Hi all, I am new here actually I joined awhile back and found this site very helpful. But because I was having such difficulty I decided I should take a break from trying and now I want to try again. I even bought some new yarn and new plastic needles from joann fabric yesterday. I bought a thicker yarn and size 15 needles. I thought maybe my problem was too skinny of yarn and too tiny of needles. Well anyway back to my question I am going on an airplane this weekend, by myself, to go an help my mom while my dad is in the hospital having an operation. (he has a brain tumor, this is 2nd surgery) anyway I thought great time to bring my stuff so that I could practice on the plane in the hosp. you know. So can I take my needles on the plane? I looked up the TSA website and it said they are permitted. But looking through other sites some have had luch others have had to give them up. I was wondering what you experience is, I will be flying United from Chicago. Thanks again for all of your help.
Airplanes
Hi, neighbor! (Work in Elgin, live in Algonquin!) 
I’ve taken knitting needles on Southwest out of Midway and never had any trouble, and Amy (Website Goddess) came out here with a bag full of needles and knitting and had no trouble - FWIW. Both times on Southwest, but I think it’s the airport, not the airlines, that decide it. I might be wrong…
Best wishes to your father and your family!
OMG I live in Carpentersville just off of Randall. And soon our office is moving to Crystal Lake. Too funny. So you think I’ll be ok with those size 15 plastic needles? They are kinda big. lol One site said to get the circular ones.
I’m pretty sure they should be okay - but sometimes security can be totally random and arbitrary. Maybe it’s worth giving United or O’Hare a call…
There’s a bunch of NW Chicago suburban people on this forum - we’re all over the place! Check out the “Attention All ILLINOIS Knitters” thread here, for starters!
I should add, Chicago-area knitters have gotten together several times for knitting and chatting - I made it to the last one, in January in Woodstock (at Quietly Wild, which unfortunately is closing). Andrea (blog: A Cultured Purl) who lives in Crystal Lake told me about her knitting guild’s open get-together at the Barnes & Noble in CL on 28 Feb, so I might go there too… hope you can join in the getting together at some point!
Thanks I just posted under the Illinois thread. Like I said I’m very new and having difficulty so I need to practice, alot.
I hear you! I can knit and purl, but that’s it so far!
i live in chicago too! i fly a lot and i always bring my knitting with me.
i’ve gone in and out of midway and o’hare with needles tons of times with no problems. i use a fingernail clipper to cut my yarn.
the only time i ever had a problem was on Quantas flying back from Sydney - they made me cut the metal needles of my circs! Nobody said anything on the way to Australia, so i was totally surprised to get stopped on the way back. good thing i didn’t tell them about the pair of bamboos i had stashed in the bottom of the same bag! imagine a 14 hour flight with no knitting! hellish.
knitting needles are definitely allowed if you’re flying domestic (TSA makes the rules for all US airports) - but the rules are different if you’re going international - so check it out beforehand.
if you’re nervous, you can print out the following pdf file and bring it with you for the rare case of the tsa people giving you any guff.
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_9_6_2005.pdf
maybe someday i’ll be in town for a illinois get together!