travel sewing kit near me

Travel Sewing Kit (27 pc.)

Fiskars ® Travel Sewing Kit (27 pc.) is a compact set, ideal for purses, backpacks and travel bags, that includes everything needed for mending on the go. Folding travel scissors are TSA compliant, and feature long-lasting stainless steel blades. Fix small rips, tears and lost buttons with this kit that also contains 10 colored threads (3 yards each), a 39 in. measuring tape, 3 hand needles, 2 safety pins, 4 straight pins, a needle threader and 4 buttons, all neatly kept in a clear, hard plastic case.

Prop 65 WARNING

• Fiskars ® Travel Sewing Kit contains 27 pieces for mending on the go, including TSA-compliant folding travel scissors
• Fiskars ® Folding Scissors feature long-lasting stainless steel blades and are TSA compliant
• Also includes 10 colored threads (3 yards ea.), 39 in. measuring tape, 3 hand needles, 2 safety pins, 4 straight pins, needle threader and 4 buttons
• Clear, hard plastic case is the perfect solution for your travel bag, purse or backpack
• Full lifetime warranty on scissors

Specifications

Get inspiration & product updates.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and get 10% off

By subscribing, you agree to the terms and conditions  and our privacy policy .

We're happy to have you on board!

It seems we're having technical difficulties. Please try again later.

Please select your location

United States

Online shopping available

Login or Create an Account

• Special discounts for you
• Membership of the collector club
• Newsletter with the latest new items
• And many more other (Depending on the brand)

8 Best Travel Sewing Kits For Quick Repairs

Not every task requires pulling out a sewing machine . From sewing on buttons to doing a quick patch job on your favorite jeans, a travel sewing kit can come in handy for any situations that need emergency sewing.

It’s more than just having a sewing needle and thread handy, though. It’s having everything you need in one location that makes these travel sewing kits so desirable.

8 Best Travel Sewing Kit Options

When considering which portable sewing kit to purchase, anticipate what your needs may be, and the level of sewer you are. Many kits come equipped with every essential tool imaginable. Yet, unless you want to grow into your sewing kit, some may be a bit excessive for your immediate needs.

Size is another consideration. These kits come in a variety of sizes ranging from fitting in your purse/back pocket to a smaller fold up storage container. Some may be handier when traveling than others.

Best Overall: Artika Sewing Kits

This kit allows you to carry your sewing supplies wherever you go. The Artika Sewing Kit is a fully functioning kit with a travel case that keeps everything in place. With over 120 knitting and sewing supplies, it includes sewing pins (round stand), spools, wonder clips, golden eye needles, scissors etc. with an open flap leather case.

• Strong, durable case for travel
• 38 sewing spools with 18 multicolored sewing spools in popular colors
• Stainless steel scissors for both men/women
• Open flat case means that all the tools are clearly visible
• Thread may be too fine for some projects
• Too generic

Best Runner Up: VelloStar Sewing Kit

This kit is known for being over the top when it comes to sewing items. It includes all the essentials that one might need while sewing. It comes in a portable carrying case and arrives in a gorgeously designed gift box.

The manufacturers have made it their mission to provide customers with items of the best quality and only includes relevant items. They wanted to exceed their customer’s expectations and give them items that were fully practical for everyday usage.

• Lightweight with secure-lock elastic straps
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Contains stainless steel scissors, 30 needles in assorted sizes, crochet hook, knitting needle, 18 different colored threads, spare buttons, seam ripper, tape measure, pins, safety pins, magnifying glass, threader, metal thimble, small needles, and colored marking pencil .
• Kits is smaller than anticipated
• Items hard to remove

Best For Beginners: Singer Sew-It-Goes Sewing Kit

The Singer Sew-It-GoesSewing Kit is a very robust kit ideal for both hobby and beginner sewers. Complete with over 224 sewing notions, it includes 42 spools of thread, thimble, scissors, tape, threader, seam ripper, pics, various hand needles, and a hand cushion.

The nice part about this case is its convenient handle, pockets, and that you can fit everything neatly into it.

• Folds up compactly for easy storage
• Many compartments
• Has everything needed for quick sewing jobs
• Nicely organized
• Case was difficult to close and open
• Thread a bit too thin

Best All in One: VelloStar Store Sewing Kit

Designed to improve daily living by creating products that are high in quality to solve common problems, this sewing kit has everything you need for on-the-spot jobs. The notions found in this kit were created to be durable.

• Fits easily into luggage
• Over 100 different accessories including 24 colored threads (100 yards each), 30 high-grade sewing needles, needle threaders, ripper, tape measure, and a nail clipper.
• Lightweight and compact
• Thread is difficult to unravel
• Some needles may easily break

Best for Emergencies: A-Z Amazing Sewing Kit

This is a premium sewing kit with 5 multicolored threads, two sizes of knitting needles, 2 sizes of clips, various sized colorful buttons, and two needle threaders. The 41 different spools of thread are on high quality, extra-large spools in an array of vibrant colors. The threads are thick, and not easily broken.

• Compact carrying case
• Threads can be used for a sewing machine or hand sewing
• Durable items
• No room for pincushion
• Missing needle threader

Best Quality: Summer_Chuxia Wooden Sewing Basket

While many kits may contain items that are flimsy or thread that breaks, this sewing kit is quite durable and practical. It has the most essential items for emergencies or for hand sewing projects. Items are well-organized and easy to find.

• Scissors can cut through any density of cloth
• Needles can be used on any type of fabric without breaking
• Contains 24 colors of thread, sewing needles, seam ripper, buttons, thimble, foldable tape, pins, and needle threader
• Scissors too sharp
• Smaller than imagined

Best Mini Kit: Singer Travel Sewing Kit

If you need something that will fit easily into your purse or back pocket, then this sewing kit is a handy tool. It contains everything that is necessary for quick repairs. The set includes ten colored threads, 3 needles, safety pins, pins, mini scissors, tape measure, four buttons, and a needle threader.

• Translucent case
• Compact and easy to use
• Comes in blue, pink, or yellow
• Scissors were dull
• Eyes on needles are too small

Best Budget: JUNING Sewing Kit

A great deal of tools are packed into this medium-sized kit! This kit contains everything you need for emergency projects and to store things that you may need while using a machine. Ideal for both home and travel use, it contains all the tools necessary for both a beginner and expert seamstress.

• Comes complete with 24 different thread colors, ten buttons, an assortment of needles, pins, folding scissors, five pins, a needle threader, tape measure, seam ripper, marking pencil, and crochet hook.
• Premium quality case
• Sewing needles too small
• Thread not strong

While there is a diversity in travel sewing kits, find one that fits into your space, and budget. Some people don’t mind a larger kit as they have more items they use. These kits keep everything in one place, and they are handy. Meanwhile, others want something handy to use in an emergency.

Whichever kit you choose, make sure that the products are durable overall, and it meets your needs.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sew Easy: Can You Take a Sewing Kit on a Plane? Your Ultimate Guide!

We use affiliate links, and receive a small commission if you make purchases through them. Find out more here .

• Sewing kits are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, as per TSA guidelines.
• Scissors longer than 4 inches are a no-go in your carry-on. 
• “Sewing kits are a great travel companion…” – Sarah Schlichter , SmarterTravel.
• In 2019, only 58 sewing needles or pins were found by TSA in carry-ons.

The Long and Short of It: Your Sewing Kit vs. the TSA

Let’s start from the top, just like a fresh seam. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has explicit guidelines about what you can and cannot bring on a plane. So, can you take a sewing kit on a plane? As it turns out, the TSA is surprisingly lenient when it comes to sewing kits. According to the TSA , sewing kits are allowed in both your carry-on and checked bags . However, there’s a small catch – if your kit includes scissors longer than 4 inches from the pivot point, these must be packed in your checked bags . The TSA isn’t out to sabotage your in-flight sewing plans, but safety comes first!

“A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” – Traveling Smart with Your Sewing Kit

Sarah Schlichter , Senior Editor at SmarterTravel, offers some sage advice: “Sewing kits are a great travel companion, but it’s important to make sure you’re following TSA guidelines to avoid any issues at security checkpoints.” Wise words, indeed! In reality, sewing kits rarely raise alarm bells at security checks . To put things in perspective, in 2019, TSA officers screened over 700 million passengers and found over 4,400 firearms in carry-on bags. Yet, they only discovered 58 sewing needles or pins.

Unlocking the Benefits of Travel-Smart Sewing Kits

Sewing kits on a plane aren’t just for avid seamstresses or tailors. From patching up a ripped shirt to replacing a button on your coat, they can be real life-savers during your journey. Imagine being at a business meeting or a fancy dinner with a missing button – not a great look, right?

Suitcase-Stitching: Kevin’s Insider Tips

When packing your sewing kit, keep the TSA guidelines in mind. Opt for a kit with small scissors (under 4 inches) to avoid any inconvenience. And remember, the long scissors go in the checked bags , while the sewing kit can snuggle safely in your carry-on.

1. Can I carry my sewing kit in my carry-on bag?

Yes, you can! The TSA allows sewing kits in both carry-on and checked bags. But remember, if your kit includes scissors, they must be less than 4 inches from the pivot point.

2. What if my sewing scissors are longer than 4 inches?

Scissors longer than 4 inches from the pivot point are not permitted in carry-on bags. They must be packed in your checked luggage.

3. Are sewing needles allowed on planes?

Yes, sewing needles are allowed on planes. In fact, in 2019, only 58 sewing needles or pins were found in carry-ons by the TSA.

4. Are there any limitations on what type of sewing kit I can bring?

The main limitation is on the scissors. As long as your scissors are shorter than 4 inches from the pivot point, you should be fine. As always, it’s best to check the latest TSA guidelines before traveling.

5. Are sewing kits often confiscated by the TSA?

Not often. To give you an idea, in 2019, TSA officers found only 58 sewing needles or pins in carry-on bags, a small number compared to other confiscated items.

6. What other sewing accessories can I bring on the plane?

Aside from needles and small scissors, you’re also allowed to bring items like thread, buttons, thimbles, and even small amounts of fabric in your carry-on.

7. What if I’m traveling with an expensive sewing kit?

If your sewing kit is valuable, consider placing it in your checked baggage to minimize the risk of loss or damage in the cabin. Remember to secure it well and maybe even consider travel insurance for extra peace of mind.

8. Can I sew during the flight?

Yes, you can! Many travelers find sewing a great way to pass time during flights. Just be mindful of your surroundings and the comfort of your fellow passengers.

9. What are some travel-friendly sewing kit recommendations?

Compact sewing kits that include small scissors (under 4 inches), a variety of thread colors, needles, buttons, and maybe even a thimble are ideal. Brands like Singer and Dritz offer travel-friendly options.

10. Why would I need a sewing kit while traveling?

Having a sewing kit on hand can help you deal with minor clothing emergencies like lost buttons or sudden tears. It’s one of those things you’d rather have and not need, than need and not have!

There’s more to air travel than packing the right clothes and booking the best hotels. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference. So, go ahead, pack that sewing kit, and sew your way to a seamless journey!

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – Travel Security
• Sarah Schlichter, Senior Editor at SmarterTravel
• TSA Year in Review

You Might Also Enjoy

One response to “Sew Easy: Can You Take a Sewing Kit on a Plane? Your Ultimate Guide!”

Erickson, you’ve struck a chord with this post! Relating it with winters at my grandma’s when laundry washing was a Herculean task – bad old times indeed. Does the energy efficiency you speak of apply to rampant bullet blenders?🤔 Any hacks particularly for those? Interesting note on the solar panel rooftop revolution, could follow-ups entail more on how advances in tech make this more accessible? Your energy spin is engaging, it definitely adds spice to our typical caffeine-fuelled discussions. Sharing this gem with colleagues, keener on seeing if these unplugged lifehacks come grounded in daily, average setups! onTouch the sun, spark!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Featured in

GET CONNECTED

Follow Clever Journey on social media for travel tips, packing hacks, and latest updates!

SUB TO NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest travel tips, packing hacks, gear reviews, and bargain deals straight to your inbox. We hate spam, so we’ll send only the most important stuff.

Traveling With a Sewing Machine | Tips & Best-practice (2024)

By: Author Mutasim Sweileh

Posted on Last updated: August 21, 2023

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

Exactly how can you best bring a sewing machine during travels? There is actually a great deal to think about right here.

Can you bring a sewing machine on a plane? What are the best travel sewing machines What are the best travel instances and also bags? Just how do you bring a sewing machine in a watercraft as well as an RV?

We will certainly dive right into all this and a lot more in this blog article!

[su_spacer]

Prior to we look at the best sewing devices for traveling and the best the best bags and also take a trip cases, we will certainly check out how you can bring the sewing machine with you on an aircraft. It’s quite simple, yet there are some things you require to know before you leave for the airport.

Let’s begin out by looking at some of the most asked questions for traveling with a sewing machine

Table Of Contents

Can I obtain the sewing machine via protection?

Check-in luggage or as hand baggage, you require to do this prior to getting here at the airport terminal, traveling instances and also bags, just how to power the sewing machine on the boat, sewing in a recreational vehicle, vocalist 1304 (super lights), sibling cs6000i (our referral), singer 2259 (more features), other alternatives, what to bring (excellent list for traveling, related questions, bringing a sewing machine on an airplane.

You could be asking yourself if you are also enabled to bring a sewing machine on the plane. It’s full of sharp and pointy items and it can seem like that would be impossible.

[su_note note_color=”#e7ffcf”] Can I bring my sewing machine on an aircraft? Yes. You can bring your sewing machine on the aircraft, as long as you remove any type of sharp items and also prepare it thoroughly by having it in a travel bag that can fit as hand baggage. But there are safety measures you need to make in order to make certain you can bring it via safety and security. [/su_note]

According to the TSA website, you can bring a great deal of sewing equipment including the sewing machine itself during flight. So we can inspect that box.

Currently let’s consider what you need to do prior to you hit the flight terminal.

Once more, yes you completely can.

It will have to go in its very own bin, and also you must load it individually from anything else you might induce the airplane. This is just to make it as very easy as well as quick to obtain with safety and security.

But prepare to obtain quit in the waiting line and get evaluated. They could not also open the machine or anything, but when you lug a big hefty item you ought to expect them to pay a little unique interest to you.

The only note regarding sewing devices are:

Yes , you can bring it as checked luggage or carry-on. You must check with the airline company to make sure that the thing will certainly it in the overhead container or below the seat of the airplane.” (Excerpt from the TSA web site.)

So the following inquiry is:

How do we go regarding it?

Let’s check out things we require to take into consideration as well as some protection related safety measures we require to take.

We will begin by considering where you will certainly put your sewing machine on the area: As signed in luggage or as carry-on right into the cabin?

Before you choose whether to bring it into the cabin or inspect it in you should assume these things:

• Just how huge is your machine (will it fit in the overhanging bin or below the seat)
• How hefty is your machine

If it’s a normal size house sewing machine it should usually be no worry whatsoever. You can absolutely bring these on the airplane, as well as you decide on your own if you will bring it with you into the cabin or leave it as inspecting luggage.

The primary consideration is associated with exactly how well safeguarded the sewing machine will remain in the checked baggage area!

As soon as the inspected baggage becomes part of the little vehicles and also wagons to be moved to the aircraft it might obtain a number of bumps. Also, in the various other end when the flight terminal individuals will pick it up and also carry it to the conveyer belt (baggage slide carousel) it might or might not drop down and also obtain deals with a little approximately.

So if you do not have an excellent strong situation for it I would certainly bring it with me right into the cabin so you can make certain it’s not damaged or damaged in the process.

Can I bring sewing needles on an aircraft? Yes, you can. According to the TSA, you can bring sewing needles. You can likewise bring a scissor as long as the blades are shorter than 4 inches from the pivot point.

You are in fact permitted to bring these points in your carry-on :

• Needles for sewing, knitting, and also crocheting
• Scissors that are shorter than 4 inches from the pivot point
• Security pins
• Toenail clippers
• Multi-tools (without blades)

These products are not allowed the carry-on: Razor-type blades, Scissors which are longer than 4 inches from the pivot point as well as box cutters.

There is in fact a quite amusing Instagram profile made by the TSA with lots of photos of what people try to induce the plane. Really funny!!

The guys at TSA are not without wit. I scrolled with the complete checklist (alphabetically) of what you can bring and can not prompt the airplane, as well as I got to the letter “L”. Below I located “lightsabers” among the other things on the checklist. You know the ones from Star Wars.

As well as the directions regarding these are:

Regretfully, the innovation does not presently exist to create an actual lightsaber. Nonetheless, you can load a toy lightsaber in your carry-on or inspected bag. May the pressure is with you.

So great, and wonderful to discover a little humor a serious site similar to this

Whether you desire to bring the sewing machine as carry-on or you will check it in you ought to do a couple of points prior to you enter the flight terminal:

• Eliminate the needles Not since you can not bring it on the airplane (due to the fact that you can), however since it can drop out throughout transport.
• Eliminate the presser foot and also bobbin too (just to make sure)
• Remove the spool on the pin.
• Tape down any various other moving parts (or eliminate if you can).

Lastly, you need to ensure it’s well shielded from wind, weather, and bumps. So the best option here is a tough situation cart made for your sewing machine Then you can be absolutely certain it won’t get harmed, as well as it’s also the most convenient means to lug it around the flight terminal.

Remember you could need to walk a cross country to reach the gate, and a sewing machine is not precisely the kind of item you wish to be carrying around on a cross country.

So allow’s take an appearance at these travel instances and also bags.

You need a good strong luggage for your sewing machine if you travel a lot. Specifically, if you have to bring it on the train, bus, etc. You ought to always go with a version that is developed especially for your machine By doing this you will be definitely sure it fits well.

A soft dust-cover sort of cover will certainly not be an excellent choice for traveling unless you just carry it in as well as out of the car. Then you will possibly be just fine.

If the traveling situation or bag does not fit your machine specifically the machine will be able to relocate around. That’s not optimum. You need to make certain the machine is attached and also secured inside the travel instance.

[su_note note_color=”#e7ffcf”] Over at SewingMachinesPlus they have actually made it truly simple to locate the best travel bag or situation for your machine Just choose which style of bag you are looking for and after that select the brand of your sewing machine Examine it out here [/su_note]

The best bag will certainly always be a tough case bag. They are available in a great deal of different layouts and styles.

If you take a trip to the course on a regular basis or you are an actual traveling pest, you should absolutely get a difficult case. That would be our suggestions. It’s also an excellent concept for your wishlist at Christmas

A whole lot of people bring their sewing machine on their watercraft.

Why not bring your pastime along when you are going on a longer trip? Maybe you are going away on a large watercraft where you can do tasks in the process or maybe you simply intend to be able to deal with things in the process like drapes, sail etc.

Let’s take an appearance at exactly how you can do it and what you should take into consideration before leaving.

Powering house devices and also various other electrical items on a watercraft takes a little preparation ahead of time. You wish to think concerning things like:

• Can our generator or source of power produce adequate power?
• The amount of watts, volts as well as amperes does the machine requirement
• Will I have adequate area?

We have actually provided some light-weight and also portable sewing machines below. These benefit smaller sized tasks en route, but if you wish to have the ability to sew boat canvas, vinyl, sails and other sturdy material you may find on a watercraft you require a sturdy machine

[su_service title=”Good heavy duty machine” icon=”icon: hand-pointer-o”] The best sewing machine for a boat is a light-weight heavy obligation machine We constantly suggest the Vocalist 4411 Study for that type of stuff. That would certainly be a fantastic machine to have actually onboard if you intend to be able to take care of the fabric of a sail, tarps, covers furniture work etc. [/su_service]

Just like sailors a great deal of RVers love to bring their sewing machine in the recreational vehicle.

Perhaps you intend to be able to relax with a sewing project throughout the trip or possibly you wish to bring it to fix the curtains or doing some upholstery job.

Here you additionally need to make certain your generator can produce enough watts for a sewing machine

The brief response is that you can conveniently power your sewing machine from the generator or whatever power resource you may have in the recreational vehicle.

It just draws like 85 watts, so that will certainly work simply fine.

After that you need to have room for it. Undoubtedly, space is a large issue when you relocate your life when traveling in an RV. There are small portable and also light-weight models you can purchase for cheap. Those are an excellent choice for sewing throughout travels.

Allow’s take a look at some good portable devices you can induce the watercraft, the motor home, or simply during travel generally.

Best light sewing traveling sewing machines

If space is tight or you just want a tiny as well as mobile sewing machine there are numerous terrific choices you can go with

Over at Amazon, they have a whole area with little sewing equipments and you find the best brand names like Singer, Brother, Janome etc.

We advise this Singer 1304 version (web link to Amazon) It only set you back around $ 80, and also you obtain a top quality machine that just evaluates 7 pounds

It has more than 700 evaluations as well as a ranking over 4/5 celebrities! So individuals more than happy with this poor boy and also it also has some trendy features (like to conventional sewing devices) like:

• 6 various stitches
• Weighs only 7 extra pounds(!)
• Automatic bobbin winding devices (quits when the bobbin is full)
• Dimensions: 13 x 7 x 11,5 inches
• can do buttonholes (4 actions)
• 2 presser feet
• Bobbin Winder
• 2 spool pins
• Detachable storage space compartments with room for added bobbins, needles, etc.
• See all specs here …

If you choose Brother devices the CS6000i is a great selection. It’s also really sturdy and also it’s portable too.

It has over 7,000 evaluations! and approximately 4,5 / 5 stars. So it’s the highest and also most rated machine of the three we suggest in this short article. It’s really abundant on attributes however it likewise costs a little bit a lot more than the various other two options. You can obtain it at $130 here at Amazon

We suggest this machine because it has every little thing you require primarily so you don’t require to jeopardize on what type of project you can do on the roadway. Great for taking to class as well as bringing along throughout journeys.

• 60 stitches (!)
• Evaluates 13 pounds
• Measurements: 16 x 6.7 x 11.4 inches (likewise pretty little!)
• 1-step buttonholes (7 designs)
• 9 presser feet
• Auto needle threader
• Two spool pins
• Detachable storage areas with area for extra bobbins, needles, etc.
• LCD display
• Great for quilting in addition to sewing
• See all the specs here …

If you do not like electronic display screens or you prefer Singer versions you can continue reading. Otherwise , this is your version.

If you desire a bit much more attributes as well as you desire a Singer design ( many individuals will just make use of Singer designs you must go with this design. But just if you do not like the Brother above, or if you can not use an electronic display.

It simply has more stitches to pick from than the 1304 version (19!) as well as the attribute list is pretty excellent for a machine under 100 dollars and this dimension. It likewise has more than 800 evaluations, and individuals are generally really satisfied with this model generally. It has an average ranking of 4/5 stars.

Right here are the specifications:

• 19 different stitches!
• Evaluates 13,6 pounds
• Automatic bobbin winding
• Measurements: 15 x 6.2 x 12 inches (a little bit bigger than the Singer 1304).
• Can do buttonholes
• 4 presser feet
• Flexible tension
• Detachable storage space areas. Likewise with additional space for whatever you need around the machine
• See all the specs below …

They also have some wonderful sewing equipments over at Wayfair. They have truly good rates as well as they really have a remarkably great selection of tiny and light-weight designs. See the light-weight machines at Wayfair here

A travel size sewing machine is simply a fantastic choice if you such as to bring the machine along. It’s great to be able to bring it conveniently as well as you can also use it for kids and also senior that can stagnate about with equipment

Right here’s a great packing checklist for when you need to bring your sewing equipment along for the traveling. We have actually focused on what you can lug quickly as well as trying to prevent bringing more than one of the most crucial things.

Besides the sewing machine itself you ought to bring:

• Safety and security pins
• Measuring tapes
• Additional bobbins
• Straight pins
• Traveling iron (maybe a portable ironing mat also)
• Seam ripper

These are all points you require to have completely in your sewing bag. And also you can possibly do without much else when you get on the go. Satisfied journeys– we wish you learned a thing or 2!

We have actually discovered two various other questions individuals ask a great deal in connection with traveling with your sewing or quilting machine We have detailed them here as short questions as well as solutions and also hope you locate them valuable.

Just how to transport a sewing machine You require to cover it thoroughly or carry it inside a difficult case trolley. Before you transport it you must eliminate all detachable parts and also take care of the rest with tape. Make sure it will certainly not get shakes or bumps throughout transport.

The last concern is a great question when it pertains to traveling with your machine Because you might have it depending on its side throughout travel– particularly if you finish up inspecting it in with your check-in luggage.

Can you store a sewing machine on its side? Yes, you can. Yet you need to prepare it first to avoid damage. Place the presser foot down and also remove spools and bobbins. Get rid of the needle as well before storing the sewing machine

• sewingmachinetalk.com

Related Posts

Sewing Kits on Airplanes: TSA Guidelines & Travel Tips (2024)

Sewing a Shirt: Step-by-Step Guide (2024)

The Best Cutting Mats for Quilting Perfection for 2024

Unleash Your Creativity at a Sewing Retreat Full Guide of 2024

Iron Velvet: How to Care for and Maintain Velvet Fabrics (2024)

Types of Cotton Weave Patterns: From Sateen to Twill & More (2024)

How To Pack A Sewing Machine For A Flight – An Ultimate Guide

If you are like most of us, the idea of packing a Sewing Machine and other supplies for a trip may seem like it requires a lot of effort and time.

Many people like to travel. However, when you start traveling more frequently, it can become costly to fly to different destinations regularly. This means that sometimes, you have to get creative when you pack for a flight. While the typical advice is to bring a carry-on only to keep things light and organized, this isn’t always possible or practical. There are some simple tricks for Packing A Sewing Machine For A Plane that you may find helpful.

Even the most minor details can significantly impact your traveling experience, so it’s essential to ensure you’re packing things up right. We’ll show you how to take the hassle out of flying with our guide to the best way to pack your Sewing Machine . We will talk about different tips on packing and moving a sewing machine and some things you should always consider when packing your sewing machine.

Can I Take Sewing Machine On A Plane?

According to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) rules, you can bring Sewing Machine On Airplane as Hand luggage or book your machine as Check-In Luggage . Check for reference Sewing Machine Rules

Can I Take Sewing Needles On A Plane?

Yes, You can bring Sewing Needles On An Airplane . You can also bring scissors shorter than 4 inches in the blade. TSA approves these.

Other things not allowed to carry in airplanes are Long blade scissors, Razor Blades and box cutters , etc.

Travelling Rules

The recommended luggage size is almost 8kg in hands , and the baggage size is approximately 22″ x 14″ x 9″ . Every airline has its rules, which are slightly different from other airlines.

Ask your travel adviser for the rules regarding the size and weight of hand luggage. Pack your sewing machine in suitable baggage that is easy to carry and handle.

Packing Your Sewing Machine

• Remove any sharp objects which cause trouble during security check-ins.
• Remove the needle from the machine, tape it flat on the sewing machine, or store it separately in check-in luggage.
• Bring presser foot on its down position for stability.
• Remove the foot pedal and cord and store them separately.
• If Sewing Machine has a storage capacity drawer, Remove it if it causes an overweight of the luggage.
• Pack scissors, Rotatory Cutters , and extra needles in Checked luggage.
• Pack using Styrofoam as it is the safest way to keep your machine away from damage. 
• The rolling trolley is the best idea to handle this kind of luggage. So, it’s better to protect your machine by packing it in a Travel case like Rolling Trolley .
• Some particular kinds of bags only made for sewing machines are available in the market. You can get any of them and pack a sewing machine. Here is the link to Sewing Machine Bags .

Which Is Better? Check-In Luggage or Hand Luggage For Sewing Machine? 

The first thing to decide about bringing a sewing machine via plane is to book it in check-in luggage or carry it with you as hand luggage . Let’s consider some points.

• Carry-on is safe as compared to check-in luggage. You will be more caring while carrying your machine with you.
• If you have an average-weight sewing machine and can take it quickly, it’s an excellent option to bring it in hand luggage.
• Consider checking check-in luggage if you carry a heavy-duty sewing machine in its original packing box.
• If you book your sewing machine in check-in luggage, write on the packaging FRAGILE . As fragile packages are handled with care by the airport security and luggage department.
• Check-in luggage is a concern because when transferring your luggage via cars, wagons can be damaged because of road bumps. Or maybe the luggage is not handled with care.

How Can I Get The Sewing Machine Through The Security?

First of all, pack your sewing machine alone for your convenience. It will provide you with ease through security check-in. Maybe you have to wait a little bit by standing in the queue waiting for your turn.

Security is not going to open your luggage except if there is something suspicious inside your luggage. They only pass your luggage through a scanning machine as a security, and in case of a suspect, they can ask you to open your luggage.

But according to the TSA , you can get a sewing machine on an airplane, so they will not suspect anything.

Quick Tips For Traveling With Your Sewing Machine

Following are some tips for your better traveling experience with your Sewing Machine .

•  Presser foot should be in its position
• Needles should be removed before packing
• Pack the sewing machine with its original packing and foam (if you have it); otherwise, try to wrap it in foam and put some clothes on its sides to avoid any damage while hitting the bag.
• A trolley with tires is the best option. In this case, you have two benefits: less fear of harm and easy moving the bag from one place to another.
• Scissors are not allowed during traveling unless smaller scissors.
• Do not use Foam peanuts or packing peanuts.

Conclusion | How To Pack A Sewing Machine For A Flight

It seems like the ideal sewing machine should be able to fit in a tiny bag—that way, you can pack it and bring it on the plane with you! Check for weight limit so that you will not increase than the limit. Be aware of all the machine parts and try to keep the machine together. This includes all the attachments, the foot pedal, the hook and eye attachments, and other items like a bobbin case, thimble, or presser foot . Use Styrofoam for packing.

I hope this article was helpful for you to gain some information about How To Pack A Sewing Machine For a Flight? You can write in the comment section below if you have further questions.

FAQs | How To Pack A Sewing Machine For A Flight

Do i need to wrap my sewing machine in plastic before i pack it.

No, you don’t need to wrap your sewing machine in plastic.

What kind of luggage should I use for packing a sewing machine?

It would help if you used hard-sided luggage, such as a suitcase or duffel bag because they are the most durable.

Is it safe to carry a sewing machine on a plane?

It’s OK to carry a sewing machine on a plane with some precautions like a pack in a solid bag and if booked in check in luggage paste a tag of “FRAGILE” and if taking with you as a hand luggage use a trolley suitcase for easy handling and movement.

Similar Posts

What Is An Electronic Sewing Machine – A Complete Guide

What Is An Electronic Sewing Machine – A Complete Guide In recent years, there has been a massive increase in women using Sewing Machines. Sewing Machines are helpful gadgets that allow you to save a lot of…

Sew Like A Pro : Best Sewing Machine For Professional Use

Sew Like A Pro : Best Sewing Machine For Professional Use If you’re a Professional seamstress and want to sew like a pro, then a good Sewing Machine is essential for creating high-quality garments. But…

6 Best Home Sewing Machine For Denim in 2022

6 Best Home Sewing Machine For Denim in 2022 We live in a time where there is more pressure to dress our best. And this makes me wonder if Home Sewing is still a thing people are…

Best Sewing Machine Under $100: Quality You Can Trust

Best Sewing Machine Under $100: Quality You Can Trust When it comes to find the perfect sewing machine for your needs, price is usually not the main concern. However, with so many great machines available…

An Ultimate Guide – How To Put A Bobbin In A Janome Sewing Machine

An Ultimate Guide – How To Put A Bobbin In A Janome Sewing Machine Janome makes great Sewing Machines used to enhance your Sewing Skills, your hobby, your business, etc. We’ve all seen the commercials that show how wonderful…

Is There Any Truth 2 The Myth: Are Old Sewing Machines Better Than New Ones?

Is There Any Truth 2 The Myth: Are Old Sewing Machines Better Than New Ones? I’ve been sewing since I was a little young girl. My mother had an old model Juki Sewing Machine and…

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy

Behind the Pageantry of Shen Yun, Untreated Injuries and Emotional Abuse

As the popular dance show grew into an international juggernaut, some of the group’s young performers paid a steep price.

Shen Yun Performing Arts has put on shows around the world. The group was created to spread the message of the persecuted religious movement Falun Gong. Credit... Southern California News Group

Supported by

• Share full article

By Nicole Hong and Michael Rothfeld

The reporters interviewed more than 80 people, examined hundreds of pages of records and reviewed secret recordings made from inside the group’s guarded headquarters in upstate New York.

• Aug. 15, 2024

They began appearing about two decades ago, often around the holidays, and often at high-end venues: troupes of Chinese dancers swirling gracefully in colorful costumes.

First in New York City, then in Paris, Toronto and Taipei, the dancers — mostly teenagers and young adults — flipped and vaulted onstage in soaring routines meant to awe and entertain and also to spread the message of Falun Gong, the persecuted Chinese religious movement behind the performances.

Since then, the dance group, Shen Yun Performing Arts, has grown into an economic engine for the movement and its leaders, with brisk ticket sales on five continents and holdings of more than $265 million.

But for the young people who powered the show, the success has come at a steep cost.

In pursuit of ever larger audiences, Shen Yun has treated many of its performers as an expendable commodity, a New York Times investigation has found. It has routinely discouraged them from seeking medical care when their bodies have broken down, and commanded their obedience to grueling rehearsal and tour schedules through relentless emotional abuse and manipulation.

In interviews, some former dancers recounted performing through dislocated kneecaps, sprained ankles or other serious injuries, unwilling to seek medical treatment because the group’s belief system regarded such care as a crutch of the unfaithful.

Others were racked with emotion as they recalled being made to participate in regular weigh-ins by instructors who publicly berated them for being too fat.

Most described feeling used by a religious movement that was focused on spreading its views even if performers were harmed in the process — while raking in money from ticket sales.

Many of the dancers and musicians who spoke to The Times hesitated to share their stories publicly, fearing retaliation by Falun Gong and its spiritual leader. That leader, Li Hongzhi, introduced the movement in China in 1992, at a time when ancient energy-based exercises were surging in popularity. He has led it in exile while presiding over the guarded 400-acre compound in upstate New York where many of Shen Yun’s performers live and train.

In a statement, representatives of Shen Yun and Falun Gong said the performers who spoke to The Times were presenting a picture of the dance group and religious movement that distorted reality “in bizarre and dramatic ways.” They said that The Times was playing into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, which has sought to stamp out the movement, by committing a “bigoted attack” on a faith that promotes good health, moral living and strong families and communities.

Based in part on elements of Buddhism, Falun Gong holds that people who practice its poses and meditation regimen can attain enlightenment. But in speeches and writings, its founder, Mr. Li, has also incorporated less conventional ideas, implying that he is the creator of the universe, saying that faithful adherence can purge the body of illnesses and suggesting that followers can develop supernatural powers, such as the ability to levitate.

And, for the past two decades, Mr. Li has positioned his group in direct opposition to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, which has imprisoned Falun Gong followers and demonized them in state propaganda.

Against that backdrop, Mr. Li’s movement has put Shen Yun forward as a propaganda tool of its own, amplifying the show’s anti-Communist message through a network of companies founded by Falun Gong practitioners, including a widely read newspaper, The Epoch Times.

Inside Shen Yun, the group’s leaders told their young performers that each show was an urgent spiritual mission, and they led them to believe that anyone who spoke out against the movement would face dire consequences.

Even so, 25 former dancers, musicians and instructors spoke openly to The Times about their experiences in Shen Yun, including a handful who had left the group within the past 18 months. They described a pattern of abusive behavior by Shen Yun’s leaders that spanned nearly two decades and occurred as hundreds of performers cycled in and out of the dance company.

Their accounts, along with hundreds of pages of public records and dozens of photos and recordings smuggled out of the group’s headquarters, offer an unusually candid look at life inside the productions, which Shen Yun’s ubiquitous advertising has billed as “entertainment of the highest order.”

Nothing in the advertisements signals that the show is aimed at promoting a religious movement. And audience members, who may pay $309 a ticket, have little indication that the performers are laboring for that movement. They see smiling dancers who leap onstage and spend the next two hours performing synchronized spins and flying splits. Some scenes portray Falun Gong followers being beaten by Chinese state police.

But many of the former dancers and musicians said they pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits because they were taught that performing a flawless Shen Yun show would save their audiences from an approaching apocalypse . It was a message that was constantly reinforced in lessons that instilled a fierce sense of obligation, as well as mistrust of the outside world, they said.

Often, they worked 15-hour days — rehearsing, performing, even setting up and breaking down heavy orchestra equipment — for low or no pay, toiling under the impression that they were indebted for the cost of the schooling, food and lodging that the movement provided them.

Nearly all the performers were sent to Shen Yun by family members who were ardent Falun Gong practitioners. Some had arrived at the movement’s New York State headquarters, known as Dragon Springs, having not yet turned 12.

They were unable to leave the compound without special permission and were typically limited in how often they could see their families. Many had traveled to New York from across the United States and other countries and remained in the complex well into their 20s.

Cheng Qingling, who grew up practicing Falun Gong with her mother in New Zealand, arrived at Dragon Springs at age 13. Ms. Cheng, a former dancer, now 27, said she rationalized her bad experiences there — the untreated injury that made her left arm go numb, the constant yelling by instructors, the shaming of her classmates for breaking minor rules — by giving them a higher meaning.

“They’re just testing our devotion,” Ms. Cheng said she told herself. “But then I thought, if I use normal human values and judge this, this is wrong.”

Some performers who wanted to quit before the group was ready to let them go faced threats and intimidation. Their managers told them they would go to hell or face danger if they left, because they would lose Mr. Li’s protection. Seven former performers said they were also told that they would have to repay the cost of tuition if they quit Shen Yun.

The representatives of Shen Yun and Falun Gong declined to make Mr. Li and other Shen Yun leaders available for interviews.

In their statement, the representatives, Ying Chen and Levi Browde, called the performers who spoke to The Times a “relatively tiny, disgruntled group” who shared “fantastical stories.”

They denied that performers who got hurt routinely went without medical care, and they said that any suggestion of a toxic environment at Dragon Springs was “highly subjective and smacks of cultural bigotry.”

“The community at Dragon Springs is a close-knit, predominantly Asian community that values disciplined study and training, and is characterized by open, honest and direct interactions,” they said. “We are, essentially, a big family with a shared faith.”

The Times’s reporting on Shen Yun, they added, was likely to become “the crown jewel” in the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to discredit Falun Gong.

The Chinese government banned Falun Gong after more than 10,000 practitioners staged a silent protest outside the Communist Party’s headquarters in Beijing in 1999. Since then, many practitioners have been detained and died in police custody. Chinese officials have continued to target them.

Still, the movement has flourished, amassing a global following whose members can be seen practicing gentle movement exercises in public parks worldwide.

As Falun Gong spread, Mr. Li gained influence as well. He helped create the Shen Yun performance group in 2006. Now, with his wife, Li Rui, he presides over Dragon Springs, the upstate compound that is fitted with a towering pagoda and a giant golden statue of Buddha — with a face that bears a striking resemblance to his own.

Students living on the mountain, as the compound is also known, are taught to greet Mr. Li as “shi fu,” the Chinese word for “master,” while clasping their hands and bowing. They quickly learn that Ms. Li is a primary enforcer of his rules.

Many of the former performers reached by The Times said that Shen Yun gave them the opportunity to travel and improve their Chinese language skills, and that they appreciated the work ethic it instilled.

“Personally, I cherish the time I spent at Shen Yun. I learned and matured a great deal,” said Susan Zhou, a former dancer with the company, in an email to The Times. “I think it’s a wonderful institution that creates an inspiring show for people all around the world.”

But the vast majority said it also exposed them to unyielding indoctrination.

During a lecture last year, Mr. Li, who is in his early 70s, told students in Chinese that he created the earth and “established the music of mankind,” according to a recording of his remarks provided to The Times by an audience member.

Questioning such rhetoric was seen as a grave offense.

“What I experienced there is tremendous psychological pressure to conform,” said David Fiedler, 66, who taught violin at Dragon Springs from 2013 to 2016. “You have to either leave or you have to be willing to abandon your reason, because you can’t hold onto both.”

‘The best place to be on earth’

At age 11, Kate Huang dropped out of school in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and traveled some 8,000 miles with her mother to rural Cuddebackville, in Orange County, N.Y. — the home of Falun Gong’s headquarters.

There, she enrolled in Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, the boarding school where Shen Yun performers are trained.

Ms. Huang had no dance experience, but she grew up around Falun Gong followers who had told her to seize the chance to be closer to Mr. Li. Her grandmother had practiced the exercises every morning at 4 a.m. Her mother had sold tickets to Shen Yun shows.

“Everyone said it was the place you should be, because it’s the best place to be on earth,” said Ms. Huang, now 26, who asked to be identified by her English first name.

Soon afterward, she was in a dance class, lying on her back for a flexibility exercise. Hovering over her, a teacher gripped her ankle and began pushing it toward her head — moving it farther and farther until Ms. Huang heard a snap from her thigh that seemed to echo across the classroom, she said.

Her teacher notified Mr. Li and the school principal, who touched her leg as if to see if anything was broken. She limped for weeks, she said.

A few years later, before a performance in Seattle, Ms. Huang was landing a front flip when she felt a searing pain in her right leg. She had dislocated her kneecap, she said. A classmate popped it back into place.

One of her managers gave her a bag of ice and asked if she could still perform, Ms. Huang said. She danced in excruciating pain for the next two hours.

She said that she was not offered treatment for either injury, nor did she seek it, because Mr. Li says that true healing occurs only by following his teachings.

“If I ask for the hospital, I will be labeled as not a fervent believer,” said Ms. Huang, who added that her knee has never felt the same. “I didn’t want to stick out or become a target of everyone.”

Ms. Huang was one of 14 former Shen Yun performers who told The Times that they suffered untreated injuries or ailments — or saw others get hurt without receiving care.

Performing in any competitive dance company carries a risk of injury, sports medicine experts said. But unlike many other major companies, Shen Yun does not provide routine access to physical therapists or doctors, The Times found.

And the group’s reliance on teenage dancers, whose bones and muscles are still developing, has meant that they were more prone to getting hurt, the experts said.

The risk was especially acute given Shen Yun’s demanding choreography, which calls for back-bending moves that incorporate elements of ballet and gymnastics. It was increased further by the group’s punishing schedule, which sent the student performers on tour for months out of the year, with bus rides between venues that could drag on for 16 hours at a time.

Often, they put on two shows a day. On its most recent tour, Shen Yun’s eight troupes were scheduled to perform more than 800 shows in five months. One played 14 shows in 12 days at New York City’s David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

Encouraging people to dance in pain or discouraging them from treatment is “pretty barbaric and old school, to say the least,” particularly with minors, said Dr. Donald Rose, an orthopedic surgeon and founding director of the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Langone Health. “Especially in that age group that doesn’t have the ability to advocate for themselves, permanent damage can definitely be done.”

Some Shen Yun performers who suffered severe injuries did receive treatment. When Sam Pu, one of the group’s highest-profile dancers, ruptured his Achilles’ tendon, he underwent surgery to repair it, he said in a video posted online last year.

In their statement, the representatives of Shen Yun and Falun Gong denied discouraging medical treatment.

“Shen Yun performers are offered and receive medical treatment whenever it is needed, and we have the medical records to prove it,” they said.

But former performers and instructors told The Times that such interventions were rare.

Daisy Wang, who started touring with Shen Yun when she was 13, said she sprained her ankle five times in eight years but never asked for a doctor.

Doing so, Ms. Wang and others were told, would mean that something was wrong with their spiritual state.

“It’s supposed to self-heal if you just send forth righteous thoughts,” said Ms. Wang, now 28, referring to the meditation technique Mr. Li prescribes to purge the bad karma he says causes illness.

Dancers were not the only members of Shen Yun who performed through the pain of injury.

A former musician who asked to be identified only by his last name, An, said he frequently sliced his hands on metal instrument cases when packing the dance group’s cargo trucks after performances. One cut was so severe that he had to stitch himself up with a hotel sewing kit, he said.

After playing in Shen Yun’s orchestra for about four years, another musician, a violinist named Joshua Lin, began to feel sharp pains near his right shoulder. He was brought to see Mr. Li, who touched his head and shoulder and told him he was healed.

The pain persisted for years — a sign, his classmates told him, of his weak faith. “I just kept playing through the pain,” Mr. Lin said.

He did not see a doctor until he left Shen Yun. Only then did he learn the likely cause of the pain: a bulging disc in his spine.

Keeping up appearances

Former students also said they suffered emotional abuse and manipulation.

Five former dancers said they were humiliated by instructors in front of classmates when they failed to lose weight.

One of the dancers, Chang Chun-Ko, said that when she was 13, stood 5-foot-5 and weighed about 110 pounds, her dance teacher singled her out for being heavier than others in her troupe. The teacher told her classmates to report Ms. Chang if she bought snacks — in line with Shen Yun’s broader culture of encouraging students to inform on one another, she and others said. More than once, classmates physically blocked her from entering a market on campus, she recalled.

On another occasion, the teacher called her shameless for buying three cans of Pringles on her day off. When the teacher questioned whether Ms. Chang wanted to stay in Shen Yun, Ms. Chang began to cry.

Still, she desperately wanted to fulfill what she considered to be her oath to Mr. Li.

“Master told us he had endless magical powers,” said Ms. Chang, now 28, in Chinese. “We were little children, and we believed.”

By the time she was 20, she was usually eating just one meal a day. As she sipped rice porridge one day, a different teacher asked why she was eating at all. She ran to the bathroom and kicked the walls.

Another former dancer recalled weekly weigh-ins that felt like walking to a guillotine. She put her body into “starvation mode,” she said, and would strip off clothing before stepping onto the scale. Her weight was recorded on a sheet posted in a classroom, with the names of those deemed to be too fat scrawled in red.

A third recalled Ms. Li telling her to eat only cucumbers and tomatoes to lose weight, she said. At 16, she developed an eating disorder.

Ms. Huang, the former dancer from Taiwan who dislocated her kneecap, was repeatedly told by teachers that she was becoming too heavy. At 17, she was reassigned to a warehouse job on campus designing patterns for Shen Yun costumes on a computer.

Near the end of high school, she was notified that she would not be accepted into the postsecondary school in Dragon Springs, Fei Tian College, and would have to leave the compound.

The culture of body shaming reflected a fixation on the part of Shen Yun’s leaders on outward appearances, former students said.

During a 2016 Falun Gong conference , Mr. Li said Shen Yun was crafting its aesthetic to appeal to “those in the middle class and above,” including “people who are well educated, civilized and high-caliber,” according to a translation of his remarks.

The focus on image was reinforced by Ms. Li, who often wore designer clothes and took dancers shopping on their days off. Some former students said they were confused to see her dress so fashionably given that her husband’s teachings were critical of material attachments. One former dancer said Ms. Li once gave her a Chanel wallet.

Ms. Li sought to manage not only the students’ appearances, but also their dating lives.

Dating required permission from Ms. Li’s office, another way in which Shen Yun’s leaders exerted control over their performers, former students said. Eleven of those students said that Ms. Li and her lieutenants tried to arrange relationships between foreign students and American citizens, which they believed were encouraged for visa purposes.

Ron Luo, who played viola for Shen Yun until 2021, said he thought the matchmaking was a tactic to tie young people more closely to the movement.

“It’s like keeping your labor,” he said. “Getting a person that fits the mold of what they want is quite difficult. You need the religious background. You need to be subservient to unreasonable demands.”

‘Can’t you endure hardship?’

From the moment Sun Zan enrolled at Dragon Springs at 15, he heard Mr. Li preach about the holy mission Mr. Sun and the other performers were undertaking: to save nonbelievers by allowing them to watch a Shen Yun show.

Compounding the pressure, Mr. Sun and six other former performers said, Mr. Li and his subordinates told them that any mistakes onstage might eventually doom their audiences to hell.

It made them approach each show with unswerving seriousness.

Mr. Sun, a former principal dancer, said he typically slept just five hours a night so he could rehearse routines to perfection. He danced through the grief of his grandmother’s death and the pain of a sprained ankle that, offstage, left him barely able to walk.

“It’s actually the mental trauma that still affects me until today,” Mr. Sun, who left in 2015, said. “If you don’t do it right, then it’s on you. Then the universe is not saved because of you.”

Some troupe managers would seize on errors after shows ended and shame those who made them in front of their peers. Often, they cast the mistakes as spiritual failings.

Nathan Xie, a cello player, once played the wrong notes at a performance in Mexico City, and afterward, his orchestra manager grilled him for an hour. She accused him of focusing too little on Mr. Li’s teachings and reading other things too much, he said. She confiscated his Kindle.

Such chidings were commonplace. In an audio recording from last year obtained by The Times, an orchestra manager can be heard chastising a group of performers for more than an hour, saying that they needed to work harder to reach Mr. Li’s standards.

“Didn’t we all make a promise to Master?” she asked in Chinese. “Can’t you endure hardship?”

Mr. Li and his wife encouraged students to view him as a father figure, they said.

Some recalled celebrating Mr. Li on Father’s Day and his birthday. They said they wrote poems for him and gave him gifts like folded paper cranes.

At the same time, some former students said, they were instructed not to share aspects of their Shen Yun experience with their parents. Many students saw their families only once a year, during a two-week summer break.

Their supervisors at the mountain also exerted control over their access to outside information, discouraging dissent and critical thinking, they said.

Students typically were not permitted to have a smartphone before they reached their early 20s. In recent years, those without phones were allowed to browse the internet for just 15 minutes a day, and only from designated computers.

The school controlled the music they listened to, the movies they watched and the books they read. They were barred from looking at “ordinary media,” the movement’s name for unapproved news outlets.

And their sense of obligation to the movement led many of the performers to tolerate long hours and low pay, they said.

Eight former Shen Yun performers said they were not paid at all in their first year on tour. One former musician said her orchestra manager explained that this was because newer performers had not yet saved enough people.

In their second year on tour, students were typically paid a few hundred dollars a month, with the rate increasing over time.

A former violinist who asked to be identified only by his last name, Liu, said he came to feel exploited as cheap labor.

“The amount of money we were making them, and also saving them, was pretty ludicrous,” said Mr. Liu, who moved to Dragon Springs in 2012, at age 12, and left in 2017. “At the time, I definitely was very concerned about the fact that we were getting nothing, and they were getting lots of money.”

Shen Yun spends a far smaller share of its revenue on salaries than several other large nonprofit dance and theater companies based in New York, a review of tax filings shows.

Students often worked six days a week and were made to feel like they should be grateful for any pay, some of them said.

By their early to mid-20s, most of the former performers were being paid $12,000 a year or less, they told The Times. After graduating college at Dragon Springs, some of the student performers remained with the group as professionals and earned more. The group also recruited some outside professional musicians for its orchestra.

In their statement, the representatives of Shen Yun and Falun Gong said that the accounts of low pay for underage performers were a “gross mischaracterization” of the group’s employment practices.

“Shen Yun Performing Arts is a professional arts company staffed only by professional adults,” they said, adding that qualified students at Dragon Springs are allowed to tour with the group as part of their studies.

“The program is legal, transparent and a highly sought-after opportunity for aspiring artists,” they said. “The stipend that students receive while on practicum is an industry standard practice.”

Leaving the fold

The tactics used by Shen Yun’s leaders often terrified those performers who thought about leaving.

They were told that they would go to hell, or face stiff financial penalties, or be put in physical danger if they lost Mr. Li’s spiritual protection.

When Daisy Wang, the former dancer, was caught texting with an outsider in 2017 about life off the mountain, Ms. Li interrogated her for hours until Ms. Wang gave up the other person’s identity. She quit a few months later, but it took years, she said, for her to get over her fear of going to hell.

Nathan Xie, the former cellist, announced he was leaving in 2020, and Ms. Li angrily told him he would have to repay eight years of tuition — an amount that might have exceeded $200,000. It was a threat that six other performers said they also had received. The group never followed through, but the episode rattled Mr. Xie. He was 22 and had just a few hundred dollars in the bank.

Chang Chun-Ko, another former dancer, feared that she would die in an accident at any moment after leaving Dragon Springs in 2020, convinced that she had lost the mystical protection Mr. Li was said to have extended to the Shen Yun performers assisting him in saving the world.

And when Joshua Lin, the violinist, began to have doubts about the movement around 2012, he tried to push them aside.

He had lived at Dragon Springs since he was 15 and for years had poured himself into studying Mr. Li’s teachings. But by 2017, at age 24, his devotion had fully waned. He watched a YouTube video about cults and was caught sharing it with another musician soon after.

He was expelled mid-tour. On the plane home to Australia, he thought of all the friends he had grown up with on the mountain, and how he might never see them again.

Only later did he come to view his expulsion as a blessing. He has worked as a swim teacher and co-owned a chain of chicken restaurants, and now he hopes to open an auto repair business. Mr. Lin, 31, said he wonders what he might have done with his life had he not spent nine years at Dragon Springs.

He worries about the students still living on the mountain.

“It’s just not good for the people that are coming in, being taken advantage of now, especially the younger ones,” Mr. Lin said.

“It’s just going to be an ongoing cycle.”

Susan C. Beachy contributed research. Liu Yi contributed translation.

Photograph of Ron Luo by Matthew Abbott for The New York Times.

Nicole Hong is an investigative reporter, focused on covering New York and its surrounding regions. More about Nicole Hong

Michael Rothfeld is an investigative reporter in New York, writing in-depth stories focused on the city’s government, business and personalities. More about Michael Rothfeld

Advertisement