Desperate: Traveling/Flying with/without scissors

lovestitches

Hello fellow stitchers,

I generally travel with something to work on en route, either a sweater, an doily or a cross stitch project, especially those long trips I have to take every other summer, where it takes up to 36 hours (inclusive of waiting/trainsit time at various airports) to reach where I need to be. I am sure many of you do that while travel too.

The problem is all my scissors were confiscated at the airports :curse:, including those baby nail scissors with rounded tips. I am again traveling far this summer and I cant survive the trip without doing anything. I am thinking of having a pair of scissors made to the express purpose of being allowed on the airplane with two big, rounded tips but not sure if thats possible :(

Please help if you have any tips regarding bringing scissors or stitching without scissors while traveling.

Thank you for your advices!

fei2x

I use pendant-shaped thread cutter when I bring my stitching project on board an airplane. The one I have is from Japan. I think you can buy it from the amazon. Just try to search on google "Clover thread cutter pendant".

lovestitches

fei2x replied at 2013-6-1 12:16

                               
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I use pendant-shaped thread cutter when I bring my stitching project on board an airplane. The one I ...

Great idea! Thanks a lot. I know what you mean but I havent seen one up close and dont know how it works. I cant order online anything from where I live (yes I can but whether I receive it is another issue due to the post system) but its good to know that I could use it on the way back.

Do you use it on cross-stitch project as well? Does it cut close to the surface of your work as well as embroidery scissors?

urmel

And you dont have any problems with your needles? I also would like to stitch during flight but not only my scissors but also all my needles were confiscated at check in (Oooo, yes my dear sir, of course I would LOVE to stab the pilots with these needles ;P :dizzy:) :curse: . Now I store all my stitching material in my hardcase and take only a book with me on board :(

Spookytooth

I saw someone say that they put their needles in a coin purse (with coins obviously) - if it helps!  I saw on an American security website that knitting needles are allowed, but they certainly are not from British airports.  I understand that security is a priority, but sometimes it seems that there is no consistency and a dearth of common sense.

Spookytooth

lovestitches replied at 2013-6-1 05:07

                               
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Great idea! Thanks a lot. I know what you mean but I havent seen one up close and dont know how  ...

The Clover type cutter cuts quite close to the thread, but you would probably prefer to neaten the ends later with a pair of embroidery scissors.  BTW I also read one one security site that the small rounded scissors were OK, but the Clovers were not as they counted as a blade! (although not one you could cut your fingers with as the blade is in a notch.

LouAnna

When I travel I put my scissors in my checked luggage and take stitching, but I cut all of my threads before the trip so they are all the right size.   I then trim off my ends when I arrive at my destination.    Ive traveled abroad and have never had my needles taken and I do put a couple of extra ones in my coin purse.   Im surprised they would take your needles.
Most crafting stores should  have the clover cutter!   I guess it just depends on your country of origin and destination.
Ive flown from NA to Europe back in 05 and had no problems with needles on my flights, flew with BA and one of the flight attendants was a stitcher and admired my stitch.  :)

lovestitches

Spookytooth replied at 2013-6-1 20:47

                               
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I saw someone say that they put their needles in a coin purse (with coins obviously) - if it helps!  ...

I saw on some website that scissors with pointed blades shorter than 4" were allowed but thats in the States. The last time I lost my scissors were nail scissors, very short and rounded blades. One security person looked at it and almost let me go but then he looked at his supervisor, who said scissors were scissors and took them and put them in the box with other forbidden objects in it. I looked at them sadly for a long while before leaving them there. Obviously, like you said, total death of common sense!

Biddy

I have a clover pendant cutter that I usually take with me and have had no problems so far. The biggest problem I had was with my light that I had carried all over the world and then the final leg of my journey thay wanted to confiscate it as the battery inside they said was an explosive device..... I finally manged to get them to dismantle it and take the battery and leave me the light. It is one of those that you can plug in and also use just with the battery making it really handy to use at classes etc. The other tip I have read about is using a dental floss container and use the cutter on that.

tcca

If I were travelling, rather than cross stitch I would taking knitting or crochet. And to prevent the need for scissors I would take a project that didnt need much cutting of thread. A pair of socks is a good one - you can start one sock from each end of the ball of yarn.

Also, if you dont want to get your stuff confiscated and lose it, I have heard of people carrying an envelope addressed to themselves with postage already attached - and if security tries to confiscate your needles/scissors/whatever that you thought would clear, you can just put them all in the envelope and find a drop box to mail the stuff to yourself before getting back in line. Someone would make a LOT of money starting a business collecting and mailing things to the homes of people at the security line if they could find a way to make it work somehow.

Also for knitting, I have heard of people using wooden neeldes - stick them in a pencil case, or use them to hold your hair up, and just carry on a ball of yarn. Then in the plane, you can decide to knit with your hair sticks ;P