This may post contains affiliate links. You can learn more in our disclaimer.
What To Do To Make Sure Your Needles Don’t Get Confiscated
Security on flights is no issue to take lightly. There are all kinds of things you should not bring on a plane, as they could be considered dangerous.
What about needles and knitting on airplanes? If you are a knitter, you will rejoice when hearing this. You can knit during a flight, since everyone thinks it is a soothing activity that helps a lot during long flights.
However, if you do not want your pointy needles confiscated, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Tip #1: Leave your metal needles at home, and bring only those made of plastic or bamboo. They are more flight friendly and they are not usually considered dangerous by the authorities.
Tip #2: For your convenience, make sure your yarn is well winded prior to embarking. This way, it will not get tangled and make a mess.
Tip #3: Place all your knitting supplies in a transparent bag, so they can easily be seen, without the security staff having to fiddle with them.
Tip #4: No thread cutters! These are strictly forbidden. However, for cutting the extra yarn, bring a pair of children scissors instead.
Tip #5: Since you cannot foretell for sure what kind of supplies may raise suspicions, leave your favorite needles at home. You will not cry over cheap supplies, so bring over just things you know you can part with, without any regrets.
Tip #6: Whenever you are asked about your needles, make sure to be clear and polite when offering the needed explanations. Security staff are just doing their job and they do not want to put you in an unpleasant situation. The quicker you make things clear, the better for everyone.
Tip #7: Always check the list of forbidden items on flights prior to embarking on a plane. Since different countries may have different rules when it comes to this, for international flights, make sure you are up to date with all their regulations.
Have a nice flight!
I also carry an updated list of allowed items printed from the TSA website. Also a self addressed stamped padded envelope in case one of the TSA guys decides my knitting needles are dangerous. Honestly, I would be more dangerous if they took my needles away. Knitting distracts me from how uncomfortable flying is.
I agree with taking a copy of the guidelines, and have it all in a plastic bag. I always let them know up front that I have them and ask if they would like me to take them out of my bag. I use circulars for travel. They are more flexible with less arm room and the tips I am using are less of an issue. I think it is important to have a work in progress on the needles, and be able to explain a bit about it so they know you are the real thing. It always seems to me that empty needles seem to invite problematic discussions.
I’ve said is someone thinks we would use our needles as a weapon, they certainly aren’t knitters. There’s no way I would take a chance on ruining my needles by stabbing someone. (I did that once and then had to ask them to straighten them-40 years later it’s still remembered!)
I would never show a print out of the regulations to a TSA agent. First of all, it’s rude – they have already been trained by professionals, they don’t need some random crafter telling them how to do their job. Secondly, anything and everything on that list can be disallowed at the agent’s discretion. The TSA website specifically states “The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint”. If they choose to deny my knitting, I’m going to hand it over and go read a book. (Not to mention if I annoy an agent badly enough, I can be delayed for additional screening)
They allow pens and pencils. I feel these are much more dangerous than knitting needles.
Has anyone had their needles confiscated ?
Circular needles are dangerous – you can garrotte someone with them. Any kind of point can stab out an eye, or go through an ear drum, or up a nostril into the brain. And it doesn’t matter what material they are made from.
If in doubt, take a book to read, or some patterns to decide on making and highlight the tricky bits. Put your needles in your luggage instead. Enjoy the flight and sleep. You will appreciate not being so tired at the other end as it also helps to set your body clock.
I have never had to show my needles, travel both in the US and internationally. I also have a small pair of scissors, that have never been confiscated. Sorry, do not agree with the previous commenter, I could, if I so wished, garrote someone with an iPhone, iPad cord or shoelaces!
Mine were confiscated in Glasgow Scotland.
I travel all the time with knitting and have never been questioned. Domestically in the US, to the UK and even to Asia. To the person who suggests that circs can be used as a garrote. Really? And traveling in the same time zone, or one to three hours difference, I don’t need or want to sleep or reset my body clock. Come on!
I always take bamboo sock needles and knit socks. Take extra though as they are a devil for falling down under the plane seats. Never had a problem. I also have some key ring scissors that are fine too.
I am a proponent of nail clippers instead of scissors for cutting yarn…no sharp points and the yarn cuts easily.
Nail clippers are a great idea, Martha G.
To cut the yarn I take an old tooth floss case. The cutting edge is just enough to cut yarn and no one can get hurt with them. I put each scain in a zip lock bag and they never unravel and stay clean. Also if possible I use a round needle. This way they don’t fall down, where you never can pick them up. The seats are so close together and all seats are taken, you have no room. Never had any problem so far and hope that stays that way.
So many great ideas! I have traveled with my knitting not a problem neither were the small scissors but I like the nail clippers idea.
Happy Knitting All!
That’s such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
All the best,
Ann
Have had numerous pairs of scissors confiscated… nail scissors! Then I swotched to child’ craft scissors , no problem with them, though they have been measured a few times! Had a pair of nail clippers confiscated in Hong Kong…bought in the market to ise for travelling knitting. Have been stopped from knitting during a take off…formy own safety. And had my wool roll away under the seats. On the plus side have had many interesting conversations with fellow passengers fascinated by my knitting projects. I have travelling knitting projects and things that can only be done on the safety of my own sofa;-)
I have been knitting a lot of socks using bamboo short double ended needles and have never had a problem. I also have a keyring size scissors that work perfectly and are not confiscated. great for long haul when I can sit and watch a film and knit at the same time, time goes by really quickly and I end up with a nice new pair of socks.
Use a lifeline in case your needles are confiscated.
I have just taken six flights from the uk to Hong Kong and to and around Vietnam. No problems. I took cheapo wobbly plastic DPNs on a WIP and no problem. But I am a leg amputee so airport security tends to get more excited about what I might be hiding in my prosthesis … Wish me luck for the last three flights and the left fingerless mitt.
I have one more advice for you guys. I bought cheap circular bamboo needles and cut tips, left about 7 cm long, then made
tips using sharp knife and sanded using softest sand paper. It works perfectly! They are good size to knit and went to airport security with no problems. I use them for my flights only.
I have traveled to 105 countries since 911. Many more than once. The only country that has been a problem is New Zealand. And no knitting needles was clearly posted. I carry tiny scissors that are about 2″ long. I carry my knitting which is always “in progress” on cable needles and my projects are generally small such as socks or fingerless mitts. I carry all my markers and knitting stuff in a pill box that I found at the container store that is 6″x 6″. My project bag is not clear and is made by Knowknits and is soft and squishy so it tucks in to a back pack or can attach to the outside.
I was traveling with a friend who had a set of interchangeable metal tips confiscated at the airport in Buenos Aires. But is was very random as other knitters on the same flight back to the US did not have needles confiscated. I have been knitting on flights for years and have never had a problem. I only use plastic or bamboo circulars on flights.
I was traveling with a friend who had a set of interchangeable metal tips confiscated at the airport in Buenos Aires. But is was very random as other knitters on the same flight back to the US did not have needles confiscated. I have been knitting on flights for years and have never had a problem. I only use plastic or bamboo circulars on flights.
I’ve never had a problem either domestically or internationally. You’d be surprised how many TSA agents either knit or their spouse knits. It’s fun to chat with them about their projects. One agent even gave me a great tip for a yarn shop (we were flying from Rome to a little town in France) She had been on a “knitters tour” and gave me great tips. It’s a great conversation started for sure
Can’t you ask at the check in and then put the wool and needles in your suitcase instead of your hand luggage if need be.
Hello Ingrid,
Thank you for contacting us. The procedure is so different for every airport, and country!
Best to give it a try, and see if check-in will answer that question. As check-in is handled by the airline, I have often found their policy is different to the actual airport security personnel!
All the best,
Ann
Hello Kathie,
Thank you for sharing – that’s so wonderful.
Will keep it in mind the next time I am traveling.
All the best,
Ann
Hello,
Thank you for sharing that tip! Great idea!
All the best,
Ann
Dear Georgy,
Thank you for contacting us. That’s fantastic news that you’ve had no trouble so far!
Sending you luck for those last three flights :-)
All the best,
Ann
My needle preference is Addis or Chiagoo (sp.), but I’ll gladly use bamboo for plane travel.
My needle preference is Addis or Chiagoo (sp.), but I’ll gladly use bamboo for plane travel.
Tip #8: Have project in progress so needles look less threatening.
Had my needles taken in Ireland in 2010 when passing thru security for a flight change. Never had a problem domestically. I use circulars
Needles confiscated? Yes, leaving Athens. The security woman was very rude, took the tips of my sock needles off the cables, measured my kid scissor blades 4x deciding they were ok. Fortunately didn’t discover the pkgs of new tips in the bottom of my knitting bag. I was able to keep knitting. The other flights out of Canada and Europe were fine.
I had already cast on a shawl (having been advised to have work in the needles so they look less threatening). When security opened my bag and saw it, she asked if she could gently lift it out. I thought that was awesome. I have been told I can’t knit during take off and landing, and once, the FA said she had to check the pointiness of the needles (with her finger). They were tinner needles, but not sharp tips, thankfully! I also use nail clippers.
Dear Karen,
Thanks for sharing. This is the thing, we never can predict which security will do what in airports these days!
All the best,
Ann
Checked with BA about scissors so ok going out. Confiscated at Hong Kong although using BA coming back as well!
Martha must have been to New Zealand a number of years ago – have knitted on both domestic and international flights leaving NZ for many years with no issues at all
What about crochet hooks? Anyone had any experiences?
I had my needles and my tiny foldable discard scissors confiscated. The American sa are fine with them it was the Philippine Tsa that confiscated them because they didn’t know what they were . I have also heard that circulars are less intimidating and if you use needle covers they are also ok with them. The needles look less dangerous. Sometimes just to make sure I try to bring a crochet project instead .
This may hold somewhat true for International flights, but not in the US. Crochet hooks on US Domestic flights are fine as is Circular metal knitting needles on US Domestic Flights. Thread cutters, foldable scissors are also acceptable. This article is very subjective.
I took my knitting for the first time when i went to S. Ireland. Took the advice and used bamboo needles and placed it in a see through plastic bag. I also put the knitting in the same bag as my passport , medication and liquids so they could see all in one go and had no trouble
Dental floss container has a handy cutter you can use.
I just stick to crochet hooks on flights both domestic and international . No issues thus far from any country.
I both knit & crochet on planes. Crochet hooks don’t seem to attract attention. BUT -rules, regulations and what’s allowed can change with no advance notice – like the day the 3 ounce liquids/gel rules were imposed UNANNOUNCED. We don’t always know what’s going on “behind the scenes”. Go with the flow.
My daughter flew to Switzerland two years ago and she knew ahead of time that they did not allow knitting needles on flights entering their country. She was disappointed, but packed her supplies in her checked luggage.
The above comments have been very helpful. I didn’t ask the airline ahead of time and took my chances, when we went to Panama and Asia. Neither time was I asked about my knitting. Both times I had steel needles so I guess I was lucky or they thought little old ladies were harmless.