FlyerTalk Forums - Knitting Needles?

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Knitting Needles?

I have a trip scheduled for tomorrow, and I'd love to be able to catch up on some knitting. I, however, don't want my fancy cashmere yarn to be confiscated along with my needles! Are knitting needles permitted? I'm really inclined to just forget about it...it's probably more hassle than it's worth. I know that the TSA bulletin says knitting needles are allowed, but dealing with a crowded T1 at LAX makes me want to avoid any kind of issue.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

What are you knitting currently? Just curious.

A baby sweater as a gift for one of my husband's co-workers. I'm behind - the baby's due in a few weeks, so I really need to get cracking! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

I know that the TSA bulletin says knitting needles are allowed

TSA also says shoes don't have to come off.

I say print the bulletin and hope you don't get some hot-head.

See this report on FlyerTalk of knitting needles being confiscated.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...=265944&page=1

The sad truth is that even if you have a printout showing that knitting needles are permitted, the TSA might still argue that YOUR knitting needles are not permitted (made of the wrong material, or too sharp, or they just feel like it). TSA bulletins come and go, but the screeners retain the ultimate authority to confiscate anything.

Is there any way you can have a friend with you, waiting to watch you pass the checkpoint in case the TSA tries to take your knitting? Then if the screener won't allow your knitting needles, you can hand them off to your friend rather than feed them into the black hole of confiscation.

I travel with knitting needles and have no problems,

but they are not metal, but nylon or some other synthetic. I've done so for years. I keep them in my carry on bag. I guess they don't snow up on the x-ray machine. I also carry a crochet hook. Also non-metal. I use a small paper trimmer for cutting yarn. The type of thing you can buy for a buck at a fabric store.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

<snip>

If a TSA Lead Screener or Supervisor doesn't explain these options to you, then you have a legitimate complaint against TSA. If these options are explained to you, but you decide to abandon the item at the checkpoint, then you have no one to blame but yourself for either not planning ahead or checking to ensure you didn't have the typical prohibited items (scissors, pocket knives, torch lighters, etc.)

Thanks for another helpful, informative post. I really appreciate the way you clarify and explain TSA procedures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

Knitting needles are not prohibited. If a screener identifies them as a prohibited item, ask to speak with either the supervisor or screening manager.

Unfortunately, your post only tells part of the story with respect to knitting needles. Here is the rest of the official TSA line on knitting needles (plus crochet and needlepoint tools):

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSA Website

Transporting Knitting Needles & Needlepoint

Knitting needles are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage. However, there is a possibility that the needles can be perceived as a possible weapon by the TSA screener. TSA Screeners have the authority to determine if an item could be used as a weapon and may not allow said item to pass through security. TSA recommends the following when bring knitting needles on an airplane:

Circular knitting needles are recommended to be less than 31 inches in total length

We recommend that the needles be made of bamboo or plastic (Not Metal)

Scissors must have blunt points

In case the screener does not allow your knitting tools through security it is recommended that you carry a self addressed envelope so that you can mail your tools back to yourself as opposed to surrendering them at the security check point.

As a precautionary measure it is recommended that you carry a crochet hook with yarn to save the work you have already done in case your knitting tools are surrendered at the checkpoint.

Most of the items needed to pursue a Needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside. These items cannot be taken through a Security Checkpoint. They must go in your checked baggage.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1252.xml

Although knitting needles aren't per se prohibited, they are subject to arbitrary prohibition by the screeners. And just like shoes, the recommendations had best be followed, because disobeying the recommendations is certain to lead to undesired consequences. Since the TSA recommends that needles not be metal, you can be sure that most metal needles will, in fact, be prohibited and "surrendered."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

Well, Buster, did you try to bring the knitting needles? Were you allowed to bring them through the checkpoint?

I decided that it wasn't worth the hassle and I left them at home. The language in the release that indicates that whether I can bring the knitting needles on board is a subjective standard pretty much put me off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster

Thanks for the update, Buster. I'm sorry that you had to come to that decision.

TSA apologists, this is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about when I say the penalty for too much screening is not inconvenience but loss of liberty. A regular, law-abiding citizen feels unfree to bring along the current knitting project. Others feel unfree to dress as they would normally, and still others feel unfree to criticize the authorities at the checkpoint. All of these people travel under the threat of very real penalties for doing the things they feel unfree to do, so this is not baseless fear. Taking these freedoms away from people can not make us more safe, only more afraid. Why can't we learn to speak rationally about relative risks?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradGirl

Start with yourself. I agree the needles should be allowed (in fact I have seen knitting needles on a plane about a month ago), but how does the person not being allowed to carry them make them "afraid"? They have "fear" because of the clothes they wear and the tools they bring?

Too much hyperbole. Let's discuss issues without all the hyperbolic emotional baggage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradGirl

The best thing to do to be completely free is to get rid of security entirely. Because security is handle by people, there will always be mistakes and people will be effected and freedoms will be lost.

Once, while going through security, my husband's cigar-cutter (which he loved) was confiscated. On the same flight, we saw a woman happily knitting. IMHO, her knitting needles could have been perceived as more of a threat.