Crocheted Chatelaine

Several years ago I bought a book about making home made gifts - amongst the gifts was a pattern for a hand sewn chatelaine. I thought it was a great idea - a tool belt for ladies! I put it on my to-do list and there it stayed for years. Earlier this year I thought about it again and how cool it would be to crochet one..then I got distracted by another projext and forgot about it, again. In September I was stuck for an idea for a present for my niece's birthday and my sister said "she likes sewing". Immediately I knew what to make her!

Using cotton I already had, I decided to make it pale purple, yellow and orange. It's not a colour combination I'd pick for myself, so I was never quite sure if it looked ok. 

Making it was the easiest part - I just used patterns I already knew for the different pouches. The cord the pouches hang off is just many threads chain stitched as one. 

Deciding which bits and pieces to put in the pouches and then buying them probably took more time. I ended up with a tape measure, pins, needles, thimbles, 3 dressmakers pencils, an unpicker and snippers.

When I'd finished I decided to make a larger pouch which the chatelaine could be kept in. This pouch can also be attached to the cord and used to hold larger items.

My niece loved it! She said "Thank you so much for my beautiful sewing kit!!!! It's absolutely gorgeous :) xxxxxxx" My mum was there when she opened it and confirmed how much she liked it, she said "It was like Christmas watching her open all the pouches to see what was inside". A very pleasing result and one of the reasons I love making things for people, I guess she didn't mind the colour choice! I wonder if I can get a few more of these made before Christmas..