short crochet hooks?

What about hot-wiring (or hack-sawing) the end off one so it fits the specs? Sand or melt it smooth and your set.

VP

Sounds like a daft rule to me!

But plastic hooks could be cut down.

Mary

It used to be the Rule for the size of folding scout knives that were allowed to be taken on board airplanes pre 9/11. mirjam

Susan Bates Crystalite hooks are non-metal, maybe lucite or some other cheap acrylic. As has been suggested you can probably clip and sand the ends to meet the 4" requirement.

Boye Balene needles are also some plasticky-acrylic stuff but again, you'd have to clip the ends.

Lion Brand makes a line of plastic hooks but they may have a steel core, same for the Pony Pearl hooks.

Swallow casein needles look like plastic but are some sort of milk-based resin. More clipping and sanding to do.

All of the above save the Swallow Casein needles are available at Hobby Lobby/Michaels sorts of stores, or from any number of vendors on the various Interwebs.

Americans sometimes as me for bone needles to work their cross stitch on planes because they're not allowed to take steel ones.

But a bone needle can do as much damage as a steel one ...

Mary

Dumb rule! Do they let longer pens and pencils in? You can do just as much damage with a pencil as with a crochet hook. In fact, I would say that to a petty rule maker, a pen is more dangerous than a sword. All those beaurocrats making rules need to remember that the sharpest cutting edge known to man is still a piece of flaked flint, which gives you a good idea of what can be done with a piece of window glass.

Short crochet hooks are not ergonomic. She may need the crochet activity. It may be better then either drugs or TV. Is the institution willing to take full responsibility for any repetitive stress syndrome that she develops as a result of using a too short crochet hook?

I see ergonomic, fat handled crochet hooks, that are all or mostly plastic at the LYS. I would present a case to the Director of the Institute, that such crochet hooks, are in fact the safest option when all factors are considered. If they make a rule, then they need to be responsible for the unintended consequences. They need to update their rules.

Aaron

Ah, but can they be detected by security before boarding? ;-))

nickie

And most companies still give metal knives with the food , there used to be plastic children needles ,,, which are rather soft, and might be allowed on board. mirjam

I've no idea - is that the point then?

I've no idea about anything ...

Mary

Why don't you tell the airlines all this?

Mary

The original poster wasn't posting about airline rules, but about rules at an institution where the friend is housed.

Alison

I know, but a similar danger is perceived by airlines :-)

Mary