I usually reserve small hand sewing for travelling by plane like applique or small hand piecing, hand embroidery or EPP. I keep everything in a quart or gallon size zip lock baggy. For applique and EPP I usually have it prepared to the point that I am just sewing small units together so all I take out of the baggy are the pieces being sewn together and the threaded needle (if embroidery it would be the loaded hoop and I have a small one that I use for most projects). The baggy usually contains small scissors or thread snips that are allowed on planes, spool of thread I am using (or floss if embroidery) a small scrap of felt that is acting as a needle case that has extra needles and a few pins, fabric units already basted (for EPP) or cut out and stabilized with freezer paper (for applique), small hoop for embroidery if that is the project, and strong glasses. The bag is usually in my purse.