Chatelaine anyone?
 

Hand sewing is enjoyable and soothing for me and I'm interested in making myself a chatelaine. When searching Google nothing appealed to me. I realize most have to be personalized with the items the user especially likes and needs. The ones I've seen are made with a ribbon and felt at both ends. Isn't that too simplistic? If you have one that works for you will you share ideas and a picture? I'm open to all suggestions.

I looked up chatelaine on Bing and they have some beautiful ones pictured, looked like decorative metal to hook on belt and fine chains.

You learn something everyday! :p I had no idea what a chatelaine was until this post. So I can spend as much time as I want on this forum because it's educational!! :D

I use one that I made years ago. I took a yard of very pretty vintage ribbon and sewed velcro to one end and looped my scissors to it. Then I made a little rectangled pc, 2" X 3", and stuffed it only half full with cotton/poly. Then I made a small bag of sand, the same weight as my small scissors, put it inside the pc, buried it in the stuffing and attached it to the other end of the ribbon. It stays on my neck all day and never slides off. My scissors and pins are always with me. I'd be lost without it!!!!

I believe Craftsy has some patterns in their sewing patterns and it might be that some are either free or very cheap.

I am so glad this came up. I have wanted to make one but can't find exactly the one I want. I am drafting my own pattern. One which will hold my scissors, some needles, maybe some pins I accumulate at quilt shows. I think it is going to be a scarf type made of cotton with interfacing. It may also have a couple of pockets. I hope someone will have a picture that will inspire us.

this google search came up with lots of great ideas...
quilted chatelaine pattern

Couldn't remember what a chatelaine was. Remember my Grandmother had one and have seen Amish women carry chatelaine purses (very black and simple) with them often when out and about. Would be great gifts for quilting guilds and bee friends.

I love chatelaines and have seen some beautiful ones! When I was in ASG we made one for ourselves using a very basic pattern. I added a Pincushion Doll to mine and a needle book. This was all fabric no chains. I have my grandmother's thimble in a tiny crocheted thimble holder. The pincushion doll was from a Martha Pullen Sew Beautiful Magazine. It was really fun to make!

how beautiful this is!

Me Too! Divo, yours is lovely.

Thank you QuiltnNan and quilt addict!

I have one that's about 45" long and about 2" at it's narrowest to down the front to 3". It has my name on it, a small stuffed pincushion and a place for needles, pins, scissors and spool with thimble. It was my own design, and don't have a camera. if I can find it, i'll have a friend photo it.

Divokittysmom - now that's what I'm talking about. It looks like you can carry everything you need. Thanks for the pic. It gives me a good start on mine.

Mine is German silver and has little chains to hold various sewing things. I need to figure out how to keep the scissors from opening up.

Now that's the kind I would love to have.....I know someone who makes jewelry..this might be a challenge for her.


About keeping scissor points closed.....when I L/A I have a pair attached to one of those zingers.....and to keep those points from poking a "delicate" area I use a small blue rubbery thing that you are supposed to put on knitting needle tips to keep from poking when not in use....I guess a piece of eraser or cork would work too.

I used to have a chatelaine made from a beat up old silverware type server. Someone polished off the silver and shined up the brass. Then they bent the handle to go on my belt. Little holes were drilled on an edge to hold the chains. It had class in the end.

I like the cork idea for the little scissors. I have seen some pretty cool pieces for a chatelaine made from old hollow table knife handles.

These are beautiful! I remember seeing pretty ones in magazines and videos when I did heirloom sewing. But I don't know if I could function with all of that around my neck. Sometimes a tape measure is about all I can tolerate. Also, having scissors dangling in front of me is a scary thought (unless they were blunt ended).

Hunt through the pens in the house until you find a pen cap that fits snugly over the points? Or how about a small pony holder made for babies? Or a pretty elastic loop?

Oh my, that is gorgeous. What exactly do you do with them???

nope - no elastic or plastic allowed to be seen in a historic camp

[QUOTE=miriam;6960768]nope - no elastic or plastic allowed to be seen in a historic camp[/QUOTE
Could you sew a little blade cover for them? or tie the handles together when your not using them?

I think I had a little piece of ribbon on them for a while. I need to do that again - maybe make a little tip cover out of leather and some ties to keep it on.

What exactly is a chatelaine? I'm not familiar with them.

Here is a pic of my chatelaine - mine more of a thing of a mabob holder with momentos than a functional chatelaine.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]498180[/ATTACH]
You can see the top part of the chatelaine attaches to my apron when I do some historical camping. Then there are chains holding things that were gifted to me including a pin holder, a magnifying glass, a snuff holder, (it really used to hold snuff :p) a whistle so I can call my son and some scissors. The snuff was a gift from the lady that used the snuff. I cleaned it out and put an old thimble in it. At one time it also had a key and a stitch ripper (not historical but someone bought it for me) If you do a google search for 'chatelaine' then look at images you can see all kinds of chatelaines. There are also chatelaines made to go around your neck. You will see them if you google search 'quilted chatelaine' then go to images.

Miriam...thanks for the pic .........will have to hit the goodwill store and see what I can find to start this chatelaine ....

That one in the picture is not from Goodwill - that is all hand made and very costly. I'm just saying you can cut corners if you have some talent.

In the old days - chatelaines were used by the lady of the castle when she hand embroidered her fancies. It held her tiny scissors, needle case, pins, thimbles, etc.., and she could pin it to her gown as shown in the photo by Miriam. (Ladies of wealth and leisure had their personal seamstresses to fashion their gowns) but some did enjoy fine sewing. I understand Queen Victoria did a lot of embroidery/stitchery.

Nowadays chatelaines are mostly made of fabric and hang around the neck like a scarf for ease. That's what I'm looking for - ideas on how to fashion one. Someone suggested using a man's tie as a base/pattern and adding the goodies to it. I'm taking Miriam's suggestion and will make another Google search.

[QUOTE=Sew Krazy Girl;6962853]In the old days

Thanks for the explanation - I just keep a small sewing box next to me when I'm hand sewing and don't think I would like something like that hanging on my neck. However I can understand that some would like the convenience of it and there is a certain charm about it to be sure.

Mine is actually a vest with all the necessities in their own little spots or pockets.

well apparently I had a very simplistic idea about what a chatelaine was.
Now I am excited, bc yup, some time after the holidays I will be making
one too.
This is awesome. Mine won't be fancy, just utilitarian...or at least
my FIRST one, lol.
I love it!
I had just bought a simle parachord necklace type thingy with one of
those metal "hooks" (it looks like a question mark kind of).
Now I can have something with not only my trimming scissors but
some pins and things too! wonderful! :)

I am a fan of masterpiece classics(pbs) presentation of Paradise and on the last episode Denise, head of lady's wear, had a lovely chatelaine swinging from the waistband of her working outfit!!!!

I love all of the examples shown here ladies. Thanks for sharing.

As I remember, a chatelaine was worn pinned on your belt at your waist in the front. So they were in your lap when you sat down. The ladies of that day had on long skirts and it wouldn't slip in between your legs by wearing jeans like we do.. But, anyway, the items were all within reach of using it on your projects as you hand sewed. See?

They were also a status symbol as well. Only the wealthy women could afford the metal fancy ones. When the ladies axillary would get together to sew, the tools were all right there and handy.

I have seen some of the modern pattern company's offer some really beautiful embroidered hand-sewn ones done in a shabby chic style. I bet if you googled embroidered chatelaine patterns under images, some nice ones would be offered.

Here are a few I found...

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.IeCx4XaPOKE

This one has a tutorial...

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/ELProje...oductid=pr1746