Traveling and Tatting

[CindyK]

I'm off to Finland this summer! I've been reading old threads about what tatting gear is OK to take on airplanes, etc., and am wondering if most information still holds true. It sounds like it's OK to bring aero shuttles with the hook, but not crochet hooks. And Clover cutters are not a good idea in some cases, but nailclippers are usually fine. Sewing in ends after landing seems logical, but is it OK to have the needlekeeper with needles in my tatting bag? (Obviously I don't fly much )

Since I plan to visit Helsinki, Stockholm and Estonia, and maybe even Oslo - I'd love to hear from any tatters from those areas!

[Lynn]

I would contact the airlines you plan to fly and ask for their guidelines on what is acceptable on their flights. Then, you're at the mercy of the airport security. I fly with my tatting and have never had a problem with anything. My post shuttles don't have hooks, so I usually use large enough threads (20-30-40) on the plane that I can use the pick for joins. Small folding scissors are okay. I've even taken my round Clover cutter, but I now understand that some airlines don't like those. Nail clippers work fine in most cases. I also have at least one very small tapestry needle, but I find sewing in ends on a plane is more trouble than it's worth. The lighting isn't good enough for my old eyes. Hiding ends has to wait till I'm on the ground.

[susiearnholt]

TSA's newest regulations allow anything you need to do needlework except that Clover cutter. I flew with crochet projects, tatting with metal picot gauges, and needles recently. I would probably double check the international regulations too.

[Sherongb]

One thing to remember is that different countries each have their own rules so what works flying out of the USA may not work flying back. Also that rules can change depending on the situation at that time.

Re nailclippers: get a pair that do not have a fingernail file on them. Or check with your dentist and get a small thing of dental floss (it takes less space than a regular one). It has that small cutter for cutting off the dental floss. Or use a regular one (especially if you have an empty one or two) and you can wrap thread in it to carry with you without carrying the whole ball.

If you plan ahead and use magic threads you can hide your ends without a needle, it's what works for you.

[BridgetH]

... check with your dentist and get a small thing of dental floss (it takes less space than a regular one). It has that small cutter for cutting off the dental floss. Or use a regular one (especially if you have an empty one or two) and you can wrap thread in it to carry with you without carrying the whole ball.

What a great idea! I never would have thought of that! It's a great idea for keeping thread clean and it won't unwind so easily. Thank you! It would be a great idea for keeping sewing thread handy for bead-stringing, too.
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[xstchntat]

I made this chatelaine a while back:

It has a thread cutter, picot gauge, picot hook, bone awl and 2 strivers.
The thread cutter I made from a needle threader that lost its wire. It is about an inch long and has a very tiny razor in the notch. I just drilled a small hole in the plastic to add a jump ring and loster claw clasp. Here is a close up:


I like the idea of a dental floss box.

[CindyK]

Thanks to you all - what great ideas!

[BlueDode]

My principles for tatting on planes / while travelling include taking only things on board that I wouldn't miss too much if I had to toss them out for some reason, and I use clear plastic bags or containers so airport staff can see easily what I have in them.

I've used the dental floss container cutter to trim threads, but not too closely, on planes (US, domestic) and didn't have problems: trimming ends close can wait until you are on the ground and have access to your (checked) bags.

I use clover post shuttles with the pointed pick on one end. I packed my crochet hook for tatting joins with my folding scissors in my checked bag. Since lighting is usually poor on planes, and sometimes those dim lights don't work, I took a project in size 10 white thread (very visible in poor light) that didn't have "very small picots" for joining (the pick works best on normal sized picots).

I did NOT take any pattern books: I made enlarged copies of my patterns so they would be easy to read in poor lighting and I could fold them up. I took a couple projects, one for the plane and one to work on at my destination. My tatting case with my destination project was a clear zippered makeup bag that contained the things I didn't want to take on the plane, and displayed them in plain sight in my checked bag. A ziploc bag held my limited tatting supplies for the plane.

I haven't tried taking tatting needles on a plane: I would probably pack those and work on those projects on the ground: in turbulence, those needles could possibly hurt you or someone nearby. I even pack my tapestry needles that I use for hiding ends with my destination tatting. Tatting needles are less convenient to replace for me than a clover shuttle is. If you need to try taking a tatting needle on a plane, I would take only one, and only if I wouldn't mind having it taken away.

I kept my thread ball I was using on the plane in a plastic ziploc bag opened only far enough to let the thread out: hopefully the ball wouldn't go rolling away from me down the aisle. The same ziplog same bag stored a copy of my pattern and my tatting in process, shuttle, and the dental floss cutter.

Every airline has lists of what it won't accept: they are different: read them, expect to be a bit confused on applying the information to tatting needles, make your best judgement on what to take (or not), and enjoy your travels!

[Green Gal]

Ditto Blu Dodes post. But it depends on security on the day as well as country regs. I traveled with a dodgy old needle and they didn't worry about it or missed it. But I bet the day i take a good needle on board THAT will be the day it gets confiscated. ( My D.I.L. lost her corkscrew bottle opener which was attached to her earrings to airport security. Her comments about how anyone could possibly attack someone with a corkscrew were very amusing)
My daughter suggested taping the tatting needle to the side of your mobile so that it looks like an antennae. My sneaky friend suggested adding it to a hair ornament.
Patterns I agree with the copy but just in case put a PDF of the pattern into your phone.

[Antiquarian]

I have a needle for emergencies that just lives woven into the zipper of my purse. I've flown a bit (domestic USA) in the last 10 years and NOT once was it noticed or confiscated. *laugh* My plain metal hair barrettes and tweezers on the other hand.

My husband made it from SLC to NY with a multi-tool knife in his back pack that he didn't even know was there. Lost it at JFK, but the TSA guy was totally cool about it. Asked if we wanted it mailed back to us and even apologized for having to take it!!! My DH was embarrassed and said, "na you can keep it if you want it, didn't even remember it was there." I will note that traveling with a kid makes things nice at security; we've always been ushered through fast in a "family lane" and Boo even got stickers at one airport - made it a good experience for her.