If you’re a keen crocheter, sitting still without getting stuck into your latest project sounds unthinkable! But what happens if you’re about to take a long flight? Can you bring crochet hooks on a plane?
We’re going to look at all the airline rules you need to know about. We’ll cover the situation in the USA, and other countries around the world. And we’ll look at the rules on another potentially problematic item - scissors.
Can you bring crochet hooks on a plane in the US?
There’s good news for crocheters taking a flight in the US. Guidance from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that crochet hooks are permitted on planes. You can either pack them in your checked baggage, or your carry-on bag.
There are two important caveats here, though:
- The first is that any sharp object should be “sheathed or wrapped” to prevent the risk of harm to security officers searching bags.
- The TSA are also clear that the final decision on whether an item is allowed on the plane rests with the airport TSA officer.
A quick scoot around crochet chat forums gives cause for optimism. The vast majority of people reporting that they’ve tried to take a crochet hook on a plane in the US haven’t had a problem.
But there are a handful of stories of TSA officers refusing permission. And in one case, an officer apparently tested out each crochet hook in a set, refusing permission for any they considered too sharp!
Tips to increase your chances of keeping your crochet hook
While you’re almost certain to be fine taking your crochet hook through security in the US, there’s a small chance you’ll run into a problem.
Here are a few steps to consider to reduce the risk.
- Only take one hook. It helps to be clear you’re using it for a specific purpose – keeping up with your project during your flight.
- Take a plastic hook instead of a metal one. Being less sturdy might give it a better chance of passing muster with the TSA officer.
- Wrap the hook so there’s no chance of it harming a security officer when your bag is checked.
- Take your work in progress with you. Explaining that you want to use your hook for crafting will look more convincing if you can show what you’re working on.
Can you bring crochet hooks on a plane in other countries?
Different countries – and airlines – have different approaches to the question of crochet hooks on planes. Rules can change too, so check the latest position with your airline before you travel.
And remember: the rules may be different at your start and destination airports. So if you’re travelling internationally, make sure you check both.
Countries where crochet hooks are allowed on planes
The rules in many other countries are similar to those in the US.
In the UK, government guidance states that both knitting needles and sewing needles are allowed in checked luggage and carry-on bags. Crochet hooks aren’t specifically mentioned, but since they’re shorter than knitting needles there shouldn’t be a problem.
In Australia, crochet hooks get the green light for both checked and carry-on baggage. The website of Australian airline Qantas notes that crochet hooks used to be prohibited, but advances in security mean that’s no longer the case.
And in Canada, government guidance states that crochet hooks “of any size and type” are fine. That goes for both checked and carry-on baggage. Like the US guidance, though, it notes that the final decision on any item is for the screening officer.
Airlines where you can’t bring crochet hooks on a plane
Not everywhere sees crochet hooks as suitable items to bring on a flight. At the time of writing, the following airlines prohibit crochet hooks in carry-on bags. In most cases, though, you can still carry them in luggage placed in the hold:
- KLM Mexico – both crochet hooks and knitting needles count as “pointed tools” and are forbidden in carry-on bags. You can take them in checked luggage, though.
- Air France – the airline rules state that “needles and hooks (knitting and embroidery)” are prohibited in carry-on bags if they’re made of “metal or any other material that is strong enough to be used as a weapon”. You can carry them in your checked bags though.
- Emirates – the website doesn’t list crochet hooks, or even make reference to “pointed tools” or the like. But when asked in 2018 on Twitter (now X), Emirates customer services were clear that crochet hooks weren’t allowed in carry-on bags.
Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list, and rules often change. So always check before you travel.
Countries where it’s unclear if you can bring crochet hooks on a plane
A large number of countries and airlines don’t make any specific mention of crochet hooks in their baggage guidance. But you’ll often find something in the list of prohibited items for carry-on baggage that might cover them.
German airline, Lufthansa, for example says you can’t bring “tools with a blade or shaft longer than 6cm capable of being used as a weapon” in carry-on bags. The website gives screwdrivers and drills as examples, but crochet hooks might fall foul of the same definition.
When questioned on Twitter (now X) in 2019, Lufthansa customer services couldn’t say whether or not a crochet hook would be considered a weapon at security control. They therefore recommended against taking one in carry-on bags.
In a similar vein, Etihad lists “tools that have the potential to be used as a pointed or edged weapon” as prohibited from carry-on. Their list of examples is far longer, but crochet hooks aren’t mentioned (and neither are knitting needles).
So where does this leave you?
The best approach is to check the position with customer services at the relevant airline before you travel. They can usually be contacted via their website or app, by telephone, or via social media platforms like X.
Remember that even if the airline says it’s ok, you may be faced with a security officer who takes a different view.
It may be helpful to print out a positive reply from the airline and keep it with you in case you run into problems. But note that, whatever you’ve been told, the final decision is often at the officer’s discretion.
So it’s a good idea to stay calm and respectful. Use your printed reply as evidence that you’ve done everything you can to abide by the rules. Telling the officer he or she is just plain wrong may not be the most successful approach!
Can you bring scissors on a plane?
The focus here so far has been whether you can bring crochet hooks on a plane. But if you want to snip your yarn, you may be thinking of taking scissors in your carry-on bag too. And those can be problematic.
Exactly what the rules are will depend on where you’re travelling. Here’s the position for some popular destinations at the time of writing:
- In the US, the TSA says that you can bring scissors in carry-on bags if “they measure less than 4 inches from the pivot point”. And as with crochet hooks, the blades should be sheathed or wrapped.
- In Canada, scissors are classified with knives. They’re only allowed in carry-on bags if the blades are less than 6cm from the pivot point. And no scissors are allowed in carry-on bags on flights to the US.
- In Germany, Lufthansa allows scissors in carry-on bags, but only if the blades measure less than 6 cm from the hinge.
- In the UK, you can take scissors in carry-on bags, as long as the blades are less than 6cm long.
- Etihad allows only scissors with blades less than 6cm in carry-on bags.
As ever, make sure you have the latest information by checking with your airline before you travel. And if you’re travelling to a different country, check the rules for both your start and destination airports.
Tips for drama-free crocheting on a plane
Here are a few tips to keep your airport experience drama-free.
- Check the rules at both your start and destination airports before you fly. Rules can change, so make sure you’re up to date on what’s allowed. Check the website of your airline or contact customer services if it isn’t clear.
- A plastic crochet hook may cause less hassle than a metal one. In the US and many other countries, security officers have final discretion on what to allow in carry-on bags. A plastic crochet hook may be less likely to be refused permission than a metal one.
- Wrap the ends of the crochet hook. If the security officer gets jabbed when searching your bag, you may find your crochet hook confiscated.
- Take nail clippers rather than scissors for snipping yarn. There are lots of rules about what type of scissors can be taken in carry-on luggage. Small nail clippers do the job just as well and are less likely to be questioned.
- Take your work in progress. That will demonstrate why you want to bring your crochet hook.
- Check whether there’s a postal service at the airport. If, despite your preparations, your crochet hook isn’t allowed in your baggage, the post may come to your rescue. Take a stamped, self-addressed envelope with you and you can post your hook to your home.
Summary: Can you bring crochet hooks on a plane?
The short answer to whether you can bring crochet hooks on a plane is that it depends on where you’re flying. If you’re in the US, UK, Canada or Australia, you’ll probably be fine. But some countries and airlines prohibit crochet hooks in carry-on bags.
And rules do change over time. So check the latest position with your airline before you travel.
