Fiber Festival Tips

Traveling with Hooks, Needles and Yarn

Article by Sandra Bennett

No longer can a Fiber Femme toss sharp, pointy objects into a carry-on bag and cheerfully board her flight. In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) determines what does, and doesn't, fly. Always be sure and carry the latest TSA rules and regulations

and be ready to, politely, let the TSA personnel know you used their guideline when packing...IF they ask. If they don't ask, don't tell.

The best thing to take when you fly is a good...no, make that a *great* attitude. The skies aren't so friendly anymore and people are frazzled, worn and irritable. If you go with an attitude, trust me, they'll meet yours and raise the stakes only you'll be the one cashing

in your chips or leaving a piece of equipment behind.

Don't volunteer anything except a smile, keep your answers short and polite and be friendly. Make a photo-copy of your pattern and either laminate it (great for use with erasable ink) or place it in a protective clear plastic sleeve. Don't worry about copyright infringement, there is none when making a copy for personal use only. If necessary, enlarge any charts for easier reading when light is dim.

The tools most difficult to carry on-board an airline carrier are cutting tools...more to the point, scissors. Now is not the time to carry your best pair of gold plated heron shaped scissors. Either carry blunt tipped scissors, nail clippers without the file or for a stylish statement, carry The Clover Thread Cutter Pendant (Even this isn't immune to a TSA

employee because, at their discretion, they can always take "whatever" away from you.) These stylish little cutters were initially designed for cutting sewing thread but can work well for yarn. Even better, there's a Yarn Cutter Pendant, designed especially for heavier weight yarns. On bulky yarns you might have to saw a bit but still, it beats having to use your teeth. Either of the Clover pendants will cost in the neighborhood of $8 to $15 USD. You can sometimes buy the Clover pendant as a necklace or tie your own beaded cord for less *and* you get to choose your own colors. In a pinch a box of dental floss can be used to saw yarn in half; you can always even up the edges later. Rounded scissors are also on the acceptable list but don't forget...the final word is that of the TSA agent. If they say no, then no it is. I've seen many a pair of round tip scissors in the throw away bin.

Stitch holders, cable holders, metal darning needles...these are usually attention getting...and I don't mean in the nicest way. Use plastic stitch holders and darning needles or use varying

colored yarn for stitch holders. Measuring tapes are okay but try and take the retractable plastic types as they are lighter and take up less room. Always travel with zip lock bags; they come in handy for everything from knitting to toiletries to lotions and potions, although the latest regulations say "no lotions, potions, contact lens fluid...no lotions of any kind". A skein of yarn can be placed in a zip lock bag and the yarn straggled out a small opening for knitting in tight spots. It's horrid to lose a ball or skein of yarn on the nasty floor of a plane, bus, train, etc.

An emery board, hair clasp, hand disinfectant/wipes always come in handy. I've not had my wipes confiscated but a recent trip on Czech Air saw employees rooting through my luggage and seizing my tear packets of BioFreeze (muscle rub), and eye glass cleaner, also in tear

packets. Don't forget a band aid or two; there's nothing worse than snagging a cuticle and trying to stem the flow of blood (who *knew* cuticles could bleed THAT much!???).

My airline carry-on is a small back pack on wheels and contains snacks such as dried fruit, nuts or energy bars, medical & cosmetic kit, knitting/pattern/tools, travel pillow, shawl, book, journal, and enough knitting to see me through the initial flight. It also includes a

couple of pairs of undies and a couple of shirts. It might seem like overkill but that aforementioned recent trip saw me twelve days in the same traveling clothes. The airlines "misplaced" my luggage, two countries away and never could settle agreeably on having it delivered. I now tend to travel with clothes that are light, wrinkle free and are good for travel,

sightseeing, business meeting or a nice dinner. The backpack doesn't weigh very much, it's on wheels, and I can lift it into the overhead luggage bin without help.

When I get where I'm going, one of my first visits is to the yarn buying place...no matter if it's an actual store or the farm where the yarn is spun from their sheep...I always travel with yarn and pattern. I don't even want to be around me when my hands aren't busy with knitting!

When traveling between countries, it's each country's call as to what is, or is not, allowed. Don't even think of being contentious, it simply won't work and you might even be asked into a back room. Don't laugh; it's true. Back in the dark ages of travel (pre 9/11) my Mother was taken to a back room and patted down. After being coached, after assuring her it *was* her suitcase (for the duration of her trip) she still answered, "No, this isn't my suitcase, I borrowed it from my daughter's boyfriend."

Bells, whistles and red lights flashing...this Grandma needs a shakedown! She promptly got one and we're still laughing after thirty years. I don't even want to think what it might be like today.

The long and short of it...don't travel with anything you couldn't possibly bear to lose (as in have taken away) and check out these website for further information.

The TSA site for what is, and isn't, allowed on a flight.

> http://crime.about.com/library/blpersonal.htm has the same

> information as the TSA site but you don't have to download anything.

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Sandra is Shepherdess and Farmer at Thistle Cove Farm in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of southwest VA. She raises and breeds rare, hypoallergenic American Curly horses, Shetland, Romney, Merino and cross bred sheep. Appalachian Wool Works where Happy Sheep Make Beautiful Wool is Thistle Cove Farm's own line of specialty blended yarns and handcrafted woolens.

Sandra teaches in the areas of Agri-Tourism, -Education, -Tainment, -Culture and Rural Tourism Development. Her most popular workshops include How To Increase Farm Income and helps others increase farm income using non-traditional methods. For more information about farm products or her teaching schedule, please contact her at Thistle Cove Farm or thistlecovefarm.gmail or 276-988-4121. Sandra blogs at Thistle Cove Farm and is co-editor of Fiber Femmes.