Can you bring your cross-stitch work on a plane?

[Aelys]

I'm going to go to Tokyo in less than two weeks for TGS and I was wondering whether I can bring a couple of small cross-stitch project on the plane with me to kill the endless hours of flight. Does any of you have experience with security checks? The TSA website is kind of vague about knitting and needlepoint:

"Items needed to pursue a Needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside which cannot go through the checkpoint and must go in your checked baggage."

What do they mean by "circular thread cutters"? I use a thread cutter, but it's definitely not circular -- however, would security confiscate it? Can I use a nail clipper instead, since they are allowed again in your hand baggage now?

What I would essentially bring with me is a couple of bibs/hand towels, several colors of floss in small clear bags, a tapestry needle (with a dull tip), something to cut my thread, and a couple of printed patterns. That's it. Would it be too much? Any help would be appreciated!

[nintandrew]

I flew to Florida and back last year, and I brought cross stitching with me. For cutting my thread, I went to Joann's Fabrics and got this:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp? ... D=prd36296

and I kept my fabric, floss, needles and thread cutter in a box designed to hold stitch bow thread organizers, but Joann's has this:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp? ... =prd792228

I then put all of that in my carry on, and they didn't even ask a question.

Hope that's helpless!

[tnitnetny]

I fly monthly and always carry my cross stitch. I have a folding pair of scissors that work fine. As long as the blade is less then 3 inches it is fine.

[nyami]

I actually just flew from BWI to Omaha this last month and can vouch for all of that~!

I used the thread & yarn cutter that nintandrew posted and kept everything in the smaller version of the project holder. The one Nint posted I find too big for my bag, but the smaller one was perfect! Highly recommend the stitchbows and the project holder. The thread/yarn cutter (for me anyway) sometimes frayed the thread as I cut but I got better the more I used it. Bring a few plastic baggies to put extra thread in etc etc.

I bought brand new needles and kept them sealed in the packaging just in case when i first got on the plane, that way I could kinda say they're new and for stitching rather than them confiscating a bunch of needles in a container. On the return trip I had no problems what so ever either.

The security I went through I kept everything in the project holder inside my sidebag. They never opened the bag, they just kept going on with their work. But that was all state to state, not international tho I hope it helps!

[tnitnetny]

Needles are no problem at all. They will even let you bring your knitting needles. Just don't bring any scissors with over a three inch blade like I said before.

[Aelys]

I bought a pair of foldable scissors yesterday -- they're very small, but their tip is not exactly rounded (it's not very sharp, either). Will I be fine with them, or do I need to buy another pair? I'm sorry for the boring questions, but I'm trying to put together my travel kit for future trips.

[nintandrew]

If the blades are less than 3 inches long, then you should be okay, I would think.

[lugialady904]

it depends on your airline. soem dont mind if you sit there and stitich for the entire journey,but some get real tetchy when you bring out needles. i would ring customer service and ask. if you dont ask, you dont get nowhere!!!
i was peed off that i coulnt stitch on my way to florida, as my mam told me not to even attempt it cos security would get annoyed. for my first flight tho, i was too worried about dying than stitiching (im not a good flyer)