Chatelaine: a sewing tool for the peripetetic

    Always running around, I like to have my scissors, needle, thimble and tape measure close at hand. A chatelaine is perfect for that. Beautiful quilted ones are on the market, but my version is a lite lanyard. I especially enjoy portable art such as sashiko, embroidery and beading on a trip; but when I showed granddaughter this scissor solution, the thought of dangerous tools around her grandmother's head in a car or elsewhere terrified her.

   

       I found Dritz makes tape measures in a variety of colors and I bought a grosgrain ribbon longer than the 43 inches I used of the ruler. I stitched both sides of the tape measure to the ribbon. I made a quilted pocket for one end which holds a thimble and I can insert needles and pins when needed. I added these clippers to the other end but would now prefer scissors.  One just hangs this light weight necklace around the neck when in the house or the car so tools are readily available without having to wonder where they were last left.

       If one leaves tools on the floor they can be too tempting to the dogs. Here is Chrissy's chatelaine that uses weights and a pin cushion; but it needs a redo because the dog enjoyed it so. Click photos to enlarge.