A Sampler Garden – PDF Pattern

This design is a pattern I created for the Japanese magazine Stitch Idees. I took inspiration from an early 19th-century sampler I bought years ago. The sampler has beautiful faded blue-green shades and some ochre. On it were many floral motifs, but also some birds and a stag in a garden. The birds at the top of this sampler are based on those found on the sampler.

I only borrowed the birds colour pallette from this sampler and placed it in a geometric design you would never see on a Dutch sampler.

I love diamond motifs, as seen on Norfolk samplers, and I wanted to use that shape to build my design. The floral motifs in the corners of this design are inspired by Scandinavian embroidery.

On the last page of this booklet you can see what the original sampler that formed the basis of this design looked like.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

On the 2nd page of the pattern, you’ll notice a grey area (3 crosses wide) indicating an overlap with the previous page to make it easier for you to continue stitching.

This design measures 201 crosses in width and height. Please see the chart on the next page for size- and floss estimates. Floss estimates are based on working with two pulled strands (14 – 18-count aida or 28 – 36-count linen) or 1 strand (20-count aida / 40-count linen and higher).  These are only suggestions and you are free to stitch with as many or little strands as you wish.

The key below gives both Roxy Floss Co. colours (available through www.evertote.ca) and DMC alternatives, as well as the amounts required. The last two columns have four numbers linked to the symbol key. For instance, when working on 28-count linen, you will need 3 skeins of Statuesque, 6 of Great Lakes, 2 of Ruddy Duck, and 3 of Flint.