Air travel and quilting?
 

Hi, All,

I have a couple of long flights ahead of me and I'd like to use the time to get some hand piecing done. Does anyone know what's allowed and what's not? If I could bring my little embroidery scissors and my hand sewing needles, I'll be all set, but I have a feeling those scissors, teeny as they are, are not allowed on flights anymore. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks!

Aso

I was allowed small scissors but they had rounded tips not sharp points. I also have just used nail clippers to cut threads if in doubt.

I have these for airplanes:

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-941670...drens+scissors

it is best to contact the airline you are flying and they can advise you what is allowed.

Hopefully you will find your answer so you can take a project with you. I've seen people with knitting needles so you would think that a small pair of scissors would be ok. A list might be posted on your airlines website.

Here's a helpful site: http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...s_brochure.pdf. It states that scissors with blades longer than 4" (which is a pretty big scissor) are not permitted in a carry-on bag. I have traveled with those little embroidery scissors and not had problems.

The last time I flew Delta, from Indy to Boise and I was allowed to take my Ginger Embroidery Scissors, and my needles

I use an empty dental floss case instead of being unsure about scissors. It cuts thread and yarn.

Check the tsa website mentioned above to be absolutely safe. They change things now and then, so what was okay 6 months ago may not be okay now. Have a fun trip!

I flew Delta last week and took needles and those pointed snip-it scissors. There were no questions asked.

A friend of mine like to take hand quilting with her when she travels. She take cuticle scissors for cutting threads with no problem. Because they are curved they cut really close. Great idea for using at home also.

I travel with the small scissors less than 4 inches, needles and thread. I always have them out in a small zipper case so when you go through security they can see what they are and you are not trying to hide anything.

I have a pair of Gingher embroidery scissors with the rounded tips. They have been with me where ever I fly. You can also pick up a little thread snip in most notion areas of fabric stores. They usually are round but may be in the shape of a bug or animal. They have a blade in them similar to the cutter on your sewing machine.

http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/madeira-thread-cutter.html

I use this cutter and works like a charm!

I would search the airline and the TSA sites, print their restrictions/recommendations and take that with me so I can prove I checked. I have seen wide variability in what's allowed and if you can show where you checked, it can make a difference in what gets allowed. Sometimes it's subject to individual moods and interpretations!

Thanks all for the wonderful advice! TSA guidelines seem to indicate that embroidery scissors are fine, but, as someone else pointed out, they change the rules so often that I will go armed with a small pair of cuticle or blunt-nosed scissors AND a pair of nail clippers AND some dental floss. They can't stop me!

Check with your airline for the most accurate and up to date information.

It also depends on what country you are flying to. I found out the hard way. My tiny little scissors were fine until I reached Australia. They have their own rules. I had to get out of the security check line, go to the airport Post Office, buy a padded bag and mail them to my daughters home (in Australia). Otherwise they would have confiscated them.
At least I had that option. It cost me $6.50 AU. Money to mail them to her but they were my favorite little scissors and I was going to be using them while there. We do a lot of sewing together. In the USA, TSA rules would have allowed them.

Also check out www.tsa.gov and the website for your departing airport.

To get the most up-to-date and complete answer about what is permitted on a flight, go directly to the airline information office and ask them. That way there will be no guessing and you will know exactly what is permitted and what isn't.

for the past several years, I carried a needle threader that had a small blade at one end. The last 4 or 5 years, I hae been able to bring the 1 1/2" blade scissors. BUT. ..... print out the TSA requirements and carry it with you. Several times I have been told that they are not allowed so I have showed the list to the agents.

I ALWAYS carry my crochet stuff when I fly - including 2 small, sharply pointed scissors, and have never, ever had a problem. They are always in the bottom of my tote when it goes through the xray machine.

Clover makes a wonderful little pendant that cuts thread. It's round and the blade is encased. If your fabrics are precut, it works perfect.

I haven't had any problem with needles or tiny scissors. I have carried both the little fold up scissors and a small pair of children's scissors

I take a needle threader with. The kind that has the thread cutter on top.

round tip small scissors are allowed, but check tsa rules first. I use a string ring. It is an adjustable ring that has a tiny blade in it, available at most quilt shops. Never had a problem with it.