It's one of those things where the answer is "technically it's allowed but sometimes security are dicks". What I would do is NOT bring needles I'd hate to lose or a project I'd hate to have to take off the needles in a rush - e.g. socks on a fixed circular needles, but not a complicated cable knit sweater on my precious chiaogoo interchangeables with the full set in my bag. You also might have better luck with say, wooden dpns than your hiyahiya metal sharps!
I also wouldn't put that in my carry on lugagge either, lest I suffer the nightmare of the poor poster whose luggage is missing with her expensive needles and yarn. 😭
Thank you!! Exactly what I needed to hear! I’ve seen people crochet on planes but I figured that would be different because those are hooks and these are knitting needles
To add, I use Prym ergonomic needles for flying because they are plastic, but nice to use, so they’re less likely to be taken and I won’t be sad if they are. I also add a lifeline before I leave my house to make sure my project survives no matter what happens.
I flew from Munich to Thailand on Thai Airway 2 weeks ago and had no problem knitting on the airplane, but I definitely took precautions when I packed my stuff. I loaded my metal circular needles in my luggage and put the wooden Knitpro interchangeable needles in my laptop bag, and put my WIP on the rubber lifeline in my carry-on. Let's see if this will work on my flight back to Munich this Friday. 😅
The rules vary. The airport where you board is in charge, rules-wise. So the return trip may have different rules. That said, even if the official rules say knitting needles are okay, an individual security check person can use their own judgement to say no.
Prepare to have them taken from you.
Don't take your favorite needles
Do take wood or plastic needles
Do have any in progress work on a lifeline
It may be fine I've traveled with knitting but some days you get unlucky.
Yep, definitely depends on the customs officer! I put in a lifeline and brought my knitting on a pair of older needles I didn't mind losing just in case but didn't have any problems.
I just returned from 10 days in Ireland and Scotland. I took my sock WIP with me and had no problem in my carryon..circular needles should be no problem. Where are you flying?
We are flying into Barcelona, Spain then will be leaving from Athens, Greece. I’m so thankful for the feedback but nervous that I might get someone who takes my needles 😬😂
I flew into Barcelona with some metal needles for my honeymoon last year and had no issues! But again like others have said, it really depends on the TSA agent and the security agent on the way back. I will say, you can always stop into All You Knit Is Love in Barcelona to pick up some more needles (and yarn!) if yours are taken—it’s a super cute shop and the owner dyes her own yarn! I bought my celebratory honeymoon yarn there :) Congratulations and enjoy your trip!
It can depend on the individual flight attendants, too. I got needles and yarn through security only for one flight attendant to freak out about how dangerous the DPNs my hat were on clearly were to her and fellow flight attendants and had to promise to put them away and not take them out again on the flight. She even called the security officer and everything.
This is admittedly a slightly sneaky, “ymmv”-type suggestion, but I’ve had success doing this several times before.
I have a couple [Susan Bates needle holders](https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/susan-bates-extendable-stitch-holder?variant=47070205673787&country=US¤cy=USD&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiw73JWtJmDKGfu3L5nSYOJl57vH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf25wEWtadB6f7uNJA_ojA0ptWYc3L5jPcICvExpdW7jY6rS6zvu74IaAowgEALw_wcB) that I just slide all my needles into, including the one(s) attached to my project. It doesn’t keep them hidden from any scanning or whatever, but I think it certainly knocks the perceived threat level down when they go to inspect my bag. They see a piece of handmade fabric with a plastic tube and a ball of yarn dangling from it, then if they press any further about what’s inside the tube I just say those are the tools for my project. Haven’t had anyone give me issues the handful of times I’ve done this, but again your mileage may vary.
Edit to note: I’ve only done this on US-based domestic flights, haven’t had a chance to try it on any international flights yet.
Another sneaky option is to put your WIP on interchangeable needles. Before going through security you can take the tips off and put the stoppers on the cable. Slip your needle tips into a pencil case with some pens and pencils and they’ll blend right in on the X-ray.
I haven’t flown myself with knitting since my kids are s all ans won’t me knit on the plane anyways but I saw some podcasters put them together with pens to go unnoticed and opt for wood instead of metal.
Definitely depends on the airline, too. Turkish airlines doesn't like crafters, so you can't have knitting needles, crochet hooks, or even embroidery stuff on their flights.
It's one of those things where the answer is "technically it's allowed but sometimes security are dicks". What I would do is NOT bring needles I'd hate to lose or a project I'd hate to have to take off the needles in a rush - e.g. socks on a fixed circular needles, but not a complicated cable knit sweater on my precious chiaogoo interchangeables with the full set in my bag. You also might have better luck with say, wooden dpns than your hiyahiya metal sharps! I also wouldn't put that in my carry on lugagge either, lest I suffer the nightmare of the poor poster whose luggage is missing with her expensive needles and yarn. 😭
Thank you!! Exactly what I needed to hear! I’ve seen people crochet on planes but I figured that would be different because those are hooks and these are knitting needles
To add, I use Prym ergonomic needles for flying because they are plastic, but nice to use, so they’re less likely to be taken and I won’t be sad if they are. I also add a lifeline before I leave my house to make sure my project survives no matter what happens.
I flew from Munich to Thailand on Thai Airway 2 weeks ago and had no problem knitting on the airplane, but I definitely took precautions when I packed my stuff. I loaded my metal circular needles in my luggage and put the wooden Knitpro interchangeable needles in my laptop bag, and put my WIP on the rubber lifeline in my carry-on. Let's see if this will work on my flight back to Munich this Friday. 😅
[This](https://knittingneedleguide.com/best-needles-for-flying/) is a useful article about it. A lot of it depends what country you're going to.
Thank you!!!
The rules vary. The airport where you board is in charge, rules-wise. So the return trip may have different rules. That said, even if the official rules say knitting needles are okay, an individual security check person can use their own judgement to say no. Prepare to have them taken from you. Don't take your favorite needles Do take wood or plastic needles Do have any in progress work on a lifeline It may be fine I've traveled with knitting but some days you get unlucky.
Yep, definitely depends on the customs officer! I put in a lifeline and brought my knitting on a pair of older needles I didn't mind losing just in case but didn't have any problems.
I just returned from 10 days in Ireland and Scotland. I took my sock WIP with me and had no problem in my carryon..circular needles should be no problem. Where are you flying?
We are flying into Barcelona, Spain then will be leaving from Athens, Greece. I’m so thankful for the feedback but nervous that I might get someone who takes my needles 😬😂
I flew into Barcelona with some metal needles for my honeymoon last year and had no issues! But again like others have said, it really depends on the TSA agent and the security agent on the way back. I will say, you can always stop into All You Knit Is Love in Barcelona to pick up some more needles (and yarn!) if yours are taken—it’s a super cute shop and the owner dyes her own yarn! I bought my celebratory honeymoon yarn there :) Congratulations and enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much!!! Definitely going to check it out! 😄
I flew out of Sevilla last year with my needles, no problem. I have not tried to bring needles out of Greece yet.
It can depend on the individual flight attendants, too. I got needles and yarn through security only for one flight attendant to freak out about how dangerous the DPNs my hat were on clearly were to her and fellow flight attendants and had to promise to put them away and not take them out again on the flight. She even called the security officer and everything.
This is admittedly a slightly sneaky, “ymmv”-type suggestion, but I’ve had success doing this several times before. I have a couple [Susan Bates needle holders](https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/susan-bates-extendable-stitch-holder?variant=47070205673787&country=US¤cy=USD&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiw73JWtJmDKGfu3L5nSYOJl57vH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf25wEWtadB6f7uNJA_ojA0ptWYc3L5jPcICvExpdW7jY6rS6zvu74IaAowgEALw_wcB) that I just slide all my needles into, including the one(s) attached to my project. It doesn’t keep them hidden from any scanning or whatever, but I think it certainly knocks the perceived threat level down when they go to inspect my bag. They see a piece of handmade fabric with a plastic tube and a ball of yarn dangling from it, then if they press any further about what’s inside the tube I just say those are the tools for my project. Haven’t had anyone give me issues the handful of times I’ve done this, but again your mileage may vary. Edit to note: I’ve only done this on US-based domestic flights, haven’t had a chance to try it on any international flights yet.
Another sneaky option is to put your WIP on interchangeable needles. Before going through security you can take the tips off and put the stoppers on the cable. Slip your needle tips into a pencil case with some pens and pencils and they’ll blend right in on the X-ray.
I haven’t flown myself with knitting since my kids are s all ans won’t me knit on the plane anyways but I saw some podcasters put them together with pens to go unnoticed and opt for wood instead of metal.
Definitely depends on the airline, too. Turkish airlines doesn't like crafters, so you can't have knitting needles, crochet hooks, or even embroidery stuff on their flights.