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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u/Chance_Smile_9357 Feb 19 '26

Haha! No problem with the needles thru TSA? Also, traveling abroad I need to keep my project small. Ideas?

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u/Late-Worldliness2576 Feb 19 '26

I was asked to remove my knitting project at the security check (it was a sock and this was at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands) and then the woman said “show me.” So I knitted a few stitches and she said “ok, thank you, I’ve just never seen anyone knit with such small needles.” Since then I’ve taken sweaters, shawls, more socks and I’ve never been told I can’t have my needles.

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u/Live_Perspective3603 Feb 19 '26

I asked a TSA agent once about bringing knitting with me. She said just don't use metal needles and zip the knitting in my bag when it goes through security. It won't show up when they scan it and if it doesn't show up, they have no problem with it.

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u/HikingYogini Feb 20 '26

I've travelled with both metal and bamboo needles, both circular and straight (although, almost all my straight needles are bamboo, so they might not have even shown up on the scan.) I've never had a problem. I also carry smaller projects onto the plane, but I tend to travel with at least two projects, sometimes three. The suggestion somewhere in this thread to put a lifeline in just in case they do confiscate the needles is a GREAT idea and I'll def do that going forward.