How many of you take sewing when you go out? I used to always have a "roadie bag" by the front door in case I suddenly had to meet someone or take them to the hospital. Often my portable sewing wasn't that glamorous. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that these days, I use a plastic zip-loc bag to carry my hexies or other hand sewing.
I intended to write about etuis today but I thought I would go down a few rabbit holes.
An ETUI is a portable sewing case that held miniature sewing tools and maybe a few other things like a pen or a knife. The etui is French meaning "to hold" or "to keep". According to the Victoria and Albert Museum , the etuis were worn. The antique ones I've seen sell for thousands of dollars and often were made of silver, ivory, bone, enamel, gold and other items. They originated in the 17th century in Europe and were extremely decorative.
Some of you might be asking about the hussifs (or housewives) I wrote about a while ago (here). The hussifs were usually made of fabric or leather and were much more utilatarian than the etuis. The hussifs also originated later.
And if all that isn't enough, there is the chatelaine...
It was worn around the waist and held various things:
Yes, the chatelaine could have the etui hung from it but also a variety of other tools and necessities (see here). I can't imagine the noise these things made when a woman was walking...
In the early 20th century, there were many ads for a silk ribbon chatelaine that possibly looked like this:
The chatelaine seemed to have become popular again in the 1930s. These were pins and also decorative. I can't say whether they were meant to be used as a sewing tool or not. It seems like it was more for charms than sewing tools...
There are some sewists that make themselves chatelaines now. One video I saw the crafter repurposed old jewelry to make hers.
Do you have a chatelaine? Would you use one?
Have a great day!
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