Well, why not take a sewing machine as a carry-on?  I was reading Bonnie K Hunter's blog, "Quiltville Quips and Snips" where she discussed the wonderful bag she uses to carry her sewing machine with her for her travels around the country for lectures and teaching.  I bought the very same bag and it hold my 1951 Singer Featherweight and it fits under the seat in front of me!
It made it thru all security checks and only got looked at once by a security agent.  He just thought it odd that anyone would want to sew while travelling - he obviously doesn't know any quilters!