Chatelaines
Not your grandmother’s chatelaine…
Jan Marie Larson creates handcrafted, heirloom quality sterling silver chatelaines for you!
Small enough for just a pair of scissors…. Or large enough to hold your whole sewing basket… She’s got them!
Chatelaine Definition:
Chatelaines came into use in England in the 17th century and were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, but c. 1830 declined in use as fashionable jewelry and since then they have been worn for utilitarian purposes.
Chatelaines were worn clipped to a waist band or belt; by men and women. They often carried keys, pencils or watches that were commonly used intermittently throughout the day.
Sewing chatelaines have re-appeared in sewing circles around the world in the last 50 years. They are now worn on chains around the neck so that they are available for use when seated. Jan makes custom chatelaines for museums and re-enactors costumes, as well as the modern version worn around the neck.
What is on a sewing Chatelaine?
Each seamstress has her own idea about what is needed for a project. Chatelaines are flexible and allow you to choose! Anything that you need for a traveling sewing project can be fastened to the loops at the lower edge of the main piece.
- Usually the main center piece is a thimble.
It can have a cage or a box as a holder. It can even sit on a bobble, if it is an open nail thimble.
- Most people who sew also want a pair of small scissors.
The scissors hang from two places on the chatelaine. They are the ballast holding the rest of the chatelaine in balance. The scissor sheath chains connect to the chatelaine on either side of the thimble. Scissors can be removed from their sheath, but the chain will keep it attached to the chatelaine. (Unless you un-hook it at the loop).
- Other accessories that may be used in a sewing chatelaine:
- Beeswax holder
- Magnifier
- Needle Keeper
- Needle threader
- Pin cushion
- Seam ripper
- Spool of thread
- Stylis or crochet hook
- Thread Cutter
Wild Rose Collection
This chatelaine contains several accessories as well as the main chatelaine piece. Jan will demonstrate how each piece works and how to detach them from the chatelaine.
Flower and Garden Collection
This is my largest chatelaine. It can handle more accessories than any other. The video contains several accessories as well as the main chatelaine piece. Jan will demonstrate how each piece works and how to detach them from the chatelaine.
Prairie Coneflower Collection
This asymmetrical design has an extra chain guide near the top of the butterfly. The chatelaine contains several accessories as well as the main coneflower piece. Jan will demonstrate how each piece works and how to detach them from the chatelaine. She is constantly designing and making new pieces, so email for any new accessories in this collection.
Lily of the Valley Collection
This classic design won a Halstead Jewelry Award in 2020. The chatelaine contains several accessories as well as the main piece. Jan will demonstrate how each piece works and how to detach them from the chatelaine. She is constantly designing and making new pieces, so email for any new accessories in this collection.
Finishing a Pillow using my Prairie Coneflower chatelaine
This video shows the use of several of the accessories on my Prairie Coneflower Chatelaine. Use them while they are on the chatelaine. Speed up your work by keeping important tools close at hand.
