When traveling with a knitting project, you’ll find that most airlines and destinations are knitter friendly; however, we recently learned the hard way that you cannot bring circular knitting needles out of Mexico. One of our fabulous Love of Knitting staffers recently returned from her honeymoon in Playa Mujeres. Unfortunately, after waiting in line for an hour to check her bag, and then waiting another 30 minutes in line for security, she was informed by the security officer that she could not take her circular knitting needles on board. Adding insult to the lack of knitting injury, they had her cut her own knitting cable! Can you imagine being forced to cut your own cable? Luckily our clever staffer kept her composure and didn’t let this unexpected turn of events ruin her memories of her beautiful wedding and refreshing honeymoon.
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Hi there;
I never take expensive needles with me. If I choose to fly with my knitting I take bamboo Walmart cheapo needles. I have had double pointed needles that I carry too but I find when on holidays I dont have the time to knit.
C-A
I had the same experience in Mexico. I fly the continental US weekly for work and have never had a problem until my trip to mexico.
United Airlines? They were horrible to a veteran and his service dog for three days, so it would be no surprised they’d have you destroy your needles.
I fly a few times a year and only once have had to leave my needles at security, and that was returning from Italy. I’ve read that you’re safest to take your work off the needles before arriving at the airport; fortunately I was not far into my project. I like the idea of using cheapo needles too, just in case.
Now I have yet another reason why I don’t want to travel to Mexico. Love the people, but have too many horror stories.
I always carry a self addressed and stamped mailing envelope so if they won’t let me take my needles, hopefully I can mail them home to myself.
I’ve given up with trying to travel with knitting and take a crochet project instead and instead of sisors I use a nail clipper! Traveling anywhere from UK can be a nightmare with the list of things you can’t take.
I have had crochet hooks taken in Panama, small scissors taken in Canada. When they took my crochet hooks (and yes, they found the one i had “stashed”.) they let the lady behind me on with her knitting needles-no problem… Go figure. If I’m knitting in flight, I put in a life-line every 5 rows so if they pull out the cable (or cut it) I still have my work intact.
I have flown in and out of Mexico, Canada, China, Germany, Belgium and lots of US States and always carry several knitting needles, all circulars, both bamboo and metal and only issues I have had is with a set of interchangeables where the metal connector ends show up in xray but on hand inspection are passed without issues. Flew out of Germany last year with about 20 sets of Addi Circulars and no issues at all. Maybe ‘cuz they are made in Germany …. Also have a few crochet hooks and small siccors in my accessory bag and no issues with that either. Of course tomorrow I fly again and now probably will have jinked myself.
I had trouble in Paris at their airport security. They took my scissors with a 1″ long blade, and then wanted my needles too. Dumb me – I conplained. But another agent came over and let me keep my plastic cheap circular needle. It was only one agent, and she was rude on top of it. I’ve flown to all over from and to the west coast of Mexico and never had a problem with taking my needles. (We fly Alaska Air to Mexico). Flew Air France going through Paris to Italy.
I had my size 1 dpn’s taken while flying out of Cancun. Crazy….. It’s like confiscating toothpicks!
I have never had a problem, and I’ve been flying with my knitting since immediately after 911, and I’ve been to Puerto Viarta (not a peep). In fact, when word came out you could now take knitting needles on flights, I was surprised. I’ve only been asked about them one time (when leaving Chicago for a business trip) and have traveled internationally. Interesting to see the disparity in security across airports. However, love the idea of cheap needles. I plan on doing that my next trip (to Australia), and will pack the good ones to use on the cruise. One thing I always do (and don’t know if it helps) is I sticke my needles into my yarn so the points aren’t out in the open.
I had a similar incident happen to me in Mexico when I was flying out of the Cancun Airport about 3 years ago. When I went through security and I was told that I couldn’t pass my circular needles through I almost had a fit. Luckily, I had an extra bag with me which I took back to check in and put my knitting in there and was able to retrieve once I arrived into the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport before my final destination. Since I had a 3-4 hour wait in Cancun until my next flight, I ended up buying a book to keep me busy.
I have traveled all over the world with knitting and crochet hooks. Here in the States there is usually not a problem. However leaving to come back to the Usa is another story. In Chile I had plastic circulars and Dps taken away. Learned my lesson to pack projects for the trip home.