (and audiobooks). I’ve only had TSA pre-check for two years and it hasn’t made any difference in the absolute *lack of attention* my knitting and knitting tools receive from TSA agents. If my bags receive any additional security attention, it’s always because I forgot about taking taking out a liquid or electronic item. I nearly always fly with a knitting WIP in my carry-on personal bag. I’ve never had any of my knitting needles or knitting tools cause any additional security scrutiny at airports or on the plane, and I’ve never had any knitting item confiscated. Short blade blunt tipped children’s scissors have never been an issue in my carry-on bag, either, but lately I’ve preferred carrying the Fiskars TSA approved folding scissors in my notions kit. They are smaller and lighter and they have a loop to make them easy to attach to a keychain or a small carabiner (mine are connected to a thin i-cord “necklace” so they can’t drop out of reach or be forgotten. They cost less than $10 (often on sale for $5-6 in the sewing department at big box craft stores). For lots of reasons, I don’t knit with single point straight needles, on or off a plane. SPNs are very impractical for travel knitting for all sorts of reasons. I’ve always used circular needles when traveling and they rarely attract any attention. Most non-knitters don’t even recognize circular needles or interchangeable tips and cords as knitting needles, at least not without an explanation. In recent years I’ve been traveling with sets of ChiaoGoo interchangeable needle tips and an assortment of cables. I especially like packing my Mini, Small, and Large Shorties tip sets for longer trips when I might be visiting yarns stores and buying yarn. Having all three Shortie sets with me saves packing space & weight vs my 4” & 5” tip sets/cases, yet still allows me to knit any yarn from thin to thick. My other favorite knitting item is a flat bottomed cotton fabric (quilt type fabric) project bag that quickly gathers closed with two ribbons in the casing on the top edge. The lining has little pockets all around to hold small notions with the WIP. When the bag is open on my tray table I fold over the the top edge, and the bag substitutes as a “yarn bowl”, keeping the cake of yarn contained.
Thank you for acknowledging the fact that you are a white woman traveling. I am Filipina, and it is different for me. When I traveled right after 911, to Maui, and TSA pulled me out of the line because of that. It was eye opening. Now I travel more cautiously and allow for extra time incase they feel they must profile my race and the color of my skin. Ofcourse my white husband was not detained but he had to wait for me.
This may not be political correct. I love your tips but please don’t feel you have to apologize for being born a white woman. You had no say in it and how people treat you is their issue not yours
I was not apologizing. I was just trying to acknowledge that the way I am able to move in the world comes with a lot of privilege, so some of these tips based on my own experience may be shaped by that.
Thank you for posting this. I have a flight scheduled for next week and I am an anxious flyer anyway. It will be nice to not be worried about my knitting.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips! I haven’t travelled by plane with my knitting yet, but I feel like I could confidently bring my knitting with me on a future trip!
Thanks Julianna! I’m glad this was helpful for you!
Good tips! I travel frequently & pack a plain vanilla sock to work on, no pattern required as I’ve made so many of them. Once I had my needle case taken out and examined by TSA but only because they weren’t sure what it was. Nothing has ever been confiscated.
I had my little scissors taken out and measured in Iceland. No problem with hooks or needles and as long as the scissors were small enough it was ok.
I always knit on the plane. Something simple like a beanie in the round usually. A couple of months ago my small scissors were confiscated coming out of Heathrow airport. I was so annoyed. Lesson learned there.thanks for the folding scissor tip. Also, for tbe tip on putting tips on cable needles. Great idea.
I’m sorry your scissors were taken!
Great tips! I’m buying the folding scissors.
This was soooo helpful. Thank you so much. 🧶
Glad it was helpful!
Love this!
Thanks Bones!
Yas, I'm just about to go on a two week trip!
Perfect timing!
Has anyone had any experiences walking onto a cruise ship with knitting needles? I’m cruising from Vancouver to Hawaii and back to Vancouver in September. I couldn’t possibly go 16 days without knitting at that time of the year. I think circular needles and a small pair of scissors and a yarn needle should be OK in checked luggage?
This is a great question! I lost my knitting at the airport before I went on a cruise so sadly I can’t weigh in on this. Hopefully someone else knows!
"Hopefully that's not the worse asmr you've ever heard." 😆
I just love your personality and how well spoken you are.
I thing I like to do is put a stamped, self addressed envelope with my carryon that I could mail myself if something is going to be confiscated.
Thank you, Karen! What a kind comment. And the stamped envelope is GENIUS!!!
Turkish Airlines doesn't allow knitting needles on board at all no matter where you're leaving from. Plus going through Istanbul, the security there does not let knitting needles through in carry on. Checked luggage only.
Good to know! Thank you!
There is no mention of knitting needles in the list of banned or restricted carry-on items on the Turkish Airline website. In the “sharp items” category, only items with cutting blades are mentioned.
@@annas7715 Going from in person experience, they don’t let it on board.
Thanks for this Rachel! So based on this, I should be fine with my one sock project left on my needles? Or should I put them on waste yarn and pack the needles separately?
I would leave the project on, personally!
I travel on Southwest Airlines a lot and never had any issues. I also flew West Jet from the US to Canada and didn’t have a problem either.
Excellent! I haven’t traveled with either airline, so this is good info for me! Thanks!
Great tips! Just an FYI Mexico does not allow knitting needles on the plane. So while you can bring them on the plane flying into Mexico from the US, you will not be permitted to do the reverse.
That is a super helpful tip! Thank you! I haven’t been to Mexico so I didn’t know this. Will definitely keep in mind.
I'll just bring ones I hate for when they pry them from my paws.
What about Australia and New Zealand? What about crochet hooks?
And what about Europe? Does anyone know?
Before and after 9/11 I have traveled extensively by air in the US, the UK, the EU & non-EU European countries, to South Africa, South America, etc. I mostly take long flights, and sometimes some long train rides. Sometimes the connections times are very long, too. I’d go nuts without some knitting (and audiobooks).
I’ve only had TSA pre-check for two years and it hasn’t made any difference in the absolute *lack of attention* my knitting and knitting tools receive from TSA agents. If my bags receive any additional security attention, it’s always because I forgot about taking taking out a liquid or electronic item.
I nearly always fly with a knitting WIP in my carry-on personal bag. I’ve never had any of my knitting needles or knitting tools cause any additional security scrutiny at airports or on the plane, and I’ve never had any knitting item confiscated.
Short blade blunt tipped children’s scissors have never been an issue in my carry-on bag, either, but lately I’ve preferred carrying the Fiskars TSA approved folding scissors in my notions kit. They are smaller and lighter and they have a loop to make them easy to attach to a keychain or a small carabiner (mine are connected to a thin i-cord “necklace” so they can’t drop out of reach or be forgotten. They cost less than $10 (often on sale for $5-6 in the sewing department at big box craft stores).
For lots of reasons, I don’t knit with single point straight needles, on or off a plane. SPNs are very impractical for travel knitting for all sorts of reasons. I’ve always used circular needles when traveling and they rarely attract any attention. Most non-knitters don’t even recognize circular needles or interchangeable tips and cords as knitting needles, at least not without an explanation.
In recent years I’ve been traveling with sets of ChiaoGoo interchangeable needle tips and an assortment of cables. I especially like packing my Mini, Small, and Large Shorties tip sets for longer trips when I might be visiting yarns stores and buying yarn. Having all three Shortie sets with me saves packing space & weight vs my 4” & 5” tip sets/cases, yet still allows me to knit any yarn from thin to thick.
My other favorite knitting item is a flat bottomed cotton fabric (quilt type fabric) project bag that quickly gathers closed with two ribbons in the casing on the top edge. The lining has little pockets all around to hold small notions with the WIP. When the bag is open on my tray table I fold over the the top edge, and the bag substitutes as a “yarn bowl”, keeping the cake of yarn contained.
Great tips! Love the idea for the flat bottomed project bag.
Thank you for acknowledging the fact that you are a white woman traveling. I am Filipina, and it is different for me. When I traveled right after 911, to Maui, and TSA pulled me out of the line because of that. It was eye opening. Now I travel more cautiously and allow for extra time incase they feel they must profile my race and the color of my skin. Ofcourse my white husband was not detained but he had to wait for me.
I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this.
globetrotter!!!
Can’t hold me down!
This may not be political correct. I love your tips but please don’t feel you have to apologize for being born a white woman. You had no say in it and how people treat you is their issue not yours
I was not apologizing. I was just trying to acknowledge that the way I am able to move in the world comes with a lot of privilege, so some of these tips based on my own experience may be shaped by that.
@@rachelisknittingmy experience as a white women is not so privileged