sewing on a plane?
 

I will soon be flying from UK to Texas on British Airways. Does anyone know if I can take an applique needle on board to sew a block during the flight ? Thanks !

Contact your airline they will tell you what is allowed and what is not. Have fun and enjoy my home state of Texas.
D

i would check at the airline's site, but i believe that you can... the TSA just approved pocket knives with blades as long as 2 3/8", so a short needle should be allowed.

Thank you so much - we love Texas ! We are staying in Grapevine - have been before and look forward returning - and finding the fantastic Quilt Shops = Quilters Dream in Colleyville and Old Town Quilts in Keller !!!
Also thanks QuiltnNan - I think I will contact BA.

Shouldn't be a problem - scissors could be the issue.

I was thinking of taking the little box that dental floss come in - as it has the cutter !

It's not enough to simply ask the airline. Twice now, domestic and international, I have had no trouble leaving the country. The return is different. The customs/security check is not affliliated with the airline. It is in control of boarding in that airport. Twice I have travelled out bound with needles, sewing, scissors (yea you read that right) and hand knitting. It was attempting to board for the return journey everything was confiscated. Regardless of the airline rules, the security personel trump everything. So don't try to take anything you aren't prepared to lose.
MaryKatherine

I've never had a problem taking a needle or two. If I'm doing applique, I try to take things already basted so I don't have to worry about pins. If you'll need to clip curves on your applique, Fiskars co. makes a round-nosed child's scissors that's available in the school-supplies sections of many stores that I've never had confiscated. And they're quite inexpensive, so no big loss even if they were taken.

Janelle

on US domestic I hand no trouble with needles or a small Scissors less than 4 inches. I don't know about international the last time I was out of the country was 2000.

I flew recently with hand sewing needles and blunt end scissors with no problems. Have a great trip!

I always bring my small handwork tote with embroidery and tiny scissors in my carry on bag, and have never had an issue.,I don't leave the scissors out while flying, just tuck them in the bag for easy reach. If you ask, I am sure they would probably say no, but I have flown thousands of times with no issues.

Yes, this is the best advice ever!

Nail clippers would work for cutting the thread, just break off the metal file part first. My son flew with a carry on to basic training, and that is what he did to be able to take clippers with him, and had no problem with security, just be sure to remove the file part of it first.

I always take something to sew when I fly. The only problem I ever ran into was scissors. Get one of those pendant type things that you can wear around your neck to use as a scissors and you should not have any trouble.

They update the rules (daily it seems!) often, but I ALWAYS took sewing needles. I just tucked them into my change purse where they hung out with the pennies! Domestic rules say scissors with less than 4 inch blade> that included a pair of scissors I LOVE that I found at the dollar store. I had forgotten them in the bottom of a bad. They were measured and handed back. I was SHOCKED. They are the regular sized like Fiskars. In pinch I have used nail clippers..which you CAN have. My problem sewing when I fly is no elbow room. I have trouble hand sewing with my elbows tucked in at my side!

Yes you can take the needle work on the plane. But do be careful as each country has its own rules.. so what you got on the plane in the US may not be allowed on the plane for the return trip. I have a small pair of folding scissors , blade no longer than 1/2 inch. These have made many flights with no issue. My mom on the other hand takes knitting.. no problem in the US , but one Country confiscated her needles when she was returning home .. so you never know.

Oh well - thank you all for taking the trouble to reply - but I have just rung British Airways and I am NOT allowed a needle on the flight !! What a shame - a 10 hour flight - back to word puzzles I guess !
Thanks again !

I flew from Minneapolis to Cedar Rapids two years ago and the stewardess made me put my needle away because if we crashed I would poke my eye out! I'll never figure that one out in a million years. Granted it was only a 1/2 hour flight, but I was just doing counted cross stitch! Edie

PS Have a safe trip!!!

Advice from a frequent traveler:
You can take the needles and an embroidery frame, but don't try taking a pair of scissors! I have lost no telling how many pair that way, even though the websites of Delta, Lufthansa, British Air and others say you can carry a pair four inches long.

What is my solution? I carry fingernail clippers and do my best to get a really sharp pair to cut the threads.

Needles on planes.
 

I have recently enquired of British Airways regarding sewing on board. They do not seem to have a problem with it. On my last flight, the cabin crew were sewing! However, airport security will and you may well find that it is confiscated! The rules appear to change on a daily basis. I guess to challenge us dangerous quilters! I would contact airport security as well and ask them. You may be lucky! Have a good trip!

I would contact the airlines but, I recently flew from Fl. to Indiana and took embroidery needles and blunt scissors with no problem.

I have sewn all over the world. There are things you can take, even right after 911. The 2" scissors are now OKl and even knitting needles. The only thing I was ever questioned on was my Point turner. I have made a sun bonnet sue and did Eleanor Burns' magic vine while traveling. I am now working on a Amish Letter Quilt and it is on its way with me to DC on thursday.

Yes, you can take sewing stuff on airplanes. Needles are not a problem and the U S allows short scissors (I think 3in) check the TSA.gov website and the website for the air carrier you are flying on for specifics. I usually take scissors that I would not mind losing if I get someone who wants to be tough on the rules. I have a scissor fetish and have some I am less attached to than others. Lol.... You can also take a thread cutter that Fons and Porter have that looks like jewelry. I know another company makes one also but am not sure of the name. Be sure to put in a zip lock bag and put it in the bin with shoes, coat, purse etc. In the Dallas area Waxahatchie and Granbury both have very nice quilt shops as well as Lewisville and Carrolton. Have a Great visit!

Check wit the airline. Last time I flew with Virgin to the states I was not allowed to take even a blunt cross stitch needle. Very boring flight to florida that was

Well, I just got back from Texas on Southwest and had an appliqué needle, four pins and children's Fiskars scissors and no one questioned it. I went on to the TSA website before I left, and TSA said that you could take a crochet needle, which I did ( and I also printed the statement in case I was questioned) and it also mentioned that you could take small needles for medical purposes. I guess they were saying like insulin needles, but I was going to argue that I needed the needles for relaxation therapy if someone questioned me, but all the stuff went right through the scanners with no problem.

On a recent trip to Peru, I didn't attempt to work on my GFG Hexes on the plane, but noticed the stewardesses were knitting with long straight needles in the galley. I guess they had permission. Why couldn't the rest of us knit also? I guess they were afraid we would knit an Afghan. Yuk,Yuk

Just remember that if you wear your BTU's (Battle Dress Uniforms) on the plane, British Airways WILL ask you to remove them so as to not upset any other fliers....you can insert eyeroll here.<INSERT here roll eye> It is kinda pathetic what they get picky about. Just make sure that you don't take anything you're not afraid to lose. TSA is not associated with BA/ BA is not associated with Homeland Security/ Homeland Security is not associated with the Boy Scouts, see where this is going? Have a great trip and don't let them ruin it for you.

I cross stitch regularly on international flights. The only time I've had something taken was my blunt nosed, child safe scissors at Narita (Japan) because the blades were a centimeter too long. The pendants with the cutter are listed on the "no" list for TSA, but short bladed scissors are usually okay.

I wonder if BA was thinking hypodermic versus sewing needle. I would go ahead and pack your hand sewing. The worst they can do is take the needle (you would not have to surrender the fabric). My needle got through security just fine in at Heathrow last month.

Cheers, K

I have taken knitting needles, crochet hooks, sewing needles and scissors that the blades are less than 4 inches with not problems. This was in the last couple months. Enjoy sewing on your trip. It can be boring if you don't have something to do

I found some little manicure set at Big Lots for $1.50 each and the scissors in . there work really well and it would seem impossible to harm anyone with them as they are only 3" long . Unless you were going to snip tiny bits of hair on someones head til they expired.hehehehe

I've taken sewing with me on several long haul's to Australia but as yet it's never come out of it's bag. The plane is always at full capacity and I need elbow room! Perhaps if I could afford to upgrade it would be different but I'd rather have some fabric spending money! Thank goodness for the kindle - goes with me every where. Have a safe trip - look forward to hearing all about your shopping experiences.

Welcome to the great State of Texas! You are a hop, skip, and a jump from me! Grapevine and Keller are practically in our backyard....or our front yard.

Great time of year to come to Texas. Warm but not hot, lots of sun. Have fun and buy lots of fabric!

When we flew in the US, they let me take my needles but took my small Gingher scissors and a short set of knitting needles. I would say it probably depends on airport security at each airport. I'm not sure if things have settled down at airports or not but I wouldn't take anything you don't want to give up. Have a great time in Texas.

Good one!Good one!

This is what i do,i use new nail clippers to cut thread and weave a needle next to my fly.no one ever said anything. Of course ive only done this for jury duty, no one ever said anything.

Yes, you can. I sew on the plane all the time. The last time I went I accidentally left my seam ripper in my little travel sewing kit and it was not taken away from me. Just make sure that you don't take scissors!

When I am flying in the states I take my embrodery. Needles and childrens pair of scissors. Never had any problems.

More Quilt shops to visit
 

Hello Dottie,

I am sure you visit Joannes in Grapevive for all sorts of supplies. As for Quilt stores...Quilt country in Lewisville http://www.quiltcountry.com/ and the Old Craft store in the main old town part of Carrollton http://theoldcraftstore.com/wordpress/ are also good shops to visit.

Also if you get a chance visit McKinney a lovely place to spend a day and yes another quilt store The Quilt Asylum. http://www.thequiltasylum.com/

I have stitched and crocheted on BA airlines before and it has not been a problem.I travel back home to N Ireland from Plano Texas every year or two. I wish you a safe trip and a great time in Texas. Ann

I think you can take small scissors, but you may want to double check that.

I too think it will be alright. However, I wouldn't take sissors on the plane. I used finger nail clippers. They are legal. It's just a bit short quarters for drawing your needle! I sure did it, I'd suggest taking your needles threaded if you use a very find needle, and silk thread. Even though they have an over head light, you can't make it shine where you want it.