Love Gains: A Quaker Sampler – PDF Pattern

€10,00

height: 221 crosses
width: 185 crosses
total crosses: 12640
thread estimate: On average you can stitch approximately 1800 crosses with an 8 yard (7.3 metres) skein of 6-stranded floss, when working with 2 pulled strands over 2 on 32 count linen (or 16 count aida. This means that this pattern requires just over 7 skeins. Working with one pulled strand gives a beautiful, slightly folkier look and requires only half the floss. All medallions are in full crosses and the text is stitched over one – as often seen on Quaker samplers.

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Description

This listing is for a digital PDF file. Immediately after purchase you can download your file, in either “letter” paper format (the Americas) or A4 (rest of the world).

This sampler is not a reproduction sampler – I like to see it more as an homage to the young girl who stitched these original medallions, and who died much too young. She left both a sampler and a life unfinished.

For a long time I struggled with what I wanted to do with this sampler. I did not want to add my own design to this piece, as the stitcher had not finished her work under such tragic circumstances. However, I did want to honour Margaret by sharing some of her story, and allow her work to be enjoyed by more people. When I came across William Penn’s “Fruits of Solitude” I found a quote that I thought was wonderful for this sampler: “Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the Laurel”. It is a beautiful reminder to let love be a ruling force in a time where (social) media is polarising our respective societies more and more. I would like to think that Margaret might have herself read the Fruits of Solitude and would have come across this passage.

This sampler is 185 crosses wide and 221 crosses high. Worked over two threads on 32 count linen it would measure approximately 11 5/8” by 13 7/8” (29. 5 by 35cm). All of the medallions are worked over two threads and the text is stitched over one.

This design has a total of 12640 crosses. On average, you can work approximately 1800 crosses with an 8 yard skein, when working with 2 pulled strands of floss.

Although the original design is completely monochrome, you are free to stitch this pattern with any or all of the colours you wish. I have recently started using Leo & Roxy Yarn Co. floss for many of my designs, and I thoroughly enjoy stitching with this hand overdyed floss.

My favourite black is “Chalkboard”. You can purchase all of the Leo & Roxy floss exclusively through the Canadian shop www.evertote.com

The pattern has been split over 9 pages. After the 1st page you will notice a 3-cross wide greyed out border: this area is an overlap from the previous page, which will make it easier to find your way on the next page.