Rewards
Hop on the Bus, Gus!
I don't know about you but I love to travel! There is nothing more exciting to me than planning a trip and then putting that plan in to action. I love a balance of down time and adventure time. For me, it is both about experiencing culture and place with a sufficient amount of r & r! Which for me means reading and (w)riting! And heaps of yarn!
Make a New Plan, Stan!
Planning is essential for a good trip so I always bring books, writing paper and pen(I like to go tech-free as much as possible when traveling), and a bag loaded up with my yarn projects. For longer trips, I bring more than one project so I have something easy and something more challenging. I mean, I would freak if I didn't have more than one project to work on! Each time I pack my project bag, I consider that the rules for carry on are ever changing. Here are a few suggestions that I have learned:
- Leave your favorite needles at home. You will not cry over cheap supplies, so bring just things you know you can part with if confiscated.
- Leave your metal needles at home, and bring only those made of plastic or bamboo. They are more flight friendly and they are not usually considered dangerous by the authorities.
- No thread cutters! These are strictly forbidden. Scissors are not accepted either. However, for cutting the extra yarn, bring a pair of children scissors instead. You are permitted to keep scissors smaller than 4 inches in your carry-on baggage.
- Place all your knitting supplies in a transparent bag, so they can easily be seen, without the security staff having to fiddle with them. Personally, I bring a zip lock bag with my tools but have a fun bag for the actual projects because that matters to me!
- Be sure to bring lots of cool Darn Good Yarn so you have a zen-ful trip!
- Always check the list of forbidden items on flights prior to embarking on a plane. Since different countries may have different rules when it comes to this, for international flights, make sure you are up to date with all their regulations.
All My Bags are Packed, I'm Ready to Go
I love that you can go to the TSA website and learn what is accepted. Also, take note that there is a search bar located on the upper right where you can ask "when I fly can I bring my...". This helps me with questions but I also find it doesn't answer more specific questions about crafting tools and notions.
The TSA states "even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane". So again, referring to #1 above, if you have something that you really love for crafting, it might be best to leave it home!
Big ol' jet airliner
So yeah, I like to keep my traveling simple but it does require a bit of planning. I have never had an incident with my crafting projects or tools because I take the time to pack my projects bag. With a tad bit of planning and sensible thinking, you will be able to travel with your crafts. After all, why would you ever leave them behind? Personally, if I can't craft, I can't go!!!!
Get out there and adventure! Wishing you safe travels from the gang at Darn Good Yarn! xo, Janis
