M. Bell 1856, A Quaker Fancy – PDF Pattern

I recently purchased a small alphabet sampler stitched in 1856 by a girl named M. Bell. The sampler features a series of alphabets, of which the first two are identical to those found on Quaker samplers from the 18th- and 19th centuries. We’ll probably never know who M. Bell was, and whether she was a Quaker girl, as too few clues were left behind on this sampler. However, her stitching inspired me to create a matching medallion sampler. 

The first alphabet sampler is a faithful reproduction of M. Bell’s original design. The 2nd medallion sampler is a design I created with medallions and other elements in the style of Quaker samplers. You can stitch the two samplers separately or together on the same piece of fabric. Size information for each chart can be found in the details below.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

Each pattern has a height of 165 crosses and a width of 112. The alphabet chart has a total of 4552 crosses. The medallion chart has a total of 5856 crosses.

Below is an estimated size guide for each stitched-up chart on popular linen / aida fabrics. It also gives a floss amount, calculated for 6-stranded floss skeins of 8 metres. Please be aware that most hand-dyed floss brands have a length of 8 yards (7.3 metres). Multiply recommended skeins by 1.1

14-count aida / 28-count linen: 11 ⅞” x 8” (30 x 20.5) – chart 1: 3 skeins (2 strands) chart 2: 4 skeins
16-count aida / 32-count linen: 10 ⅜” x  7” (26 x 18cm) – chart 1: 3 skeins (2 strands) chart 2: 3 skeins
18-count aida / 36-count linen: 9 ⅛” x 6 ⅛” (23.5 x 16) – chart 1: 2 skeins (2 strands) chart 2: 3 skeins
20-count aida / 36-count linen: 8 ⅛” x 5 ⅝” (21 x 14cm) – chart 1: 2 skeins (2 strands) chart 2: 3 skeins
46-count linen: 7 ⅛” x 5” (18 x 12.5cm) – chart 1: 1 skeins (1 strand) chart 2: 2 skeins
56-count linen:6” x 4” (15 x 10cm) – chart 1: 1 skeins (1 strand) chart 2: 1 skeins

Both designs are split over four pages. After the first pattern page, you will see greyed-out areas of three crosses, high or wide. This indicates an overlap from the previous page and will help you to find where you left off on the previous page.

The alphabet chart has a gothic letter M, stitched over one thread of linen. On the following page, the M has been reproduced in a larger format for ease of reading. Alternatively, this spot could be left blank, or the slanted M from the last alphabet could be used instead, so you’ll be fully working over 2.