I took kids blunt nose scissors, couple of needles, thread and what ever else I needed for immediate hand work on board with me and had no problem. Would never take any tool I really cared about on as hand carry. If you are taking knitting, I took a plastic circular needle and yarn and my blunt nose scissors.

Another suggest would be, if you know where you are going to be, overnite or second day what you might want/or need. I have limited income these days and would hate to buy to throw away.

The rules have changed somewhat. Either the TSA or airline website will tell you what's allowed. I flew with my knitting project - needles, small scissors - with no problems.

I think after all the fussing you will do , trying to figure what you can take, is not worth it. Just put everything in your checked luggage. If you are just doing carry on, leave everything quilting related at home. Trust me , you probably won't even pull it out when your in your seat. Just take a good book and relax. How much can you really expect to get done. Even when you get to your hotel, you will be tried from site-seeing, and all your adventures. Enjoy your trip.

I have brought small scissors in my carry on. some TSA will pull them out and measure, but they are allowed. In your checked luggage you can have your larger scissors and rotary cutter. If your machine will fit under the seat or in the overhead you can bring it.
Have a great time

I don't think there's a problem as long as everything is in your checked luggage.

Here is the TSA web site. Check it out. Will give you the info you need.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

I flew last year with a set of 4 double pointed knitting needles with the sox I was making. Never a question. But when we got to Australia ( the land of wool, right?) there were signs that knitting needles were not allowed. Makes sense. You could do someone a damage with knitting needles. So it is a toss up. TSA is one of the great examples of "Chicken Little" we have developed since 9/11. I like the idea of carrying a printed copy of the regs in country. If you go overseas, all bets are off!

How about planning and precutting a wall hanging?
Think handwork, a hand made project like making funky applique blocks. You can carry a good sized stack of precut blocks in a plastic ziplock bag. A package of needles, a few spools of thread, something the allowed size to cut with...
I like projects like 3D bowties, hand stitched together to make the blocks, and then the blocks stitched together in rows to make a quilt top, that goes amazingly fast.
Do you have a handmade UFO?
I think carrying a machine might be more of a bother, but actually, I carried a small 15 pound machine while traveling in europe for about six years. So who am I to give you advice? I used it for small projects like placemats, and other gifts like pretty bags. I still have it and carry it to use in classes but there were no restrictions then.

HI MY DAUGHTER ALWAYS HAS A PROJECT OR TWO FOR ME SO I DO CHECK MY SCISSORS, THREAD AND ANYTHING ELSE AND HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN THROUGH. I TRY TO HAVE THINGS CUT OUT OR TRACED TO CUT OUT - IF IT GOES INTO LUGGAGE DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN HARDLY CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO ANYONE. ANOTHER HINT, PUT YOUR KITS TOGETHER IN A ZIPPER BAG THAT YOU RECEIVED WITH PURCHASE AND YOU HAVE PROJECT ALL ORGANIZED WHEN YOU GET BACK TO YOUR ROOM. REMEMBER TRACING PAPER AND PENCIL HAVE FUN