homeland security can kiss my ***

sewing stars · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 112 Location: Little Rhody

okay so i am not really that mad, but i just got off the phone with TSA (homeland security) and asked if i could bring small hand sewing needles with me on the plane so i could so some hand applique while sitting on my long flight cross country. I was told I couldn't bring needles on my carry-on. how dumb is that? i understand the whole security thing and tightening up, and i understand the whole no scissors, or knives thing, but needles? come on!

i guess i'll just write letters or something less terrorist like than sewing.
_________________
never forget how to fly...

marvy · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 71 Location: Smalltimore

I was wondering whether they had loosened up on things like knitting and sewing needles yet. I'm sure if you hid them well you'd be okay. Not that I'm advocating hiding potential weapons from security officers. Heh heh. Heh heh.

A good idea is to bring a self-addressed stamped envelope to mail yourself anything that they won't let you take, but you don't want to leave behind. Just in case they pull something out of your luggage and say NO!
_________________
*marvy

est. 6/14/02

karikazo · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 64 Location: N.C.

Wow, sewing stars, that sucks! I have to admit I thought needles were OK now.....all the flights I have made in the past year and a half (only a handful, I admit), I took small quilting needles & pins on board with me. I used either a dental floss package or a thread cutter instead of scissors, of course, but the needles went through without comment. And I sat around waiting to board, and on board the plane, sewing away with them in plain view.

If I were you, I might be inclined to play dumb and take along just a couple of needles tucked into your project....and bring the SASE like marvy suggests.

ad_ho · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Austin, TX

Small applique needles= baaad.
4 books of matches and 2 lighters= okay!

Nice job homeland security.
_________________
"Nothing is worth more than this day." -Goethe

cackalackie · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 895

In my experience travelling (I travel a lot on business), things vary a great deal from airport to airport, despite what the TSA says. Even though you were told this, I would still go for it and see what happens.

nicegirl512 · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 114 Location: Washington DC

I've had no problems bringing needles on planes, have done it many times since 9/11, and I swear I read somewhere that "small craft needles" are permitted (but this TSA list doesn't address them either way). If your needle is fine and not a large embroidery needle (even though all crafters know embroidery needles are blunt and actually less dangerous than sewing needles I doubt security people know this) you really won't have a problem, I don't think it will even show up on the x-ray. I keep bringing coils of fine wire on board with me and have never even had my carry-on flagged for a hand inspection. Worst to worst they make you throw it away, not a big. For god's sake you can bring a corkscrew on board! That seems much more dangerous than a sewing needle.

honeybee · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 285 Location: appalachia

ok, boxcutters, i can understand, but sewing needles?!? that's really a threat?
i can just see someone brandishing a needle to an air marshall..."stand back! or i'll prick you! i mean it!"

sewing stars · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 112 Location: Little Rhody

i think i might try and play dumb, and pack one or two and some pins. worse case, they take them and i just get some more. oh and the dental floss pachage is a great idea, thanks.

honeybee- that was so funny. I know really, what could I do? Pierce their ears for them? The needles I use are so thin I don't even think I could that.

oh, and knitting needles and crochet needles are allowed by TSA.
_________________
never forget how to fly...

sublimestitcher · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 196 Location: austin, tx

Is it time for me to bring back my "Crafters are NOT Terrorists" t-shirt?

I've taken my embroidery supplies (minus the scissors- I use nail clippers) on several flights with no problems.
_________________

empressCrash · Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Pacific NW

I'm a travel agent and some of my clients have had the weirdest things taken away - childproof scissors for one - give me break. I have a ton of surgical metal in my ankle that gets me searched. More than a few times, my darn bra underwire has gotten me searched. That said I have been waived thru security by British Airways more than once when late for a flight - their security beats ours by far and has for a very long time.
_________________
Every year, back comes spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants - Dorothy Parker

ad_ho · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Austin, TX

Don't they actually sell sewing repair kits at airports? I bet if the needle was in one of those or something similar, as opposed to a pack of 20 needles, it would not even get a blink of the eye.
_________________
"Nothing is worth more than this day." -Goethe

soapandwater · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 945

Just because something is sharp-ish doesn't mean someone's going to use it to hurt another person. Anyway, if someone really wanted to make an attack, they would do it in any way possible.

They could use many other things. Teeth, for instance, can be painful, but we don't have to extract our teeth before we go on a plane.

They could jab people in the eye with salty pretzels. They could shove an ice cube in someone's ear. They could start beating on a fellow passenger.

I suppose they could also take a needle and stick it in someone's eye.
_________________
When you got a hundred voices singin',
who can hear a lousy whistle blow?

sewing stars · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 112 Location: Little Rhody

sun bear · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 443

soap and water,
that comment about the salty pretzels made me laugh :)

I once brought an fcs key on the plane, what is that you ask? It's a tiny allen wrench, but instead of being a bent L shape, it is just one straight part and then it has a flat part, so it looks like a key. it's for surfers. essentially the allen wrench portion is smaller than the blade on a key.

The guy touched it and really analyzed it before handing it back to me, it's sad really b/c the only thing you could do with it is poke someone and using a key would be far easier at that point, and i've never heard of somene taking your house keys...

normally i just sleep on the plane or read, those seem to be safer, plus you won't lose the needles, b/c if you drop something in a plane it's REALLY hard to reach down and get it...then again i know this b/c last time i fell asleep and dropped my book.

jt
jt

felt · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 236 Location: New York City

I agree, you should just go ahead, play dumb and bring the needles. Perhaps just watch out for those catastrophe stewardesses ("Sorry miss, personal headphones are not allowed on the flight.."). But if you're going on an international flight it may not be an issue.

Good luck sewing stars, and remember to scream "CRAFTERS ARE NOT TERRORISTS!!" over and over as they cart you away from the security queue. ;)