Roger!
You have all been very patient and at this stage I have caressed and played with Roger, discovering every hidden crevice. I need to set him down to cool off for a little while.
I even used the camera to photograph him from every angle! 
You, remember I found him in Carrickfergus the other week. As we ambled along I found this tree in Shaftsbury Park.
And so to Roger.
Small and unassuming, he holds many secrets!
Well, as Magpie hinted, all my recent gadgets have boys names. Do you know what it is yet?
Not very big is he? No he is not a Russian doll.
The first of his secrets.
For an idea of Roger’s age, look how thick the threads are.
And finally…
A tiny sewing kit with needles thread and thimble.
I am a needle woman afterall!
steph said,
July 28, 2009 at 8:48 am
I think Roger had been waiting to be found by you
Nick said,
July 28, 2009 at 9:27 am
I’ve never seen anything like that before, it’s incredibly ingenious. And of course very handy for an emergency darn! Where exactly did he come from? Was he born in the UK or elsewhere?
Rhyleysgranny said,
July 28, 2009 at 9:53 am
Well I am glad I had to scroll back to see what was going on. (Apologies for my poor attendance) The suspense would have killed me. All those sleepless nights waiting to meet Roger
He is glorious. A work of art. I would have snapped him up too. Just shows to go you, you don’t have to be large noisy and obvious to be useful. 
Mind you don’t rub the pattern off him.
Kate said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:06 am
That is a charming sewing kit - very dinkie…
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:25 am
@Steph - Serendipity I think!
@Nick - Alas, I do not know Roger’s pedigree.
@Rhyleysgranny - Once I saw Roger, my heart was lost and I had to have him!
@Kate - Perhaps now I have found a new hobby!
Nancy said,
July 28, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Grannymar,
When my MIL came to America from Germany as a young woman, she had a tiny sewing kit very much like yours. I saw it many times over the years in her home.
I don’t know what ever became of it but assume her
daughter,my husband’s sister,had it. What my MIL gave me was a wicker sewing kit with all needles and threads and thimbles in it. I still have that and use it all the time for quick repairs.
My MIL loved to darn things and used that thick yarn you show in the picture. When my husband was a young boy the neighbors thought he was handicapped because he limped to school in the socks that his Mother had darned and they had giant lumps in them. He claims he could hardly get his shoes on over the darn… To this day he is fussy about his footwear.
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Nancy,
there are some lovely antique needle cases available in sterling silver. They come with a chain to be worn as a pendent.
I remember learning to darn socks, but like your MIL my stitching was very inferior back then and the darned socks most uncomfortable to wear.
wisewebwoman said,
July 28, 2009 at 3:54 pm
is it wood or brass, GM? Oh I do so crave it. Anything to do with needles and needlework. You should have seen me this morning when my old couch was being taken out of here. My favourite lost cable needle bounced out of it and I was so excited as if it were real gold! LOL.
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 4:10 pm
WWW,
It is not wooden but some kind of metal. Not an expensive one and there is no stamp. It looks the colour of brass but is very, very thin and old. The pattern is etched on the outside and worn from use. I would love to know the stories behind the hands that used it in days of yore.
Geri Atric said,
July 28, 2009 at 4:17 pm
A very tactile shape, your Roger. I thought at first he was a bullet(!), until you started to disect him. Very nice GM. and useful too. Interesting that you give your gadgets boys names. I do it with plants. Have just moved Fred off the kitchen table and put him in the bedroom..
Rumuuser said,
July 28, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Phew! What a let down after all that suspense. Worth it though.
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@Geri - When I first saw Roger just for an instant I thought it was a bullet, but then I remembered seeing sewing kits years ago and asked a few questions.
@Ramana - What did you expect? The very kind gentleman that I bought it from was called Roger and that is how my Roger got his name.
Darlene said,
July 28, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I have a similar travel sewing kit my daughter gave me. Mine is not as ornate as Roger, but contains the same items.
Magpie11 said,
July 28, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Not a silver bullet then?
There’s a song called needle cases and a book..
Old-time tools and toys of needlework
By Gertrude Whiting
I cannot find a full rendition of the song on line but here is a link to the words; http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getfolk.php?id=401
I have a version on Vinyl somewhere.
BTW Lady magpie has a few of these items I believe..they can be costly. some would be made to hang from a chatelaine I seem to recall.
I too learned to darn socks but would never have been allowed to do lumpy darns. Slapped hands and wrists.
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 6:47 pm
@Darlene - I have read about them before but never until last week had on in my hands.
@Magpie Your mind must be like an Aladdin’s cave, you are able to pull out information on every topic I mention! I love it. I came across a few chatelaines here when looking for information on the needle cases.
Conrad said,
July 28, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Very interesting way to generate a conversation thread! It thimble-izes the impatience and prurience woven into the fabric of our times that we expected something else, even though that was knot your intent. However, a woman does have need(le)s! I hope it isn’t un-seamly to say.
Sew, what’s next?
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Darn you Conrad!
I am gathering cords and threads for stranding, knitting and knotting with a twist into my next crazy hand sewn tapestry of a post!
Maz said,
July 28, 2009 at 9:49 pm
That’s a great find, a perfect addition to your craft kit
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Maz,
I thought you might enjoy seeing it.
Magpie11 said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:01 pm
No doubt you’ll find something I’ve never heard of… I was like a rigid sponge as a child. Useless facts went in but rarely got squeezed out.
I also learned how to find things out… I can probably tell you how to make various substances of a …err…pyrotechnic nature just from reading an early edition of Britannica in the school library and some from basic principles of chemistry…. It can be a disadvantage in some areas…..
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Magpie,
I can but try!
Baino said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Very cute. I’m sending over my holy socks
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Baino,
Please, please, please don’t! Darning is about the only needle craft I am not good at.
Conrad said,
July 28, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Didn’t stop you from darning me!
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Conrad,
I think I would be stump stitched if I tried!
Now, I am off to dream up my contribution for the Consortium on Friday!
Kirk M said,
July 29, 2009 at 1:21 am
Oh good heavens who would have known. And now all the clever bits have already been said in the previous comments. Now all I can say is I want one for my wife. She would love something like this to add to her collection.
Nice one Grannymar!
bikehikebabe said,
July 29, 2009 at 4:24 am
You are all soooo funny. Conrad loved that & Nancy told it so well. BTW the case was used to push up against the hole in the sock for darning.
The picture of the tree in Shaftsbury Park looks so much like the tree in the Harry Potter movies. It whipped it’s branches around & tried to kill Harry & his friends & flung them all over the place.
bikehikebabe said,
July 29, 2009 at 4:26 am
Not “Conrad loved that.” I meant- Conrad, I loved your comment.
bikehikebabe said,
July 29, 2009 at 5:25 am
Harry Potter- speaking of which… In our Scottish Country Dancing group there’s a pretty woman ( She’s certified to teach.) who has a son named Harry & is Harry Potter’s age & looks exactly like Harry Potter. He had round glasses but got square ones because he was teased so much.
Grannymar said,
July 29, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Kirk M - In times past when young ladies whiled away their days with needlework these interesting little gifts were quite common. Dedicated needlewomen are beginning to collect them these days.
@bhb - I thought the branches looked like waving arms on that tree. Living Art!
Brighid said,
July 29, 2009 at 9:01 am
Darn if I could ever learn to darn. I can whip up a suit, prom dress, mend jeans, make chinks, quilt, knit, crochet, etc. But darning always ended in a mess. Roger looks like a gem, what a terrific find.
Grannymar said,
July 29, 2009 at 9:09 am
Brighid,
Are you my twin?