Knitting on a plane

gettingtheresometime

I've always found it amusing that I could take knitting needles on a plane when I went to the US without any trouble at all but having had my needles confiscated at a Spanish airport made me realise that this isn't always universally allowed!

I'll be flying again shortly and I doubt my knitting needles would get through security for my connecting flight so am looking for substitutes.

The only thing I can think of is using a loom but does anyone know if the hook would be allowed on the plane (again I was thinking of a crochet hook to use instead).

Other than that I think might be time I learnt to crochet!

jackieblack

How about Finger Knitting - guaranteed ‘confiscation proof’ and lots of patterns/project suggestions online

elsien

I have to be honest, if I was sitting next to someone on a plane who was knitting. I’d be tempted to use the needles against them myself. 

That clicking noise is a bit antisocial in a confined space. Is there a non/clicking alternative - if so, go due that. 

With appreciation from your fellow passengers.

Brie

elsien said:

I have to be honest, if I was sitting next to someone on a plane who was knitting. I’d be tempted to use the needles against them myself. 

That clicking noise is a bit antisocial in a confined space. Is there a non/clicking alternative - if so, go due that. 

With appreciation from your fellow passengers.

I'd be more worried about being poked by an enthusiastic knitter but yes the clicking might annoy too.  

Crocheting is much more quiet, less prone to needles flying about and a crochet hook is more likely to get through security (I think).  You might consider wooden hooks because how would that be any more dangerous than a pencil?

Wraithlady

There have been instances of crochet hooks being confiscated at airports as well, just FYI

Abbafan1972

How about just taking a book with you to read? 

HumberFlyer

I remember my wife being surrounded by "security" at the airport in Cuba. Our group did have a giggle from a distance.. Why.... she had eyebrow tweezers in her bag.... immediate confiscation.

twopenny

You can do lace work with a soft pad.

Just make trip for your pillows so it's narrow and can be wound up as it progresses. Your elbows are kept in and may be novel enough not to annoy others

But fgs please a soft pad.

theoretica

Wood/bamboo knitting needles might be more likely to be let through?  Especially shorter ones - sock needles?

woolly_wombat

theoretica said:

Wood/bamboo knitting needles might be more likely to be let through?  Especially shorter ones - sock needles?

Circular knitting needles with wood or bamboo ends would probably do the trick. They don’t have to be confined to circular knitting either; they can also be used successfully for flat knitting.

The OP might like to try asking on Ravelry, where at least one prolific knitter regularly posts what they have knitted on their latest international trip.

DigForVictory

First, consult with your airline. Most will let you take almost anything if it means you'll sit still, stay calm & follow instructions. With that email to forward then bombproof with customer services/special needs at any relevant airport (coz had no problem with wheelchair being shifted but the metal knitting needles caused no end of fuss) whereas sis' bamboo needles were nodded through no fuss, My nalbinding needles nearly caused a meltdown as it was briefly thought they were ivory (no, carved dogbone, but if Himself hadn't had an unfinished blank in a pocket & of course no knife in hand baggage to finish it - my Spanish is tragic, my idiomatic gesture apparently easy to understand & Himself's "I'll just stand here til she winds down" also got across... Er, things have [I hope] improved since then) 
Anyway get your papertrail sorted & then when the airport has a twitch here's correspondence (google translated if necessary) we prepared earlier.
Offer to teach them - you tend to get waved through after a few stunned minutes - some do learn, some are just bewildered you want to do that for several hours...
If it all looks too hairraising, take disposable chopsticks, a bit of sandpaper & your wool. Or an amigurumi pattern and cocktail sticks?