Knitting or crocheting on a trans atlantic flight

[TheFurryMenace]

Im flying Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to JFK, can I take both wooden knitting and wooden crochet hooks in my hand luggage? Cant bear the thought of prime knitting time going to waste. Have found older info on the internet, but nothing recent, so not sure with the current security threat if things have changed?

[leighdinglady]

No. You can't even take a metal nail file

[nythbran2]

Have flown to China with wooden and plastic circular needles. With the projects already on the needles before I started so it was clear what they were for. Haven't risked sock needle steels though!

[flimflaminurjams]

Not allowed. Even if you don't declare them, if they scan your bag they'll come up on scan and be confiscated.

[NannyR]

I was on a flight a few months this ago and the woman next to me was knitting socks. A wooden hook or knitting needles are no more dangerous than a pencil really.
this government website seems to say that knitting needles and small scissors are okay in hand luggage.

[TheFurryMenace]

Thanks for all the replies. Hit and miss it would seem, despite what the official advice is.

I think I'll risk it. I have wooden interchangables with work already cast on - socks. I'll also take wooden crochet hook and project as back up.

I'll report back on return, as might be helpful for others going on holiday this summer.

[Fairyfellowsmasterstroke]

I remember Knotty (or was it Pistey) saying that they regularly crocheted on flights.

Be aware that, if your projects are confiscated at customs you will lose them as you'll already have checked your main baggage in so you'll have no where to store them.

At least wooden needles/hooks won't trigger the metal detectors!!

[Canyousewcushions]

Uk were fine for knitting needles, not sure if thats changed after recent events though. Metal ones also ok. However.... other countries have different rules. Had to post my knitting home from a hand luggage only trip to France as they deem them too dangerous to carry.

[Radishal]

Last year and the year before I took a plastic crochet hook and wool for an in flight project. Declared it openly- was prepared to dump. Had no problem either way.

[healthyheart]

Be aware that, if your projects are confiscated at customs you will lose them as you'll already have checked your main baggage in so you'll have no where to store them

Surely though they'd just remove the needles and leave you to take your work in progress to carry on with at a later date?

[healthyheart]

Be aware that, if your projects are confiscated at customs you will lose them as you'll already have checked your main baggage in so you'll have no where to store them

Surely though they'd just remove the needles and leave you to take your work in progress to carry on with at a later date?

[TheFurryMenace]

Its an interchangeable set so if they take them I can keep it on the cord and secure it with end caps. I'd be more gutted about the wool than the needle tips.

[unweavedrainbow]

Wood is generally fine. Crochet hooks much more likely to get through than knitting needles. Metal knitting needles are an almost certain "no"-they're just long metal spikes!

[OccasionalNachos]

Thread a lifeline in so you can remove the needles and keep the project. Don't take needles and hooks you would be gutted to lose.

I took a wip on a transatlantic flight & internal USA flights with United in March, and everything was fine.

[OccasionalNachos]

Oh just see you're using a circular, that's fine then you won't lose the wool! They might confiscate the needle tips but it's unlikely.

[CaptainBraandPants]

I've not flown transatlantically, but I have successfully taken crochet hooks (metal ones) on planes elsewhere many times.

[PersisFord]

My mum does this all the time with bamboo needles, don't think she has ever had a problem

[mimiasovitch]

I've not had any problems in the last few years taking my knitting, even on metal needles. Several times they've searched my bags, swabbed a few things and just put the knitting back in! I do always use interchangeable just in case though.

[yaela123]

I did this with no problem on flights to and from Israel (which is quite big on security.
Had metal and wooden needles. Just buried them a bit in my stuff

[storynanny]

I fly to jfk once a year with virgin or delta and have always taken needles and hooks on board. Might not risk my new expensive Karbonz tho just in case.

[WanderingTrolley1]

I'd risk it.

[TheFurryMenace]

Well, I've made it through security at Heathrow no probs with my knit pro symphony interchangeables and wooden crochet hooks! 7.5 lovely hours of knitting rather than 7.5 hours of utter boredom.

[OccasionalNachos]

Yay! Happy knitting & happy holiday

[liz70]

Hurrah! Glad you got through OK. I chiefly use KnitPro Trendz and bamboo 🎍 crochet hooks, so I guess I should be all right too if the occasion arises. Happy stitching!

[TheFurryMenace]

No probs at all using my needles, knit half a sock!

[mimiasovitch]

Excellent news! And storynanny - how amazing are those needles? I've only got one pair of dpns, but I may need to replace all my interchangeable tips. Sooooo pointy.