If you’re anything like me, the thought of sitting still for hours in a car, airport, or middle seat without something to do with your hands sounds… kind of awful. Enter: travel crochet—a soothing, compact, creative way to pass the time and make progress on that WIP (work-in-progress) that’s been whispering your name from your project bag.

Whether you’re jetting off on vacation or stuck in the back seat of a family road trip, here’s everything you need to know about bringing your crochet along for the ride.

Can I Bring Crochet Hooks on a Plane?

Short answer: Yes!
Long answer: Check your country’s airline guidelines to be 100% sure, but in most places (including the U.S.), TSA allows:

• Metal crochet hooks
• Plastic or bamboo crochet hooks
• Yarn needles (blunt-tip)
• Scissors… well, kind of

Scissors tip: You can bring scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches, but just to be safe, I usually travel with:

• Nail clippers (works great for cutting yarn!)
• Tiny thread snips
• Or… pre-cutting all my yarn pieces ahead of time

Best Travel Crochet Supplies (A.K.A. What to Pack)

You don’t need your whole stash. Trust me—I’ve tried. Keep it simple:

• One small WIP (think: a granny square, mini plushie, or headband)
• 1–2 hooks in your project size (bonus: keep a spare in case one rolls under the seat)
• Travel-friendly yarn skein or cake (no messy tangles!)
• Stitch markers (I clip one to the zipper of my bag!)
• Yarn needle in a secure pouch
• Tiny scissors or clippers
• Pattern (printed out or saved on your phone)

Bonus: I use a small makeup pouch as a mini crochet kit—it fits in my carry-on or purse and keeps everything from floating around.

Tips for Crocheting on a Plane

1. Choose small, repetitive projects. This is not the time to start an intricate lace shawl. Go for something simple and satisfying—like granny squares, dishcloths, or amigurumi limbs.
2. Wind your yarn before the flight. Pulling from the center of a cake or winding a skein into a ball beforehand = no rogue yarn rolling down the aisle.
3. Be aware of your elbows. Airplane seats are tight—crocheting close to your body avoids bumping your neighbors. (They might even be curious and ask what you’re making!)
4. Don’t panic if security pulls you aside. If a hook looks suspicious in your bag, just explain it’s for crochet. I’ve never had an issue when I was polite and explained what it was.

Crochet on Road Trips & Trains

• Road trip bonus: You can bring more! Toss a few skeins in a tote bag and go wild. Just don’t crochet while driving, obviously
• Trains are great for crochet. You usually have a bit more space and fewer restrictions, so feel free to bring bigger projects like scarves or blankets.
• Motion sickness? Try light-colored yarn and simple patterns. Looking down too long in a moving vehicle can be rough for some folks.

My Favorite Travel Projects

If you’re looking for ideas, here are my go-to projects for long trips:

• Granny squares – Super portable, addictive, and satisfying. Make a bunch and stitch them together later.
• Amigurumi parts – One arm, one leg, one ear at a time!
• Dishcloths or face scrubbies – Useful and quick. Great gifts!
• Simple scarves or cowls – Easy to memorize rows and no shaping stress.