Samplers : The Silver Needle, Fine Needlecraft Materials

Samplers
Over the years we've had wonderful samplers in the shop! (As you will soon see, we use that term loosely!) All kinds of sizes and types, numerous designers, available as either books and kits... there are literally thousands to choose from! Since we moved the shop, and we feel like we have so much more room for things, I picked up a few that we hadn't had before. We thought a Sampler Page would be a good idea... a place to begin to show our collection!
Pieces of My Heart - A Tribute to Vintage Lace from Cross 'N Patch Holy Cow! This book is amazing! At first glance, you think Emie Bishop has simply stitched the same sampler in two different colors on the front and back cover. Wellllllll... open this ring-bound book to get lost in ways to stitch vintage laces into your samplers -- and even stitch some of your own!!! Oh my gosh, she's taking bits of antique laces, cutting away the linen in your sampler, and ATTACHING that piece of lace right into your needlework! (Think about Family heirlooms here! Lace from Grandma's wedding dress sewn into a baby or bridal sampler...!) She takes pieces of lace, stabilizes them, and makes them into scissor fobs. She shows you how to attach laces to your linen -- then, cut and remove the un-necessary threads behind the lace... so it keeps its shape and becomes your stitched row! Along with all the stitch diagrams, there are lots of really good photographs to show you what you can do! If you like anything vintage, sampler-related, appreciate lace and the handwork of old.. GET THIS BOOK! It is AWESOME!!!!!!!! 30 Pages packed full of projects, charts, pics and Temptation!
Eye on the Sparrow from Silver Creek Samplers Oh this little piece has captured my heart! A small chart offered by Silver Creek Samplers, this has been available for a while, but we finally received our finished shop model back... and I don't want to take it back to the shop! 'DO NOT WORRY' it warns... 'birds do not sow or reap, yet the Lord God feeds them. Lets not go political here... just take comfort in the faith part! Its a lovely little design, and our 3 x 4-1/2 stitched piece is on 28ct Lugana over one, stuffed with lizard litter and trimmed with Crescent Colour's new cotton chenille trim! A trifle of stitched comfort!
Quaker Christmas II - Songs of the Season from ByGone Stitches Oh... here's a Christmas Present to Yourself! This is an incredible collection of Quaker-inspired motifs scattered about -- but look closely -- and find all the songs! Names of Christmas Carols are all over in this -- spelled and STITCHED with more motifs! Can you Three Ships a Sailing? We Three Kings? Little Drummer Boy? By Gone Stitches adds a third sampler to her collection -- this one is just as large and just as commanding as her others. Offered as a chart, it finishes approx 17 x 25 on 28ct... probably too large to drop down the chimney already stitched and framed... so better plan on getting just the chart from Santa! You'll need 23 skeins (115 yards) of Gentle Art's Currant hand-dyed cotton, and 5 skeins (25 yards) of Blue Spruce. CHECK and see if you like those colors... choose others if you want... just get enough thread right from the start for color safety! (Actually, we recommend purchasing an additional 2 skeins of the Currant and 1 of the Spruce.) Just beautiful to behold!
Love Hearts from Rovaris of Italy!What a stunning pair of designs by Rovaris of Italy! Offered in chart format, each heart is simply Cross Stitch in #815 DMC floss. Stitch counts are almost identical -- the stacked trio design is 155 x 144, while the 4 smaller cascading piece is 145 x 134. They don't have names, and I am sure you could work them on most any count -- and choose most any pretty hand-dyed thread you wish. I just think they are sophisticated and very unique for our marketplace, so I delighted in buying them!!!
99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall! from Ink CirclesInk Circles advises us to 'Stitch Responsibly' where this piece is concerned. She had a great time getting into beer tasting and home brewing while she was working on this piece... a stitched piece to celebrate that obnoxious song everyone knows about the bottles on the wall. This beer sampling is kind of fun -- in order to fit them all into a reasonably sized piece, she really had to shrink down the bottles and labels -- but maintaining the integrity of the label was paramount! Along with her chart is a Key to Great Beer listing -- providing the names of the beer and brewery, and location. So... see how many you can guess, or check them off as you stitch them, or as you drink them! Offered as the chart, this finishes approx 10 x 20-1/2 on 28ct. Coded for DMC floss, it'd be a great gameroom or bar decoration! Can't do them all? Just choose some favorites and do a row. Probably not the best thing to stitch as a graduation gift... but a home brewer would love it!!!
Ackworth School Reproduction Samplers EA 1798 and L Haworth 1815 from The Marking Samplar These are two authentic reproductions of samplers stitched by girls who attended the Quaker Ackworth School in Yorkshire, England. Offered in chart format, they are simple cross stitch in DMC floss. What makes them special, however, is that the originals still exist, we can trace the girls who stitched them, and the schools are still open today. Marking Samplar includes a few pages of Ackworth history -- the weekly menu -- the history of the school's opening -- really neat info to read! Just the next best charts to the real samplers!!!
Sewing Clamps from The Heart's ContentOh, these are SO COOL!!! Stitch a tiny pin cushion (about the size of a little round tape measure), assemble it, and mount it to an honest-to-goodness wrought-iron sewing clamp! What a neat way to display a piece of your needlework! In the olden days... these were used to store needles and pins. The included finishing instructions don't offer a way to make the cushion open up -- but if you're a wonderful finisher... maybe you can figure out the way! The bottom edge treatment is simply two rows of Palestrina Knots... just lovely! Offered in complete kit format, your cushion will measure approx 2-1/2 inches in diameter, and 1/2 an inch high, and attaches to the clamp which measures approx 2-1/2 x 5. The clamps are included. Both Sampler Bits and Floral Monogram are stitched on 40ct Muffin hand-dyed linen in DMC flosses, over one thread of linen. Even though the finishing looks challenging, and they're a little pricey, I love the idea for these, love the presentation!
Froth and Bubble II from Long Dog Samplers This is a striking piece... it looks like it's full of specialty stitches... when in fact it is ALL regular cross stitches. The instructions include the entire verse, but only the first half is shown on the needlework -- I think you could actually stitch two lines of verse each time -- and fit all this in... I really like the verse! 'Question not, but live and labor, till yon goal be won. Helping every feeble neighbor, seeking help from none, life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone, kindness in another's trouble, courage in your own.' 150 x 318 Stitch count, this is worked in either Gentle Art Sampler Threads or DMC and would finish approx 11 x 22 on 28ct!
Corsica River Sampler from Queenstown SamplerThis is a fascinating piece by Barbara Hutson. Stitched in only 3 colors of silks, red, blue and black... it's an easy piece to customize some color for your decor. Finishing approx 20 x 26 on 35ct linen, it's quite large, and stuffed FULL of Assisi and Blackwork patterns. Awesome, when you stop and study all the detail in here... I especially enjoyed Barbara's short history lesson about the Corsica River, the significance of some of the animals featured in the bottom row, and the bit of Chesapeake Bay trivia! Blackwork and Assisi are mainly Double Running and Cross... but there are some Eyelets over 4 threads in here, as well as some Long-Arm Cross. Just lovely, this piece is truly stunning! Offered as a chart.
Marlene's Sampler from Romy in Austria I stumbled across this charming piece... not being familiar with the designer... something caught my eye... and here it is! Offered as a chart, the stitch count is 127 square, so your fabric count can dictate finished size. Stitched in overdyeds and DMC floss, we're treated to a very traditional border, urns of lush florals, and two playful squirrels, just dying to get at those butterflies! Just very sweet, it dedicated to Miss Marlene, who turned 13 in 2008! (On 40ct over one... it'd be a mere 3 x 3! On 28ct over 2 it'd be 9 x 9... think Belle Soie Silks...!)
Quaker Seasons of Friendship from Crown & ThistleYou either love these... of they do absolutely nothing for you! If the latter is the case... just scroll to the next thing on my pages! I personally LOVE these Quaker medley pieces... although I doubt that I have the personal patience to actually stitch one!!! The designers tell us this piece hides initials of several friends throughout the design... I look for them... and I can find them! Next, they offer that the design is actually split into 4 different sections -- the seasons -- and in each -- you will find that's friend's initials -- their birthday season!!! Wow... I know baking a cake would be quicker... but I'd love my birthdate being remembered like this!!! Just lovely, offered as a chart, the stitch count for this is 440 x 250, which translates to 27-1/2 x 16 on 32ct over two. On 40ct... you'd use 5 skeins of Crescent's Belle Soie Silk... so get more if you choose a linen larger than 40! Exquisite!
My First Sewing Box and Scissor Fob from The Stitching ParlourA favorite from last year... I thought I'd re-introduce this darling pattern, because the tin it uses is so very limited in availability! This time of year, The Russell Stover Chocolate Company makes pastel-colored tins full of chocolate with their traditional cross-stitched motifs on the top of the tin. Stitching Parlour has taken the seasonal pink, yellow and green tins and charted linings for the empty tin -- once the chocolate has been devoured! This charming cross stitch design matches the decoration on the tins, and with all the different colors of hand-dyed linens available... you can match the interior the your tin's exterior color! Simple cross-stitches, I just thought this was so charming when I saw it! The chase has been to find the tins -- but Valentine candy goes away next Sunday, February 15th... and Easter Candy instantly appears!!! Anyway... FIND your tin... and then agonize over interior linen color! Turns out the Weeks Hand-dyed Sophie's Pink, Banana Popsicle and Scuppernong linen look great with all the Crescent Colours in all the tins!!! Decisions, decisions -- at least you'll have chocolate to eat while thinking that hard!
Sarah Moore from Reflects de SoieA lovely Spot Motif sampler measuring 405 x 405 stitches, this is worked entirely in cross stitch with DMC floss or silks in browns, raspberries and rich greens. The chart is clear... it's just very lightly printed on its paper, and she has the entire piece broken up onto 8 x 11-1/2 inch sheets of paper, printed on both sides! Kind of a graphing nightmare! So... a bit of an organizational mess... the finished piece is most likely stunning!!! Offered as the chart. Visit our Special Occasions page to see more from this designer.
Quaker Turtles from With My Needle Oh my gosh... these are the CUTEST little things!!!!! Ellen Chester has designed a most endearing little family of turtles... stitched on both their tops and bottoms... and each is a tiny needlework tool case!!! The Needlebook turtle's shell (stitched area is 2 x 2) opens (button closure) to reveal wool needlepages inside. The Pocket Turtle is large enough for a thimble, or certainly a threader, and the Pin Cushion is simply too cute to stick with pins! Then, there's the baby fob... it's stitching measures only 1/2 an inch.. Everything is offered in one chart, complete with stitching placement on the linen, and finishing instructions. It calls for 32ct Olive Belfast, everything is stitched over one thread, uses Weeks Juniper Perle Cotton, floss and wool felt, so everything matches. Just darling, this is such a fun way to 'do' Quaker, and the turtles are precious! The darling basket is from Olde Colonial. It measures approx 2 x 4 x 7... which is lined in the same fabric as the turtle insides... and features a nice, stable wooden bottom. So perfect to store your new Quaker Turtles! Make sure to see the rest of Ellen's new things, too!
Quaker Virtues from ByGone StitchesAnother fantastic creation by Bygone Stitches, who brought us Quaker Christmas, this is even more intricate in Quaker motifs and flavor than her last! Hidden in the 25 x 20 inch sampler -- if stitched on 32ct -- are the 5 Quaker 'Rules for Life.' The pattern includes history and explanations of the 5 rules, so facinating to read! The entire piece is stitched in only two colors of Crescent Colours overdyed -- 38 skeins of Old Blue Jeans and 3 of Wisconsin Woods!!! They encourage you to choose other colors if you want -- they won't detract from the charm of the original piece. So... put on your 'patience cap' and get busy on this one! It's breathtaking! (Remember that you can pull out all the individual motifs for other things... so this sampler is an endless encyclopedia of designs!!!)
A Quaker Christmas from ByGone Stitches Offered by ByGone Stitches, we are treated to this decidedly intricate Quaker-inspired spot motif sampler... with a bit of Christmas tossed in! Available in chart format, the whole piece measures approx 20 x 13 on 32ct, and is worked in only three colors of overdyed threads. Now... study this a bit. The chart is very clearly done... you'll probably want to highlight the three different colors with highlighters. Next... realize that this has potential to be a family sampler... by simply changing the JOY, PEACE, and NOEL words and various scattered letters to those that have significance in your family. It doesn't have to be 'Christmas' if that's not a goal in your decorating scheme, or stitching schedule! The design is awesome -- such great balance and symmetry -- especially for a spot-motif piece -- it's just elegant! As is, it calls for 20 skeins of Crescent's Balsam Fir, 2 skeins of Cupid and 1 of Ye Old Gold. Look at your decor, choosing your favorite green, a touch of red and gold... and order enough thread at the onset to finish this! All crosses, offered as the chart... this is stunning!
Acorns Away from Sampler Cove Wow... this is a very traditional 18th Century English-inspired piece from a design company in Thailand! All the acorn borders are stitched using Alternating Back Stitch, Double Running, Four Sided, Queen, Smyrnas, Eyelets and Rice Stitches -- all the traditional stitches you'd expect to see in a sampler like this. Stitched in 8 solid colors of silks -- one light and dark shade each of green, gold, orange and brown -- think about using some of the new Crescent Colours Belle Soie silks, or some overdyed flosses to soften the motifs a little. A beginner-level piece... if you really like this look, check out more involved Nostalgic Needle, Needles Prayse and Periwinkle Promises pages we offer. Acorns Away gives you their feel, with lovely lines, and an easy color and stitch palette! Offered as a chart, this finishes approx 7 x 15 on 35ct!
A Most Noble Pursuit Collaboration Sampler from a Group on Ten Designers Quite a special endeavor... details in this are wonderful... colors are rich and deep. (If you want to change that red dress in the 7th block... just DO it... you're allowed to!) Very nicely done... quite the noble pursuit of that group of 10 designers friends... you get to enjoy the fruits of their friendship! The talents of 10 companies, this is a limited edition, and is EXQUISITE! Look at the blocks, and see if you can recognize who did which... they are so pretty... and the colors of rusts, browns, teals, taupes and greens... just breathtaking! Contributing designers are: Brightneedle, Carriage House Samplings, Hands to Work, La D Da, Patricia Ann Designs, Praiseworthy Stitches, Primitave Traditions, A Stitch and a Prayer, With My Needle and The Workbasket. Each of the 10 companies has designed a block that can be stitched together or individually. Packaged as the set of 10 charts, the total stitch count comes to 408 x 242, quite an impressive piece! *We've received information about the Noble Pursuit Silk Pack! You'll be getting 297 different strands of luscious Needlepoint, Inc Silk, all wrapped around a color card! The silk set will run $65.00.* The silks work beautifully on any 32 to 36ct linen. If you don't think you'd be able to get through the whole thing... just pick a few favorite squares and stitch those! (Each block would be approx 6 x 9 if you worked it individually on a 28ct... just to give you an idea. On a 36ct... each block will measure approx 4-1/2 x 7.) Such a pretty piece, this is being made available to the shops attending the trade show. We'll bring ours home, and begin shipping them out the second week of February. Reserve just the pattern, and decide on fabric and threads later, or jump in... and get on the list for everything now! (WHY aren't there at least 8 more stitching hours in each day???!)
Deftly Wrought & Quaker Meetinghouse from Midsummer Night Designs Two new sampler designs by a new designer -- Midsummer Night Designs. Offered as charts, Deftly Wrought is my personal favorite... but the Quaker one is awfully cool too! Deftly Wrought features four tiny samplers stitched over one thread above the verse that every needleworker relates to! 'With a silken thread so fine, This is how I spend my time, needle poised, fabric taut, Stitching samplers Deftly wrought.' I just love it! Finishing approx 8 x 9 on 28ct, it's stitched entirely in DMC flosses. Quaker Meetinghouse is worked in 4 different Crescent Colours overdyed flosses, (Desert Mesquite, Tartan Plaid, Bamboo and Apple Fritter) so all those Quaker-inspired coverlet patterns, stitched in Tartan Plaid, look a bit faded and full of depth. Quaker Meetinghouse finishes approx 8 x 12 on 28ct. Two definites to add to your stitching stash, these are beautiful designs, well done!
A Love Song from Fouroaks Designs A dynamic companion to Rhapsody in Blue, Love Song is an exquisite mono-chromatic symphony in grace and balance! Dedicated to Fouroaks' friend -- With My Needle -- this piece features lovely sampler motifs and alphabets scattered amidst the most vibrant and flowing border of hearts and doves. I see gardens with fountains, and the birds drinking from those fountains! Stitched on 28ct, this finishes am impressive 20 x 20... and is worked entirely in one color. The pattern suggests silk, or DMC floss in #498. Choose something that speaks to you -- you'll need at least 45 yards of thread. Or think about doing the border in an overdyed, like we suggested for Rhapsody in Blue. Just so pretty, so flowing, so elegant... it's stitched entirely in cross stitches, and will definitely enhance your walls beautifully!!! Offered as the chart.
Ring O' Roses from Papillon Creations Wow... this is an AWESOME piece! By Papillon Creations, this sampler takes its inspiration from the motifs often seen on wonderful old Quaker samplers. The main design -- worked entirely in cross stitch, with 8 different shades of overdyeds -- can be framed as the octagonal (20 x 20, stitched on 28ct) sampler, or finished into a pocket to hold your needlework necessities!!! (Finer linen gives you smaller accessory pieces!) Complete charts and finishing instructions are included for a matching needlebook, tuffet pin cushion -- which is a Biscornu shape -- and scissor fob. Instructions are also here for making Dorset Pinwheel Buttons, buttonholed rings and detached buttonhole bars, that appear in the pocket and needlebook. (The Kelmscott mother-of-pearl thread rings will make pretty bases for these.) BEAUTIFUL motifs of bunnies, birds, flowers and urns, the Gentle Art colors used are Briar Rose, Berry Cobbler, Old Blue Paint, Blueberry, Grape Leaf, Blue Spruce, Cidermill Brown, and Flax. We don't usually see so many soft colors in a Quaker-type piece, so this is an extra treat! Lovely, Lovely... there are so many things you can do with this pattern... it's a definite 'Have-to-Have!'
Rhapsody in Blue from Fouroaks Designs Elegant and charming... this exquisite piece is a study in monochromatic (all one color) design. Offered as a chart, this is stitched on any linen of your choice... and although stitched entirely in blue silk.. it can be stitched in your favorite colors, as well. (Think of overdyed colors for the border and another for the inside...) Finishing approx 18 x 18 on 28ct -- a commanding size on your dining room wall -- this piece is full of really striking sampler motifs and border patterns. Begin to look closely, and notice that at first glance it appears to be symmetric, but then look closer and realize all the different patterns and motifs in there! Very well balanced, tasteful, and classic! (We're borrowing the Flower & Vine Sampler to bring to the Davenport CATS show in a few weeks... the model arrived in the shop today... and it's 10 TIMES as pretty as the pic shows! Tons of Queen Stitches, over one teeny-weeny animals, and lots of specialty stitch details... ) Two really lovely designs you need!!!
1890 House Sampler from Chessie & Me Chessie & Me has a wonderful collection of sampler designs -- each featuring a delightful array of one-over-one details, and lots of special stitches applied to areas of their designs to add texture and design interest. Lots of bricks and satins for parts of houses, lots of lazy daisy and chain stitches for plants, lots of scotch-type stitches for windows and shingles... and always, always, Chessie the Cat in everything!! Lots of Patriotic and period houses... great overdyed colors of reds, denims, wines, lavenders, brushed golds and soft greens... click the pic to be treated to several of Silver Needle's favorites! Featured here is the 1890 House Sampler. Finishing approx 6 x 7 on 32ct linen, it's stuffed full of Shaker White, Chamomile, Brethren Blue and Cinnamon overdyeds, along with Eyelets, Elongated Smrynas, and one-over-one detail. Enjoy the browsing!
Folk Art Hornbook from Hillside Samplings The 2005 annual special release kit by Hillside and Liberty Hill has arrived! Each year, we are treated to some sort of handpainted box, palette or this year, a hornbook, by Liberty Hill that features a matching cross-stitch sampler piece by Hillside to go with it! The 2005 Hornbook is a 5 x 6 wooden 'paddle' featuring a handpainted pastoral scene on one side... and a blank back. The Hillside Samplings design that is stitched on 32ct Lambswool is worked in Black Crow Sampler Threads. It's full of special stitches, and when finished... fits onto the back of the hornbook. Reminiscent of sampler schools, hornbooks were used as textbooks, if you will. They stored written information in a handy format for young students. Each painted 'paddle' is signed and numbered by the artist! The complete kit contains the hornbook, chart, linen, threads, and finishing instructions.
My Stitching Treasures from Jeannette Douglas Designs What a beautiful needlework piece! Definitely an heirloom... you NEED this! Presented in a four-color folder, this design is charted and diagrammed on 14 pages. It's stuffed FULL of charm, color and cool special stitches!!! Stitched in antiqued and overdyed shades of mauve, lavender, dusty blues, golds and soft greens, the silks used include Soie 'd Alger, Glorianna overdyeds, Splendor, Needlepoint Inc silks, and Silk 'n Colors. all are included in the silk pack offered. The embellishments include glass seed beads (not in charm pack) along with quite an impressive collection of sterling silver charms from Charland, some hand-painted buttons and a few other charms... that look pretty intriguing from our pics! Finishing approx 8 x 10-1/2, it's presented in a custom Birdseye Maple Dowry Box from Olde Colonial Designs, which measures approx 11 x 14. So elegant! Featured stitches include variations of Leaf, Rhodes, Hungarian, Florentine, Queen, Van Dyke, lots of Darnings, Milanese...on and on! Just gorgeous, we can't wait for a finished shop model!!! Stitched on 32ct linen, any number of shades will work...Lambswool, Flax, Summer Khaki, the Country French colors... choose your favorite! This is just stunning!
Flower & Vine from Fouroaks Designs We never see samplers stitched on black linen... I think the stitcher has gone crazy before the average project has been finished! Flower and Vine is a striking piece stitched with Sampler Threads on 32ct Black Belfast Linen. Definitely not for the weak-of-sight (we can sell you a really great magnifying lamp if you need one!!!), this piece is very traditional in design, and absolutely gorgeous on that dark background. Finishing approx 8 x 12, the pattern is loaded with special stitches -- Queens, Rhodes, Rice, Satins, Brick, Algerian Eyes, Smrynas, and Long Arms -- which really pop out on that black. A bit of one-over-one stitching in the bird motifs just adds such a touch! Available as a chart... we have several different counts of black fabric, so let us know a preference -- 25, 28 or 32!

Mini Mandala Gardens from Chatelaine Designs We're thrilled to introduce three miniature versions of the huge, utterly gorgeous Mandala Gardens designed by Martina Weber! You'll remember the big ones... 14-ish inches of solid and intricate stitching??? These three charts are 6 x 6 miniature versions -- perfect for all of us who know we'd never finish the bigger ones!!! Full of rich, gorgeous blues, purples and golds... lots of glass beads... glistening metallics... the actual stitched pieces are breathtaking! All three charts are available in this pack... Yeah!!! click the pics to see lots more designs, too.

Rulers and Accoutrements from Milady's Needle This is a really neat set of designs that features a cross-stitched lucite ruler, a matching scissor case, needlebook and scissor fob. Available as individual chart packs with the rulers separate, I think these are charming!!! Since every stitcher's bag and every desk in America (and overseas!) needs a ruler... choose all four projects, or just that ever-functional ruler! Offered are a strawberry set and an acorn set of designs. Stitched on 40ct linen in pretty reds, rusts, brown and green overdyeds, the acorn caps are stitched with a variation of a Rhodes stitch so they are raised and textured a bit for added interest. The ruler is a lucite 12-inch piece with a removable back to make it easy to insert your needlework. You must stitch the designs on 40ct linen to be able to fit into the rulers, and it is suggested for the rest of the pieces, just so gauge will match. (It is an option to stitch the cases and fob on something larger, if you need to!) Very nicely done! (Can you tell that I'm taken with those rulers??? What a different gift to present to someone!)
Plymouth Sampler from Brenda Keyes of The Sampler Company A commanding design full of rich browns, grey-blues, rust, gold and sage greens... the designer has dedicated this piece to the innocent victims of September 11th. "The theme of the design -- a harbor scene, is of pilgrims leaving England for America and a new life. Although an ocean apart, both nations have throughout the centuries contined to have strong links, a mutual respect, and a feeling of togetherness." Stitched over two threads on 32ct, it finishes approx 8 x 16. Although no special stitches are charted in the design, the package includes eight specialty stitch diagrams along with a short history of samplers and a list of 54 sampler motifs, along with their meanings. Available as a chart. Click the image at right to go to our new Sampler Company page and see lots more of her neat designs!
Keep Me Sampler from Moira Blackburn "Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings," is the verse on this beautiful sampler piece! Measuring approx 17 x 17 on 28 ct linen, it's stitched in Weeks Dye Works overdyed flosses and DMCs of Hazerlnut, Cadet, Thistle, Whiskey, Bark... touches of Blue Spruce and Lilac... lots of great colors. I love the border and all the lacy trees. Something about this piece is just enchanting... I don't know if it's the balance, colors or verse... but it's really a neat piece!
Ornamental Garden Sampler from Periwinkle Promises Quite a nice selection of advanced samplers... offered in complete kits, and sometimes charts. Tons of stitches, great colors and motifs... a lot of these feature a hemstitched border, before being mounted onto linen for framing. Check out the little Clover Cutter cases, too. Thy're Best Sellers at The Silver Needle! Ornamental Garden, at right, is a 4 x 12-inch piece, stitched on 29ct Natural Glenshee Linen... this sampler features two wide bands of delicate whitework, along with one band of double running... and lots of special stitches... all worked with raspberry, creme and moss green silks! I always like paging through these kind of book-instructions... just makes my fingers itch! Large, clear diagrams... this, again, is available as a chart or kit of linen, silks and chart.
Cherished Workes from With My Needle A needlework set consisting of a needle book, sewing case, and thread palette, this is just charming! Very complete and clear instructions, there are 15 pages of them... stitch diagrams, charts, and finishing diagrams and pictures. Stitched on 32ct linen in lots of overdyeds, I especially like the inset on the wooden thread palette! Something very neat, useful, and not seen everywhere... the palette would make a neat gift all by itself! The closed sewing case measures approx 6 x 8 inches, the needle book 2 x 2-ish, and the palette 4-1/2 x 6. You will need a fat quarter of linen for the entire project -- tons of color choices would work! Wooden Thread Palette This is a beautifully finished piece of wood, shaped into an oval thread palette to display pretty threads! A classy addition to a needlework display, especially if you fill it with cool threads, you can even mount a small design into the center. With My Needle has one design idea, shown above. Just a nice, unusual stitcher gift, each measures approx 4-1/2 x 6 inches.
Acorn Sampler Sewing Case from With My Needle This is a wonderful set of sewing accessories, all stitched on Toasted Almond 32 linen in rich Hazelnut, Mulberry, Cognac, Golds and Cidermill brown overdyeds. Included in the set of instructions is the sewing case, a little "mattress" cushion, a needlebook and scissor weight. All of it coordinates, and there are wonderful instructions for assembling all of it! The actual design is full of golden acorns and little squirrels. Parts are done over one thread, most is not. There is also an option for you to stitch it as a framed sampler, if you'd rather! It's just so charming... I hope our pics show you how cute it really is! So hard to describe well... this is a definite 'have to have' for your collection! Linen cuts are for the sewing set (18 x 27 and 5 x 7), or the sampler only (9x16).
The January Sampler from The Needle's Prayse Stitched in 10 shades of silk and touches of gold metallic, and stuffed full of specialty stitches, Darlene O'Steen's samplers are always a treat for the eyes! Finishing approx 7 x 20" on 28ct linen, the chart and instructions are detailed over 18 pages of stitch diagrams and some actual copies of the stitched piece. Just beautiful!
And They Sinned by Examplar Dames Design Co This is the story of Adam and Eve, stitched entirely in Sampler Threads of delicious, soft colors. While it looks normal, it is NOT! The stitch count of this is only 809 x 169! That's only 12 x 58 inches on 28ct!!! Signed by the designers on my birthday this year.. this is a lovely story about the Garden of Eden, and features hundreds of motifs, borders, and lots of alphabets and verses. The chart comes to you on 4 11x17 pages, and although it's done entirely in regular cross stitches... I challenge you to find a more endearing piece! It's been done for competitions already, and stitched over one thread on 40ct silk gauze. Esther remarked today that it would fit perfectly on her scroll frame... and we laughed about how she could carry it around 'forever' in her totebag! This is truly one of the most remarkable needlework pieces I have ever seen... I took it home, and will probably start it! (A special note here... When I opened my teeny needlework shoppe in 1984, I knew there would be, and looked forward to, the days I would be able to sit behind my little sales counter and stitch for a few hours between customers. Well, since that quiet stitching time never came to be... and my evening stitching time has taken second place to book-keeping... I'm REALLY picky! I REALLY like this one... and right now, I intend to finish it!!! Give me 5 years!) Available as a chart... please don't pass this up... it's literally bigger than you! $50.00
Several new additions to Kreinik's "Remember The Ladies" silk sampler series have arrived! Country Day, designed by Nan Tyson Euler, is a charming sampler stitched on a creme background, and uses soft moss greens, roses and dusty blue Milkpaint silk threads. Finishing approx 8 x 8 on a 28ct, it features some Queen and Satin Stitches, and an area of Bargello. Box includes the chart and silks. You supply fabric of your choice. Really Pretty! Don't forget to check out the rest of the new designs!
Eliza Telfer Sampler from Threads of Gold This lacy-looking piece is a Scottish sampler, stitched by Elizabeth telfer, and has no date. The directions go on to describe these tid-bits of information. The original shows that the date has been picked out, which happened as young girls matured! All the things you would expect in a Scottish sampler have been stitched. There are alphabets, crowns, rns, animals, birds, people and ships, plus recognition to King William an Queen Victoria, and a verse from Proverbs. While Elizabeth stitched ships, typical of Scottish Samplers, her fish are unusual additions!!! After stitching such a busy sampler, she then added initials of the family and friends which filled every available space. Stitched in bricks and rich greens and teals, this finishes approx 16 x 16-1/2 on 32ct. Offered as a chart, this is really a charming piece, with lots of balance and eye appeal!
We have several other favorite designers who have created charming Sampler-Type things. Rather than repeat them all here... we've included a list of their pages. Hillside Samplings, who does wonderful sewing baskets, comes to mind... but here are some more pages you might want to visit! Hillside Samplings Shepherd's Bush Just Nan The Victoria Sampler The Needle's Prayse Moira Blackburn