A super-quick project for sure. Younger Spawn gave me a chatelaine with a little metal purse for the holiday. I quickly attached my existing tools, put a piece of beeswax in the purse, and set out to use it. But I found that the thing was a bit heavy, likely to injure standard t-shirts and blouses, and pinning it to the waistband of my jeans wasn’t a feasible solution. But it’s a tremendously handy thing.
Stash to the rescue!
I had a length of evenweave linen ribbon I bought at the old Sajou store during our April in Paris trip a few years ago. I’ve been saving it for the right application. This was it.
I cut a length, charted out a new design specific to its width, and set out to stitch it more or less double-sided (not entirely so, but close enough) to use as an award-style neck ribbon to which the chatelaine could be securely and safely pinned. I started stitching on it on 5 January. And in less than two weeks, I have my first 2024 finish.
This is it, upside down so that the signature in the center back reads in the correct orientation. Note that I’ve left the overlap area free from stitching. It’s actually four layers of the ribbon linen thick – the ends folded over each other and securely stitched down. On top of that I also reinforced the back to prevent it from snagging on shirt buttons, and to give the chatelaine pin even more to grab onto.
Yes, that’s the same bit of nylon jersey fabric I used last week for mending. (Waste not, want not.)
Here’s the whole thing with the very appropriate rose pin in place, neatly figleafing the bald point center front:
The extra fluffy pullover doesn’t make an attractive backdrop, but I plead the current cold snap. I’m comfy. And now armed for my next stitching battle!
UPDATE:
The doodle page for the pattern I used on the chatelaine is now available on the Patterns tab here at String. Click below and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
String-Or-Nothing 
Congratulations of your first finish for 2024 – Looks great!
What a great idea, and of course, you did a great job! You look ready to go on to your next project.
I have a friend looking for a chatelaine. Can you ask Spawn where it was purchased? Thanks! Vicki
Spawn is out of comms range right now on a business trip, but I can share that the thing was purchased mid-summer from an Etsy dealer who specializes in Steampunk paraphernalia. Then stowed away for the holiday gift exchange.
Armed with that I went to Etsy and did some searching on
“steampunk chatelaine pin”.
I turned up several, even one that uses the same rose casting, but that one has fewer and lighter gauge chains than mine. There looks to be a good selection of reasonably priced items in a range of decorative styles on Etsy. Remember that the attached tools are usually bought separately. Spawn also gave me the little snap purse, but the other tools are ones I had at hand.
Hope this helps!
I love it! It’s beautiful and functional!
What a great solution!
I love being a Bad Influence. 🙂
Oh, so VERY beautiful!! And all the accoutrements you have attachd to it are beautiful, too! Do you have the pattern charted somewhere? I would love to embroider a pair of jeans with this gorgeous design!! Thank you!!
I will be adding it to the pattern section here sometime this week. It’s also going to be in the next Ensamplario Atlantio collection.
Check out the Embroidery Patterns tab here on String.
[…] Border or strip design. I used this one on my chatelaine ribbon. It’s also in Ensamplario Atlantio III. (An easy downloadable PDF is also on the Embroidery Patterns tab). […]