Knitting on the Go: How I Travel Overseas with My Projects

Have you ever looked longingly at your knitting before a trip and wondered “Can I take this on the plane?”... me too!

Travelling with your knitting is one of the great joys of being a maker. Whether it’s a long-haul flight, a train ride through the mountains, or just a weekend away, having a project in your bag can turn delays and downtime into something meditative and meaningful.

A few years ago, I took the plunge and decided to risk flying with my knitting. Since then, I’ve refined my on-flight knitting set-up to something that means I can bring the joy of knitting with me wherever I go with minimal risks of having needles and WIPs confiscated.

This isn’t intended as a tutorial, rather it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I do it:

What I bring in my to-go knit kit

How I pack it all away

What WIPs I take with me

How I get prep my WIPs for airport security

First Things First, Can You Bring Knitting Needles on a Plane?

Micro scissors

Let’s answer the question that gets asked the most: Can you fly with knitting needles?

The short answer is yes, but with a few caveats depending on where you're flying from and to.

• In most countries, including the EU, UK, and US, knitting needles are permitted in carry-on luggage.

• Wooden or plasticky needles are the least likely to raise any eyebrows. I have travelled with 15-centimetre, double-pointed, wooden needles, as well as 13.5cm wooden circular needles and have never even been asked to take them out of the bag,

• Scissors can be tricky, on the other hand. I personally try to get my WIP to a stage where I won't need to use scissors. However, 'Japanese Thread Snips' or 'Micro Scissors' are carry-on safe because the blade is so small. Technically, a pair of scissors with blades under 6cm, a yarn cutter, or a dental floss cutter could work too but rarely run the risk!

• Double check the airline and airport guidelines. Even though I'm 99% sure it's fine, I do a quick internet search every time I'm packing my carry-on. Things change, and it’s better to be safe than to watch your favourite pair of needles get binned at security!

Personally, I always pack my most “airport-friendly” project and tools. I pack as minimally as possible, preparing only for what I really need to knit while I fly because I don't knit much while I'm around and about on holiday anyway.

How I Pack My In-Flight Kit

Here’s what’s usually in my bag when I’m flying with knitting:

• A light, manageable WIP: Something that fits easily in a small project bag and doesn’t require constant counting. Think: simple circular knits, scarves, socks, bandanas etc.

Read what makes for a travel-friendly WIP below!

• Use a soft, compact zippered pouch for your project: I choose a pouch that's long enough to put my needles flat on the bottom, so that even if it gets squashed the needles aren't at risk of snapping. I find that a soft pouch is better than a hard container because it's easier to fit into my carry on luggage and still allow for other items.

• Prep my yarn in advance and keep it in a separate drawstring bag! This prevents tangling and means that when I'm knitting in my seat I can chuck it on the floor of the plane without worrying about the yarn rolling away or picking up all the yuck from the floor.

• My least favourite needles: Whenever I can, I try to bring a WIP that allows for DPNs because they're cheap and easy to re-order/re-purchase if I lose the set.

  • When I really need to, I fly with wooden, circular needles.

• A small notions tin packed away in the mini-zippy pocket of my bag. I'm not particularly organised here... I just get an old mint/sweet tin or spice jar and pack it with 10-15 stitch markers, a tapestry needle and scrap yarn. If you're going to bring one, here would be the place to put your mini thread cutter.

• Printed pattern or digital access to the pattern I'm working on. I highlight my place beforehand and also download the pattern on my phone for offline use (in case the paper copy goes walkabouts).

What Makes a Good Travel Project?

I’ve learned this the hard way that not all WIPs are created equal when you’re 10,000 meters up and fighting for elbow room with my seat mate.

Choose something simple, repetitive, and soothing. Flights and trains are not the moment to try lace or a new cast-on technique. I gravitate toward easy stockinette, garter stitch, or ribbing that I can knit without looking too closely.

Another option? Choose a small knit that you've already worked before. One of my absolute favourites to knit sky-high is Claire Garland's Frog pattern that I have knit many a time and can get the back and front knit in the flight time to London! Then on the trip home, the i-cord arms and legs.

If you've ever knit the Sophie Scarf before by PetiteKnit, it's a great WIP to bring along. It's small enough to be worked on DPNs and is very repetitive. The only challenge may be tracking row counts for the increases/decreases. My solution? I pre-prepare a note on my phone with the repeats that I can check off as I work them.

One last option, the first part of a simple bottom-up sweater worked in rib stitch or stockinette in-the-round, or an easy to follow top-down yoke are great to bring along on a flight. I always make sure to cast on before I pack it up for the flight because counting stitches in a distracting environment like the plane is not it. Trust me...

How I Prep My WIPs for Airport Security

Prepping my knit for security is somewhat of an art form. Here's how I get through security checks without a hiccup every time:

• Put it in a pouch or project bag so if they do ask me to see the knitting needles, I don't have to go digging through my carry-on and risk messing up my WIP. It's never happened, but I've always thought that the airport security agents might also be more attentive with it because I've handed it over to them in a pouch or bag.

• Pack it on the top of my carry on, directly next to my liquids bag, so I can easily pull it out if requested. (This is also super handy for quick in-flight access too!)

• Easily-accessible notions packed away either in the zippy pocket of my bag or together with my WIP. This step is a must, and would be even more so if I were to bring mini scissors or thread cutters of some sort!

• Cast a lifeline in my work before I go... I really don't want to be asked to take my work off the needles and end up walking around with live and loose stitches!

  Yes, there is a risk that they ask you to throw your needles away. Scary, right?

Knitting Sky High = Uninterrupted Focus

I find that knitting while flying is one of those knitting spaces in which I am most focused and most easily find flow. I put my headphones in, put on my favourite podcast or playlist and just zone in to what I'm working on.

I never pay for assigned seating if it costs extra, but the best seat for a 10,000 meter up knit sesh is the window seat. Why? No need to stand up if someone wants to get up. No-one will be passing food or drink over the top of you. There's no annoyance of people bumping your elbow as they move up and down the aisle or move about in their seats either side of you. Where possible, I choose a window seat or check in as soon as it opens for the highest probability of a window seat. That's just me!

Tips Before You Go

• Check your country’s aviation guidelines before packing needles in carry-on.

• Don’t bring your most expensive or a much-loved irreplaceable project. You know... just in case.

• A carry-on format hand sanitiser is great to get your hands clean and pristine before working the yarn (especially if it's light coloured yarn).

• Bring something for regular knitting breaks such as snacks, a magazine or a book, and my personal favourite... hand cream to give my hands a rub and help relax those muscles.

Final Thoughts: You Can Take It With You

Knitting on the go has become one of my favourite parts of travelling. It turns waiting into making, and what before was dead-time into something meaningful. With a bit of preparation (and research), your WIP can come along for the ride, whether it’s across the globe on a long-haul flight or a quick domestic/short-haul flight.

I'm curious! Do you travel with your knitting? Any favourite tricks, tools, or go-to projects for the journey you'd add to this post? Let me know in the comments!

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FAQ: Flying with Knitting Needles

1. Can I fly with knitting needles in my carry-on? Yes, in most countries including the UK, EU, and US, knitting needles are permitted in carry-on luggage. I always use wooden or plastic needles, and have never had a problem — but check your airline or airport guidelines just in case.

2. Are scissors allowed on a plane for knitting? It depends. Most airlines allow scissors with blades under 6cm, but I personally avoid them. Instead, I use carry-on safe thread snips or prepare my WIP so I won’t need to cut anything mid-flight.

3. What’s the safest type of knitting needle to bring on a flight? Wooden circular needles are generally the most travel-friendly. They’re not sharp, they pack easily, and they attract the least attention at security.

4. Can I bring my whole project bag on the plane? Yes! I bring a soft, zippered pouch with my WIP, yarn in a separate drawstring bag, a mini notions tin, and my pattern (printed or digital). Keep it accessible in your carry-on so you can pull it out easily if needed.

5. What if airport security asks me to remove my knitting needles? It’s rare, but it can happen. I always pack a cheap pair of needles (like wooden DPNs) just in case. I also insert a lifeline in my project before I fly so I won’t lose stitches if I need to remove the needles.