Flying With Yarn: TSA Travel Guidelines for Crocheters

My bags are packed. I have my ID and my boarding pass out, my shoes off, my hand sanitizer in a plastic bag — I’m ready to go through airport security.

Then, the worst thing imaginable happens — A TSA agent TAKES my favorite crochet hook out of my bag and TOSSES it in the trash can!

It squeaks for help!

I can’t get there because there is hot lava between me and the trash can!

And I don’t have on any pants!

Then, I wake up. Whew…

Thank goodness it is just a bad dream. But for some, it can become a reality if you don’t take the proper precautions.

The rules are pretty black and white on which craft tools you can take through airport security and which ones you can’t. However, the airlines can have their own separate set of rules, so ALWAYS check with your airline.

And remember to check other countries’ rules if you are traveling internationally!

I want to make this a little easier on all of us as we prepare to travel this year.

Here are the TSA guidelines as well as my packing list for my next flight with crochet hooks.

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TSA Guidelines for Crafters

This information is pulled directly from the TSA website as of 9/24/2026.

See https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/

Crochet Hooks

• Carry-On Bags: Yes
• Checked Bags: Yes

“Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.”

It does not offer specific instructions for carrying them in carry-on bags, but it DOES say they are permitted in a carry-on.

To be safe, I never bring my favorite Furls crochet hooks. I often take less treasured hooks, and if I have them, plastic ones instead of metal.

Knitting Needles

• Carry-On Bags: Yes
• Checked Bags: Yes

“Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.“

Again, it does not offer specific instructions for carrying them in carry-on bags, but it DOES say they are permitted in a carry-on.

I would probably not recommend taking metal knitting needles, or your really long ones. Circulars probably look less like a weapon, so maybe bring those?

Safety pin

• Carry-On Bags: Yes
• Checked Bags: Yes

Scissors

• Carry-On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
• Checked Bags: Yes

“If packed in carry-on, they must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point.

Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.”

For International travel, though, consider that many countries will only permit scissors less than 6 cm. That’s only 2.36 inches!

Safer yarn-cutting options are discussed below.

Sewing Needles

• Carry-On Bags: Yes
• Checked Bags: Yes

“In general, you may place your knitting needles and needlepoint tools in carry-on or checked baggage.”

I think it’s weird that it talks about knitting needles in the sewing needles section, but I’m sure they are not worried about 2″ long sewing needles.

LEAVE THE PENDANTS OR CHECK THEM!

This one is a BIG ONE!

DO NOT take your cutting pendants or other cutters that have blades in them in your carry on, EVEN IF THEY ARE COVERED!

TSA specifies: “Circular thread cutters or any other cutter or needlepoint tools that contain blades must be placed in checked baggage. You are permitted to keep scissors smaller than 4 inches in your carry-on baggage.”

Other Travel-Friendly Cutting Options

The great thing is that we yarnies are resourceful, and people have come up with many different approved ways to cut yarn while traveling.

• Dental Floss box
• Nail clippers
• Seam ripper (I take my tiny one with me everywhere I go!)
• Folding travel scissors like these.

Yarn Options For Traveling

Pro tip: Roll or start your skeins before you leave! There is nothing worse than dealing with yarn vomit at 30,000 feet.

There are lots of great ways to travel with yarn and things you can use to keep things organized. Store bought options are available in all sizes and options. But here are a few DIY methods.

• Smaller skeins can be put in a plastic tumbler. Then you can thread the center-pull end through the straw hole. I LOVE this method because I can put the tumbler in the drink holder of my backpack. This is also super-awesome on road trips.
• You can use small drawstring bags like Crown Royal bags to hold a skein or a center-pull cake. (Yes, I have a small collection of Crown Royal bags…)
• Put yarn in a small Ziploc baggie and hole punch the bag so you can draw the yarn through it without opening the bag.
• Put yarn cakes in a plastic food storage container and punch holes in the lid to draw the yarn through.

My Travel Crochet Kit

I have a small “kit” that I take with me when I travel. I’m never sure what will inspire me, so I make sure to be prepared for any yarn emergency.

• Travel set of hooks; in this case, my Tulip Etimos — I bring 3 or 4 different ones.
• Lighted hooks (for night flying) or these really cool neck lights.
• Folding travel scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Small notebook
• Pencil and Pen
• Stitch marker or “progress saver” so I can put it away easily (metal stitch markers if I bring a magnetic case)
• I DO NOT take a tapestry needle… I don’t want to crawl around on an airplane floor when I inevitably drop them. I figure if I finish something, I will weave in my ends when I get home. However, if I were to take one, I would take a metal one and a magnetic case.

Yarn on,

Kati

Kati Brown

Kati is a crochet pattern designer, dragon obsessive, and certified geek who has been turning yarn into fantasy creatures since 2016. Her patterns lean heavily toward dragons, fantasy beasts, and whatever her brain decides is a good idea at 2am. She is proudly anti-AI crochet and very pro-finishing-your-WIPs (she’s working on it). When she’s not crocheting something with too many horns, she’s probably watching something nerdy or playing dog agility with her two American Hairless Terriers. Want to work together or just say hi? Contact her here.