Evidently knitting needles were only on the banned list for a very short while after 9/11. I have this mental image of an army of Ladies of a Certain Age taking their bureaucract offspring by the earlobes and saying, "If you think I'm going to fly without my knitting, junior, you've got another think coming!"

(As a recent knitting addict convert, I have to say I'm glad knitting gear is permitted, though; it makes long, boring flights pass much faster).