Further to my post on the socks knitted on our plane trip, I thought I’d give some more details on my own experiences of sky-high knitting (and above is my nearly-second pair of socks knitted on the same trip). Obviously I can’t speak for all airlines, nor the behaviour one can expect of all airline officials, but only my own experiences here…
When I made my own enquiries with Qantas I was given the guideline “nothing bigger nor thicker than a ballpoint pen”. So I presumed that the little double ended needles used to knit socks would be alright, since they are as it happens much smaller and thinner than a ballpoint pen. As a further safeguard, since “metal”, and “pointy”, and particularly a combination of those two qualities, seems to be the biggest no-no’s when boarding a plane, I figured it would be sensible to get hold of some bamboo needles. Eliminate the “metal” factor, at least. And I had absolutely no dramas going through security, nor on the plane.
Can I just digress for one minute to mention how nice bamboo needles are?? Love working with these things… Metal is the best, natch. Plastic is the worst. Just my opinion…
I bought this pack containing 5 needles, the label gives the dimensions of these needles as 20cm long and 2mm thick. And they are flimsy. Man are they flimsy… in the packet there is the fifth needle that I snapped whilst knitting with them… 🙁 You have to be really careful when using these little things. Or it could just be that I am too rough? But thank goodness the manufacturers were kind enough and had the foresight to include the fifth needle…!
If you are a really keen knitter and wish to do some larger scale knitting in the air then it might be worthwhile hunting down and purchasing a kit like this one below…
I bought this set of airline approved needles about seven years ago from a local yarn shop now sadly gone, Cottonfields.
The Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles. This is an American product, and interestingly the instructions give the same guidelines we have … specifically mentioning the “nothing bigger nor thicker than a ballpoint pen” line in their Airline-Safe blurb.
The set comprises a not-quite-complete-but-adequate range of sizes, and you can join all the bits and pieces together to create knitting needles both single pointed and circular, of various lengths, simply by choosing different lengths of piping to suit whatever you are working on. A big downside; this is an expensive option, one of those purchases that had me sweating and wondering whether I was truly mad even thinking of spending good money on yet more knitting needles when I already have a complete set of ordinary needles, for petes sake… but now I figure it to be a worthwhile purchase. Why? Because I am a really keen knitter. Keen enough to resent sitting on a plane for hours with nothing to do with my hands… And since I got them I have used them to knit two complete jumpers on separate trips. Worth it? Ohhh yeah!
Oh, the website is www.knitdenise.com for those who are as keen as me.
When it comes to snipping the yarn; I have a tiny pair of plastic handled, kindergarten-grade kiddies’ scissors that usually live permanently in my knitting bag, and I left these out before we set off for the airport. And good thing too, as I saw lots of these innocent things sitting in the bin of confiscated potential instruments of terror. (insert eye-roll here…) Luckily sock yarn is quite skinny and thin and I managed to break it when I needed to by just yanking it hard. Yeah, not ideal, I know. Can someone invent some plastic scissors, please?
If you ever have a chance to look at the Harmony interchangeable needles from KnitPicks.com, they are wonderful. A brightly colored birch wood with very pliable cords that screw on. I'm not sure how the price compares to the Denise set and they don't come in such a nice case however, I know they are much easier to knit with. Once I started using interchangeable, circular needles, I've never gone back to straight ones.
KnitPicks also has nickle plated and zephyr acrylic interchangeable sets. I have the nickle plated set and they are wonderful as well. Haven't tried the acrylic. Here's the Harmony page.
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/Options_Interchangeable_Harmony_Wood_Circular_Knitting_Needle_Set__D90306.html
Thanks for your comment on my comment about socks – LOL. Almost everyone I know loves to knit socks. Apparently, I'm the strange one. I think it has to do with the way I knit which is a slightly altered version of continental. When I'm knitting in a circle, I'm constantly twisting the stitch which irritates my tendonitis and isn't the smoothest way of moving. That's my guess anyway because I knit hats for charity each year and have the same issue only it's much bigger yarn and a shorter project so I make it through.
Interesting! We had some plastic scissors kicking around for a few years when the kids were little, but they struggled even to cut paper… I suspect yarn would've defeated them.
Now I'm going to be brainstorming sharp-yet-inoffensive alternatives all day.
I wonder if a sharp piece of obsidian would make it through… It wouldn't need to be big, and would just look like a rock or bit of glass on the X-ray… 😉
Pesky airlines.
I keep a pair of nail clippers with me for cutting thread and yarn on airplanes. No problem getting through security with those.
Somewhere I saw – for the life of me can't remember where – a necklace-type thing with a hidden blade within a notch (sort of the same idea as thread cutters on newer sewing machines) specifically for cutting thread while traveling. Every time I hear of what is and is not allowed on airplanes, I have a vision of a swarm of knitters and sewers holding up a plane with knitting needles and embroidery scissors in had.
Most dental floss containers have a nice little blade that cuts most sewing and knitting fibres – easy to carry and never confiscated.
Good idea to check with the airline itself – I wish they were all consistent in their rules! I couldn't stand flying especially long haul without a project of some sort.
I have one of those gadgets Irene mentioned by Clover – it is round with several notches in the edge, and there is a blade in the depths of the notch. I use it for embroidery rather than knitting, but it no doubt cuts yarn too!
I have one of those round cutters with the inset blades that Sherry mentioned, that I use when travelling to cut yarn (I am a travelling sock knitter too!). It came attached to a carabiner clip which is very lightweight. I got it from Knitpicks – here's the link for reference http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories/Yarn_Cutter__D80581.html
I do like the idea about the dental floss though! Ingenious!
oh yes, what harm are we going to do with kindergarten scissors, may I ask? jeesh. I have been afraid to fly with my needles as I am afraid I might make it there but have them confiscated mid-project. unfortunately for my odd method of knitting I need needles that won't bend, so I don't think I could use your interchangeable set. I have to do DPN's, can't do circulars, and I'm too old to relearn to knit!! I have braved the airlines with a crochet hook a couple of times, though. I figured if they yank that I can tie the single loop off and at least not lose my whole project. …
Oh wow! I have never managed to get a piece of knitting onto a plane with the needles intact. Even tiny bamboo ones. Hmmmmm.
I often embroider on a long flight. It's so hard sitting there with nothing but a little screen. Ugh.
I'm off to Japan in 2 weeks and had planned to crochet on-flight to avoid the 'pointy' issue. But some knitting will definitely be packed for apres ski activities 🙂
Great to find your blog – I'm a Perth -girl living in Hong Kong.
I have the Denise set of needles and think they are fabulous except that they dont go fine enough for my sock knitting. A few years ago one of the needles snapped (my fault) and the Denise people replaced the needle withouy question< I was most impressed
I LOVE my Denise set! Over the last few years, they added even larger needle options that have to live "outside the box", but they work just great! I recommend them to all of my knitting students when they first start knitting. It's amazing how much money they save vs. buying "regular" needles one at a time/per project.
That being said, I sew socks with bamboo needles only. The smaller needle size you go, the more "wood grip" you need to keep the fiber on the sticks.
Chicks with sticks are cool!
I have had a set of "Denise" that were given me around 30+ years ago and I am still using them regularly. I love the way the snap together, since I find the "screw on" types of connectors ten to work loose, no matter how hard you tighten, and either end up snagging stitches in the tiny gap that has opened or just simply fall off, dropping lots of stitches as they go. I've NEVER had my "Denise" pull any of these nasty tricks. My only gripe is that the box has deteriorated and gotten brittle, so I had to get a new box for them, but, after three decades,…..well, big deal, right? These are worth every penny. You can also get extras, replacements etc. They are just wonderful needles.