Yesterday I visited the large weekly car boot sale in York and discovered this charming sampler. It is unfortunately not dated, but I would guess that it is from the 1st half of the 19th century. The colours also look natural, opposed to later 19th century chemically dyed threads.
It will be the very first reproduction sampler that I want to chart, as close to the original as possible. You might remember my Sarah Storrs Quaker sampler, which was partly based on an antique sampler. That one however was using elements from an exisisting sampler. This one will be as you see it in the photos here!
Counting all the stitches, I’ve noticed that Ann has taken liberties with her crosses and her design. In the little flower pots (see 2nd photo) you will notice that if you look carefully that the top half of the design is uneven and symmetrical, but the lower stitches are even in amount. This would mean that she went over half-crosses. This gives a problem when designing, as we’re now used to having neat crosses over 2 threads charted clearly.
This leads me to a question for you: would you prefer it to be stitched accurately, with clear descriptions as to how to achieve the look, or would you want a chart that includes just plain over two thread crosses (meaning I would have to alter the design slightly)?
As you can see in the third photo, Ann signed her work using capital letters stitched over two threads, but the lower alphabet is all stitched in more detail over 1 thread. This should be simple enough to chart, and I will keep it as it is. On either side of “Aged 12 Years” you might notice what I think are either dogs or (English) lions. This will prove to be a tricky one to count as it’s one over one, in the same colour as the linen!
Would love to read your feedback below on this sampler and / or my question!
7 comments
Personally if I was charting an original, and wanting to keep it true to the sampler. There would be only one way.
Fascinating. Unfortunately due to poor eyesight, I’m no longer able to do such fine work, but if I were, would be happy for you to alter the design.
Good morning, Jacob – I’ve stitched reproduction samplers where the designer was faithful to the original and I find them interesting and challenging to stitch in a good way! If it were me, I would start off attempting to chart the sampler as it was originally stitched; if you find that overwhelmingly difficult, then I would say simplify it by charting it as tho’ it were completely stitched over 2. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. And remember that the original colors were probably brighter than they now appear so don’t be afraid to change the colors!
Hi Jacob,
Charting this sampler in it’s original form would be my preference, it looks quite primitive and charming.
It will take some time to chart, but worth it. As for the colours, you might like to look at the back of the sampler to see the original colours, I always do this with my samplers when I re-frame them on acid free board. Good luck, I will follow your progress.
I say chart it in the usual over two. It will be easier to chart and to sew. And, no one will be able to tell the difference between the reproduction and the sampler. Doing it like the original is a lot of effort for not that big of a difference in the final product.
Hi !
I do reproductions of antique samplers also, and have encountered similar problems… like the time I found a sampler from the US that had been stitched over three threads……. but not all the sampler was, so there was no way I could align it perfectly.
In re-charting you can take a little artistic liberty, especially if you a doing a replica of a child’ s sampler that has mistakes….
I might just do this and take quite a bit of freedom, but also include a ‘detail’ pattern if people choose to stitch it as it was. I quite like the not-so-stricktness of stitching inbetween crosses! :D. The 3 by 2 crosses are beautiful I think, and give work a nice stretched look – where was this embroidery from, if I may ask?