The Nautique Pocket Scissor Stand & Pinkeep Kit

Many of you will have seen something like this before – but this is different. This time I am offering a kit to make your own version of the Nautique. You can stitch the little boat and other details in a day and the making up is very simple. The bobbins are painted by yours truly with dusty blue chalk paint and distressed a little with fine sandpaper, making each a little different. I have left the matt finish as this is my preference, but you could personalise with a little wax polish or matt varnish.

Each boxed kit includes a hand-painted bobbin, a chart of the sailing ships and compass, unbleached eyelet linen band, a gold-plated needle, pre-sorted threads, faux ivory rosebud ruler, two little bone fish counters, a shell button, making up instructions and a pair of chatelaine scissors.

Completed your Nautique will stand 4 .5 x 2in (11.5 x 5cm) tall.

Originally the idea for this treasure occurred when I bought a mixed lot at auction, including little fish counters. I completed some of these for you, but eventually ran short of the lovely antique wooden bobbins. Now I have found a source of very good new wooden bobbins and I am having fun painting and distressing these myself. I do enjoy making idiosyncratic needlework accessories – and scissor stands are a great personal favourite.

The rosebud ruler is hand crafted from recycled piano keys and I continue to hunt down the dear little fish counters at auctions and anywhere I can.