A couple of years ago, I taught our little homeschool group of 5 boys and 2 girls to thread a needle and sew on a button.  To introduce the lesson, I told a story of one of the boys growing up, finding himself best man at a wedding, and the groom coming to him in a panic because a button on his tuxedo had popped off.  In my imagined future, our homeschool hero said, "Dude, give me the jacket.  Give me the button. I'll take care of it."  Just a month later, that very scenario arose at a wedding - 2 of the tuxedoes popped buttons, and I (aunt of the bride) wound up in the guys' dressing area, sewing on buttons!

I am a quilter so ALWAYS travel with needle and thread. You are also allowed to carry a very short scissors, especially if it has a rounded point; mine is designed for small kids.

I just love announcing to the world that I love sewing.  When I travel by plane, I have all my sewing stuff, needles, favorite scissors, and other basic sewing supplies in the check-in luggage.  On my carry-on, I have one those luggage tags I got free that says: I LOVE SEWING... One TSA screener announced to the guy at the monitor about me being a sewer.  When my carry-on went through, the other TSA screener opened my bag looking for scissors.. They did not find any of course.  I just watched them scramble looking for something I know they will never find.. I just made those idle people go to work and got them excited..

My son just graduated from ARMY  Basic  Training ,  Nov.2nd,2012,  at Fort Benning, GA.  Well his dress uniform shirt was too tight  around the neck  -  so much so that he could hardly  speak!  Needless to say,  I didn't  have a needle  or thread with me.  But, the front desk supplied me with a sewing kit and I was able to move the button for him.  At graduation, my son  surprised me and  received the award for Top Soldier of his graduating  class!  During the ceremony, he had to lead his fellow graduates in saying the "Soldier's Creed".  He would  of had trouble doing this if I had not  moved the  button!   I have learned my lesson - always travel with a sewing kit!

My son just graduated from ARMY  Basic  Training ,  Nov.2nd,2012,  at Fort Benning, GA.  Well his dress uniform shirt was too tight  around the neck  -  so much so that he could hardly  speak!  Needless to say,  I didn't  have a needle  or thread with me.  But, the front desk supplied me with a sewing kit and I was able to move the button for him.  At graduation, my son  surprised me and  received the award for Top Soldier of his graduating  class!  During the ceremony, he had to lead his fellow graduates in saying the "Soldier's Creed".  He would  of had trouble doing this if I had not  moved the  button!   I have learned my lesson - always travel with a sewing kit!

My son just graduated from ARMY  Basic  Training ,  Nov.2nd,2012,  at Fort Benning, GA.  Well his dress uniform shirt was too tight  around the neck  -  so much so that he could hardly  speak!  Needless to say,  I didn't  have a needle  or thread with me.  But, the front desk supplied me with a sewing kit and I was able to move the button for him.  At graduation, my son  surprised me and  received the award for Top Soldier of his graduating  class!  During the ceremony, he had to lead his fellow graduates in saying the "Soldier's Creed".  He would  of had trouble doing this if I had not  moved the  button!   I have learned my lesson - always travel with a sewing kit!

My son just graduated from ARMY  Basic  Training ,  Nov.2nd,2012,  at Fort Benning, GA.  Well his dress uniform shirt was too tight  around the neck  -  so much so that he could hardly  speak!  Needless to say,  I didn't  have a needle  or thread with me.  But, the front desk supplied me with a sewing kit and I was able to move the button for him.  At graduation, my son  surprised me and  received the award for Top Soldier of his graduating  class!  During the ceremony, he had to lead his fellow graduates in saying the "Soldier's Creed".  He would  of had trouble doing this if I had not  moved the  button!   I have learned my lesson - always travel with a sewing kit!

At a Bed and Breakfast in Germany, my son's backpack strap broke.  The inn had a "sewing doll" on the wall for guests to use, including needles, threads, pins,  and basic scissors.  I used their supplies to repair his strap.  Several years later, my husband and I were in a cab in China with that same son and his girlfriend. This time it was her purse strap that needed attention.  Since I always travel with a hand sewing project, I sat in the back seat with them and, fixed the purse.  

On a recent holiday to Italy (from the UK) I found that I had neglected to pack any shorts!  I found a needle and thread in a local supermarket and chopped off the legs of a pair of cropped trousers to make shorts, neatly hemmed of course.  since then a sewing kit has been added to my holiday list.  As we drive to Europe there's no problem with airport security but my metal replacement joints would set the scanners off anyway!

Happy sewing.

Judy

i always have a little sewing kit in my handbag. it has proved useful on numerous occasions and has NEVER been stopped at security! holes in tights, running repairs to children's clothes, the odd button and quick impromptu mending at friends houses :)

If you are in the US, yes the needle and thread will go through just fine.  Well unless you threaten to pierce the security guy, then you might miss your flight.

I know scissors have to be under a certain size.

Before my son was born I made him a rabbit out of an argyle sock which became his favorite toy to sleep with.  When he was almost a year old we went to visit my parents out-of-state for Thanksgiving and we accidentally left "Ba" at home.  We tried in vain to put our distraught child down to sleep that night.  As a last resort my husband rushed to the local big box store for a pair of argyle sox and some poly batting.  I borrowed my mom's ancient sewing machine and hastily created a substitute Ba.  It worked! In the dark he grabbed it, rubbed the ear over his nose and fell asleep.  

At one point in my life I worked at the front desk for a hotel where businessmen stayed frequently.  One day one of these men, on a short trip with only one change of clothing plus the expensive suit he was to wear to a presentation, came to the front desk a bit worried because he had a rip in the pants fabric.  I had needle and thread with me, so I asked him to bring the pants to me.  I promptly wove the fabric back together well enough so that he could give his presentation and get  him back home to a person who could properly repair the rip.  He greatly appreciated what I did for him.

Never put your needle through the thread as pictured. It splits the thread and weakens it. Meg

Yes, you can bring a sewing needle on the plane. And also little scissors. I usually have a hand embroidery project in my bag, and I use kindergarten scissors. Only once, very recently, was I hassled about it. But the scissors got on the plane.

Thanks so much for sharing your great sewing tales!