Knitting on holidays

Taking your knitting with you on holiday

One of the best times you catch up on your knitting and crochet projects is when you're on your summer holiday. All those hours spent killing time at airports, on planes, trains and boats is time that could easily be spent casting on and getting stuck into the first few inches of a new project. If you're not driving, so much the better: plonk your knitting bag by your feet, strap yourself into the passenger seat and get those needles clacking. Take it from us, you can get through an awful lot of stocking stitch in a round trip from London to Cornwall. Given the unpredictable British summer, working on a cover-up on your way to week away makes a lot of sense.

If you're traveling overseas, you'll probably need to pack light. A small crochet or knitting project such as a child's top is ideal. You might need to plan ahead about how to transport it, though. Airlines have differing policies about what you can take in your hold luggage. Aviation regulations state that you can take your knitting and crochet with you on international flights leaving the UK, but we wouldn't take a bet on you managing to get your favourite 30cm needles past security.

Short bamboo and plastic needles with blunt ends have a better chance of being waved through, but you're still at the mercy of the whims and mood of the airline ground staff and the airport security staff.

Single Point Bamboo Knitting Needles

Security advice changes frequently, so check current rules about what you can and can't take onboard in the terms of carriage for your airline as well as on international aviation websites. A piece of yarn onto which you can thread your in-progress knitting is a wise precaution. Some airlines confiscate projects as well as the projects they're on, so don't take a favourite project on your trip.

Don't take aviation policy as gospel either: Gatwick Airport has recently changed its policy and now expressly prohibits knitting needles. Crochet hooks may be okay as they are less likely to be seized on as 'sharp objects that could be used as a weapon'. As if!

Other airports that are part of the same airport group as Gatwick now also ban knitting needles, so if you've previously snuck some bamboo needles through in your hand luggage at Manchester Airport or Edinburgh, you may have to rethink your plans for what to pack.

We've taken circular needles on Easyjet and other European airlines without fuss (in fact, the Easyjet cabin crew thought it was a great idea and thought they might follow our lead and take up knitting in between shifts too). However, the Easyjet dangerous goods page says knitting needles mustn't be carried on the person or in the cabin, so perhaps we just got lucky.

At the BA check-in desk at Heathrow Terminal 5 they told us we couldn't take knitting needles in our hand luggage (until we waved a piece of paper showing the airport's regulations contradicting them). Internal US flights specifically say you're allowed to take your knitting stuff with you (as long as scissors are blunt and shorter than 4in), but whether you make it through security with them is down to security staff's discretion.

On flights from Stansted, for example, the security policy is that knitting needles are allowed.

Eurostar says it's happy for passengers to take and use knitting needles as long as you don't walk around the carriage brandishing them.

You can take a print-out of the rules stating that you're allowed to carry your crochet hook or needles, but there are plenty of anecdotes online of people still coming up against airport staff who won't let you through security with them.

In summary, your best bet is to make tracks for the US, since you can knit onboard when leaving the UK and on your return and spend a blissful 12 hours knitting in each direction. Or you could take a train (perhaps the Eurostar) or enjoy a staycation instead.

Bamboo Ciurcular Knitting Needles

Julieta who knits anywhere and everywhere says: "if you want to take your knitting onboard I would recommend to take circular bamboo needles they are shorter and look less threatening. I would also recommend to take cheap needles, that you don't mind loosing (just in case) and a spare string so if they take the needles off you you can at least safe your knitting and get a new set when you arrive on your holiday destination."

One last thing for you to consider, the policies from your returning country or airport will most likely be different again! So make sure you are prepared and know the rules and policies in other countries and airports.

Links to this blog:

Easyjet dangerous goods page: http://www.easyjet.com/en/dangerous-goods

Gatwick Airport security advice: http://www.gatwickinformation.co.uk/gatwick-airport-INF-information-security-rest-proh.php

Heathrow Airport security advice: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/faqs

knitshop.co.uk bamboo needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/278-bamboo-single-point

knitshop.co.uk bamboo crochet hooks: http://knitshop.co.uk/290-bamboo-crochet-hook

knitshop.co.uk circular needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/309-metal-circular

Manchester Airport security advice: http://www.manchesterairportflightarrivals.co.uk/manchester-airport-INF-information-security-restr-proh.php

Stansted Airport security advice: http://www.stanstedairport.com/stansted-airport-guide/airport-security/security-faqs#Sharpitems

Eurostar knitting needle statement: https://www.facebook.com/eurostar/posts/10151128733736426

UK government aviation rules: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items

US TSA regulations: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items#4