What about a rotary cutter? Thoughts???

I don't go on line very much to read the forum but this topic caught my eye. I hope you managed to get a few days of peaceful sewing. The story I want to tell you is when I was transfered with my job and had to live in a Hotel for 3 months, I move in with my sewing machine, fabric, and cutting board etc. Requested a large table which they gave. I use to get notes from the cleaning staff about my projects which I guess they enjoyed looking at. When I checked out for a few days they had a locker that held all my sewing items, it was great especially since it was the 3 months before Christmas. My family loved all the gifts that year. It was a fairly tale environment, no cleaning, no meals, just come home from work and sew...

Its a great memory.

If you can get big table brought in that would be a good time to get a lot of cutting done. As far as a rotary cutter was concerned just wrap it well and put it in your suitcase.
We just traveled on American Airlines from Sacramento to Knoxville and took along my hubby's stroling walker which folds up. We left it at the gate and it was put in what was called Valet carrying. At one place, Dallas I think I realised it was put in the baggage compartment right under the pilot's cabin and brought up just as we were unloading. If you knew that was where it was going to be placed while you were accually flying you might wbe willing to consider taking it along.
Just keep calling and wait on the line until a live person comes on. They usually do.

Ferrell aka the purplelady also Pam's mother in law

Hello, I remember flying back to the US about three years ago and a gentleman had a sewing machine with him! It was his mother's and he couldn't bear to leave it when she passed away. The only thing he kept of hers...so since he used it as his carryone piece of luggage, you probably can too. Just check the weight allowence, and as suggested, ask the attendents to store it for you. Good luck!
KimUK

Thank you very much for all of your input. I think I am going to give it a try. What do I have to lose right? The machine was not a fortune...alot less than my husbands golf clubs. Actually its less than even 1 golf club! Thanks again!

Dawnijo,
Whatever happened? Did you take your machine on the airplane? Did the airlines give you grief? Did you get to make gorgeous quilt tops on the trip? Inquiring minds want to know!

Seriously though, last year, I flew to Alabama with my daughter and was twiddling my thumbs for a week wishing I had my sewing machine while she was at swim camp. I drove around and visited some quilt shops and when I mentioned it at one of them the gal there said that a sewing machine shop in town has been known to rent machines. Well unfortunately by then it was the end of the week! I did do some handwork, reading and sightseeing. And, of course, I watched my daughter swim some each day till we flew home.

Hope you had a great trip.
Wasie

Wasie
Where in Alabama did you and your daughter come to, sounds like one of the larger towns if you found quilt shops. BTW we have towns of small towns and few larger ones with fabric shops.

Hi Deb!
Last summer we flew to Atlanta, rented a car, and drove to Auburn. Then I drove around. I know I drove into some bigger city, but I don't remember which one. I would have to hit some maps. You probably know where I was!

This past summer my husband and his brother drove her and a friend to Alabama and then visited their cousin in Marietta, Georgia until the camp was over. Next summer they are talking about going with more kids. We'll see what happens. I would like to go again.

Wasie

I thought I would revive this topic to pass along my recent flying experience. The score is Sewing Machines 3, Airplanes 0 (almost).

A friend and I treated ourselves to a quilting retreat in New Hampshire for our birthdays, and both flew with our machines in checked luggage, and they came through just fine. I bought one of the Tutto brand carrying cases, and she just put her machine in it's hard case into a large suitcase. We both packed some of our project fabric around them for extra padding.

In case you're wondering, the score is 3 (trips) because she left her machine there in anticipation of buying a new one The almost is because my machine survived just fine, but the case lost 2 zipper pulls and my 12x12 ruler had a chunk taken out on the return trip. Pretty good odds, really.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. Unfortunately, I didn't start taking pictures of the other participants early enough, so only got about 1/2 of them.
[URL= ]NH quilt camp[/URL]

I found this topic in a search for tips on flying with sewing machines!

I'm moving overseas (Japan) next month. I let our movers take 3 sergers and a sewing machine, and am visiting my mom now with my other sewing machine/embroidery, and an additional serger.

I was going to just ship it all Priority mail to our new home, but I am not comfortable with the max insurance limit being $5000, the sewing/embroidery machine cost more than that and is brand new soooo....

I want to take it on the plane as my carry-on. I'm happy to see it's possible, now just have to find the fancy steel re-enforced rolling case for it! Any tips would be appreciated.
-nobia