Traveling with hobbies
If you like to make things, when you go on a trip you have several decisions to make. First, is your hobby compatible with traveling? If you like using a scroll saw or lathe, like our dear Wood does, you are out of luck. They just aren’t compatible with travel.
Second, if you are traveling by air, is your hobby compatible with TSA regulations? Not all scissors, for example, can pass security. I make sure and take short ones with duller tips, but which still cut thread. As of September 2016, TSA states:
“In general, you may place your knitting needles and needlepoint tools in carry-on or checked baggage.
“Circular thread cutters or any other cutter or needlepoint tools that contain blades must be placed in checked baggage. You are permitted to keep scissors smaller than 4 inches in your carry-on baggage.
“In general, you are prohibited from traveling with sharp objects in your carry-on baggage; please pack these items in your checked baggage. Scissors with blades smaller than 4 inches, small needles carried for special medical needs, and other sharp objects that do not contain a blade may be placed in carry-on baggage.
“Any sharp objects placed in carry-on or checked baggage should be properly sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to TSOs and baggage handlers.
“Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”
You can get more information by checking this link or reading the TSA blog.
Now, if your hobby can travel by air or in a car, which one or ones will you take? While I don’t knit, many knitters do take their projects with them.
I recently went on a trip. I had to decide which of my easily portable projects I would take with me. At that time I had a pin weaving project, an embroidery project, and an ongoing lucet study. As I would be staying two nights in the same hotel room, I opted to take my pin loom and supplies for that project.
We are planning an actual road trip where we will be driving some every day. The next time I’ll probably take my lucet and embroidery projects. Not to mention books. They always go with me.
