Are Crochet Hooks Allowed on Airplanes? Plus tips for Travel and Crochet on the Go!
Whether you are traveling on the plane to visit family or just heading to the park for some fresh air, it’s nice to take your crochet with you. Enjoy the outside sun with a little bit of crochet out on your deck, or keep a travel kit with you to move from room to room in the house. Wherever you are going, keep your crochet together to enjoy your craft everywhere!
Hooks on a Plane
At least in the United States, crochet hooks are allowed in carry on bags and in checked luggage. Remember that the final decision rests with the TSA officer. Make sure you check with your local airport. I highly recommend in taking a cheaper plastic or bamboo hook if you intend to travel, since they are lighter and if anything were to happen such as having them confiscated or lost, they are easily replaceable.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/crochet-hooks
What about Scissors?
Unlike crochet hooks, which should be allowed on most planes without much problem, scissors are a little more complicated. If packed in a carry-on, scissors must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point. They also should be sheathed or securely wrapped to avoid any injuries to yourself or anyone else. Children scissors that are blunt or made of plastic could be used instead of your traditional embroidery scissors. As an alternative, consider taking a set of nail clippers to cut your yarn.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/scissors
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/nail-clippers
Pack a Crochet Travel Bag
Keep all of your crochet supplies together in a single bag, your crochet bag. Keep in this all the things you will need for your project. Here are things to consider packing:
- Crochet Hooks (Plastic or Bamboo)
- Small Scissors
- Plastic Yarn Needle
- Stitch Markers or an alternative
- Printed Copy of your Pattern
- Back Up Yarn
Yarn Prep
From preventing your yarn from rolling around in your bag while you are moving from place to place, keep it in a plastic Ziploc bag. You don’t want to spend your precious crochet time untangling your yarn. Make sure your yarn is ready to go by setting it up to be a center-pull skein.
Pick a Travel Friendly Project
When choosing a project for your travels, remember that you might be sitting for quite some time waiting in airports or on the plane. You will also be moving from place to place. Don’t choose a project that requires lots of focus or color changes. Pick a pattern that repeats stitches and will be easy to keep track of. Traveling might not be the best place to start a super complex project with lots of parts. I would also avoid anything that might need stuffing or embroidery work. Take into account the final size of the project, a large afghan might not fit in your return bag back home, and you probably won’t have enough room to work on it. Be considerate of those sitting next to you, they probably don’t want to have your project spilling over their laps, no matter how cute it is. Consider something like a small baby blanket, hats, scarves or little coffee cozy. If you really must make an afghan, choose an afghan motif that will be sewn together once you return home.
Read the pattern
Skim through the project before you leave. Make sure you have all the materials with you. Don’t be caught off guard because the pattern requires a new stitch you might not know or a second ball of yarn. Make sure to read the pattern to have the right yarn and hook for the project. It will save you from any surprises or moments of trying to guess what they meant in that row.
Start the project
Before you take off, you should begin a few rows. I find setting the foundation is the hardest part. Once I find my groove, the project is easy to set down and come back to. You will have the stitch pattern already figured out and something that you will be able to pick up quickly.
In Closing
No matter where you are heading, take what makes you happy with you. From across the world or from room to room, consider having a travel bag to keep track of your current projects for better organization.