I agree with Bree123 -- call your hotel and ask if you can have a package shipped there and held for your arrival. I have done this for my boss and have never had a problem. If you send it Federal Express, you can schedule it for 2- or 3-day delivery (which is much cheaper) and have it arrive one day before you do. It is amazing how much stuff you can fit in one of those flat rate envelopes or boxes.
For taking handwork on a plane, I have one of the Clover thread cutters. The best suggestion I've heard is to take a dental floss container that has a built in cutter, remove the floss and put a bobbin of thread in the container. My MIL wasn't allowed to take her nail clippers on a plane because the nail file attached to it could be used as a weapon. As someone said, no matter what the rules are, it all depends on the person who is enforcing them.