Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Reminder: Knitting is (Usually) Allowed on Airplanes

by

A story has been circulating online about a woman who was asked to put away her knitting on a flight by a flight attendant who warned that you wouldn’t want to have knitting in your hands during an emergency on the plane.

I would guess her worry is that you or someone else could get tangled up in the yarn, or somehow injured by the needles, if you were trying to exit the plane quickly?

I think most knitters are aware of where their yarn and needles are when they are knitting on a plane or anywhere else, and usually keep their yarn in a bag so it won’t roll away or get dirty, so no one should be able to get tangled in it.

Also by this argument probably doing anything in a plane (including serving hot beverages) would be a potential danger in case of an emergency.

Frankly I worry about a flight attendant who is that paranoid about potential dangers happening in flight that they would discourage people from entertaining themselves in transit.

But this story does serve as a good reminder that in the United States, knitting needles (and crochet hooks for that matter) are allowed in carry on and checked bags, as are scissors shorter than 4 inches/10 cm from the pivot point. Nail clippers are also allowed, but not yarn cutters that are blades.

A few years ago I looked for every nation’s rules regarding knitting needles on planes that I could find, and they were generally allowed on flights in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Scissors are not allowed in flights in Mexico.

It’s always a good idea to check with your airline just to make sure they allow knitting needles and tools, especially if you are flying internationally. It’s always up to the discretion of TSA agents if your supplies will be allowed. I haven’t traveled by air in many years, but I used to always try to use small needles and keep my knitting in its own bag inside my carry on so the needles wouldn’t be obvious. You can also use interchangeable knitting needles and screw the needles off the cable before going through security so they look less menacing.

What do you think of this story? Do you have any recent tales of traveling with knitting? I’d love to hear them!

[Photo of TikTok video from BrittStitches, via Yahoo]

 

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.