The thing about plane trips: the thought of spending four or five or even more hours sitting in one spot with absolutely nothing to do is an almost unbearable concept to those of us with busy hands, and when you have a huge hand-sewing project on the go it is even more so! I was determined to not let that time go to waste so went into my recent interstate flights prepared. Scissors, even little plastic kindergarten ones, are verboten on a plane but you are allowed to take on dental floss and the tiny little floss-cutter at the top can be used to cut your thread. It doesn’t make a very clean cut but it does the job in a pinch. I also pre-cut plenty of lengths of threads beforehand to minimise the number of times I needed to make a cut.
I have a secret. My tiny folding scissors that I got in a crochet kit, always fly. Always. Shhhhh! 😉
And oh boy that's a lot of hand sewing!!
for a moment i thought you'd replaced the floss with thread…..
excellent idea! I'm totally gonna do that, once I've used the floss…. 🙂
I thought that for a split second too!!
Clover makes a couple of items you wear like jewelry the work like the dental floss, but sharp.
I use one of them and have never had any trouble with airport security.
Teeth?
Your skirt (?is it a skirt or something else?) is looking good. I love the quiet colors of new growth on winter branches. It looks like Spring!
I fly with inexpensive bandage scissors like this one:
http://www.allheart.com/product.aspx?p=ah1040&cmpid=SEGOO&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=plagoogle&CAWELAID=1030956104&catargetid=120013910000020223&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CLDZjMnGnrsCFdJcfgodhm4AbA
Inexpensive in case TSA takes them away from me–which hasn't happened so far. The short blade and rounded and bent tip make it a poor weapon. However, it does cut yarn, thread and cloth with aplomb. It even cuts bandages if you need first aid on a trip.
Pre-cut thread…how simple and yet genius. Last I checked British guidelines, there was something about length of blade and non-pointy ends that made me think I might get away with taking kindergarten scissors to France, but I wasn't sure about getting them back home going the other direction. It wasn't a very long flight so I settled for reading…and borrowed the scissors of my hostess in Nice.
Ingenious! Can you take a needle and pins though?? I always assume not but it seems like maybe you can!
Good idea – thanks for sharing!! It's funny they allow sewing needles; I mean, those could poke somebody in the eye. The standards don't entirely make sense to me. I'm definitely going to try that next time.
Are you sure about the scissors thing? Must be an Australian thing, all flights in Europe and the States I've been on for the past year allowed small scissors (embroidery-sized). They have it listed before security control, scissors up to so-and-so size
According to TSA rules, you should be able to fly with scissors whose blades are smaller than 4", but personally I wouldn't attempt it with any of my nicer scissors, since agents often seem interpret rules as they see fit…
OTOH, once the TSA lightened up on the rules, I have always been allowed through with my cuticle nippers – their blades are only 1/2". You could always buy a new stainless steel pair and reserve them exclusively for clipping threads while traveling. (Tweezerman makes a pair that is stainless steel and has lifetime free sharpening.)
I once managed to get a kindergarten pair of scissors through security, they told me to not take them with me in my carry-on again… Impressive improv-skills for sewing on the plane!
Clever lady! It is always good to be sure and know that your sewing time won't be wasted. I once had a 'pointy' hair clip removed from my hair!!! and this is not a joke. Jo x
I use nail clippers for cutting embroidery threads on the go. I'm cheap and use ziplock bags to carry my projects and most scissors end up poking through the plastic. Nail clippers don't so it works.
Carolyn — I bring scissors on the plane — blunt tip and small . . for knitting . . .I love your sewing project — Is it AC (Alabama Chanin) . . .Dr. Fun's sewing blog (Sister) is doing some hand sewing on the same type of project right now. .
I have a Clover brand notion that looks like a flower and can be worn on a necklace that my cousin (who flys 3 times per week for business) bought for me for plane trips. It has little notches with tiny blades for cutting thread and makes a cute necklace. I got a thimble cage and needle case and can wear them like a chatelaine – everything very handy. I had an amazing pair of Inox tiny folding scissors that were not allowed on my flight back from Paris last year, Since they were less than 3 inches long when unfolded, and I had flown with them for years, I was quite surprised. But I got such a nasty look from the Airport security woman when I insisted on only giving her my scissors, and keeping their leather case, that I have to wonder exact what was going on.
Your fabric is looking lovely. Yes – I can't recall how many manicure sets I lost at the airport check in!
I have also seen the clover necklace.
Here is a link
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/thread+cutter+pendant.do
Thanks BeaJay – That's it!
Oh how cleaver are you – I don't think I would ever have thought! I probably just would have started a knitting project to keep busy. I loving watching your AC journey – I'm keen to see what you are making.
Would love to know and see more of your AC project. Looks delightful.
Love the colours you have chosen for your AC project – yum!
I can see why you needed to stay busy on your plane trip. I took prewaxed and cut thread to practice smocking when I came to Perth earlier this year. It does take the boredom off such a long flight.
Your colour choices are great.
Knitting is a good standbye on flights – and you can dig people in the ribs too (chuckle). That is a handy hint about the dental floss – I do have a cutter that hangs as a pendant which works quite well – you can sometimes find them in craft shops. The handy thing about them is that they are around your neck, so no fishing around in a bag, or finding you left the dental floss with your toiletries in the big case in the hold. You can also get a little needle holder to hang as a pendant.
I take my sewing to all my daughter's rehearsals (she doesn't yet drive, so I spend hours taxi-ing and waiting). Even if it's just mending! I can totally relate to finding it hard to sit down without anything to do. Thus planes are my worst nightmare!
What a great idea!
Post 9/11 I had my needle confiscated at Sydney airport and haven't tried since.
Really clever!! Hands never can stand still 🙂
That's brilliant!!! SarahLizSewStyle's hint about the pendant cutter is also very nifty.
This is so clever!! I recently got around the 'no scissors on planes' by using a fingernail clippers! It worked great! Seamstresses can be so darn crafty (har har!)
Faaabulous idea Carolyn – love it and all the suggestions in the comments, too. I've got quite a few looong flights coming up so am going to need to figure out what I can sew now!
Ha, ha, ha! While I was reading your post, I think that I am soooo similar to you, my busy hands and brain can´t stop working! Many times my boyfriend tells me: Maider please…can you only watch the TV? Only????? Ha, ha, ha!!!
Clever idea about the floss cutter and getting needles and thread prepared in advance. I have a pair of airplane friendly scissors that I bought at the Perth Quilt and Craft Fair, and yes, I do things on planes too, but usually I knit.
That's a great idea!