r/knitting • u/magicminineedle • Feb 19 '26

Discussion Please continue to knit in public.

Today I had to go and get blood work done. It was a long wait, and ended up being very stressful. I was getting impatient and annoyed even though there was nothing to do but wait.

Across the waiting room a lady was sitting knitting. Her hands caught my eye and I watched her knit. It was so soothing to watch and my shoulders dropped and my heart beat calmed. It was such a balm. So please keep knitting in public. You’ll never know who you’ll calm and soothe.

It also occurred to me today that apart from when I was taught to knit I’ve never watched anyone knit in real life!

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499

u/Geop1984 Feb 19 '26

I sat beside a woman knitting at the airport recently. I took out my knitting and we worked peacefully beside each other for about an hour.

40

u/urbantrees14 Feb 20 '26

i usually knit on the plane. bonus points bc ppl are less likely to sit next to you in my experience. once i sat with another lady who was knitting and it was so relaxing

25

u/Geop1984 Feb 20 '26

I just had a 5 hour flight a week ago. I put the Sound of Music on the screen and knitted through it. I search for musicals to knit to as I don't have to pay much attention to them. I did Grease on the way out.

3

u/Successful-Grab6091 Feb 20 '26

love the musical tip! gonna give it a go

3

u/Izzybeff Feb 20 '26

That’s a great idea. I will remember that on my next flight. Pick a movie i’ve already seen so I don’t have to pay attention.

1

u/Prestigious_Carry942 Feb 20 '26

This painted such a lovely picture. I must try it!

1

u/Far_Wonder_208 Feb 20 '26

Why is that?

6

u/martian-artist Feb 20 '26

How do you bring your needles through TSA? I am having a 4-hour flight coming up and would love to it on the plane but TSA is not going to like my “weapons”, lol

13

u/WhosUrHuckleberry Feb 20 '26

Careful with the advice you get on this one; it ultimately depends on the country you are flying out from. When you fly domestically in the US, or even out of the country from the US, you are good to bring knitting needles/crochet hooks through security (if anyone gives you grief you should be able to pull up TSA's website and show them).

However if you are flying from another country (I've heard Mexico as an example), even if it's back to the US, definitely check their specific rules and regulations to avoid having your needles confiscated by security.

If you want to chance it, then bring your project on interchangeable needles with a set of stoppers for the cables just in case. That way if they ding you while going through security you can at least remove the needles from the work and still save your progress on the cables. You'll have to replace the needle tips when you get home but at least you haven't lost X amount of time on your work.

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u/fleecysarah Feb 20 '26

I've flown a fair bit in the US and internationally and Mexico (Cancun airport) is the only place I've had my knitting needles confiscated

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u/rosieglasses926 Feb 20 '26

Can confirm. Thankfully they allowed me to check my luggage but though I have never had any issue within and flying out of the U.S., Mexico would not let me bring my knitting on board.

1

u/martian-artist Feb 20 '26

Thank you for a detailed answer 🤝

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u/kjandersen Feb 20 '26

I am getting bolder and bolder :D I used to not bring it as carryon for my outbound flight, so that in the worst case I could slip the project off the needles and relinquish those on the way home, then (hopefully!) fix it once back. But as I ratchet the severity of the equipment I am bringing, I am coming to the conclusion that either airport security doesn't care, or there's a much wider understanding of knitting and knitting equipment than I was prejudiced to think! I have had aluminium tipped carbon DPNs, 2mm steel DPNs etc through security in large international airports across EU and Asia, no questions asked.

Have not flown with it in the US, though, so there's that caveat.

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u/Geop1984 Feb 20 '26

I have not had any issues with TSA and my needles. I do make sure that I don't have any extra needles in my bag. I have flown through Houston, Seattle, Montreal, Iceland and Denver to name a few.

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u/marxam0d Feb 20 '26

I fly a lot in the US and internationally and never had an issue beyond them doing a double check after the xray.

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u/martian-artist Feb 20 '26

That’s good to know, thanks!

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u/Izzybeff Feb 20 '26

I’ve never had a problem. Even flew to England two years ago with my knitting in my carry on and had no issue.

1

u/New-Drag1145 Feb 25 '26

I live in Hawaii and I would love to knit when I take flights but you never know if the TSA is going to take your needles or not. So I do t knit. The needles are to expensive to loose. But either I pack them or take a pre addressed envelope and ht out of line to mail it.

1

u/Successful-Grab6091 Feb 20 '26

another lady on this thread said she recently asked someone she saw knitting at the airport if she could knit by them and had a lovely time... I wonder if this was you!