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Samplers
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| Over the years we've had wonderful samplers in the shop! 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! | ||
Bee Story and Quaker Faith from Little By Little Little By Little has two new samplers. Quaker Faith features a few more colors than most Quaker-inspired pieces do, so it's really very pretty. Bee Story, however, is over-the-top charming!!!!! 'Over in the meadow in a snug beehive, lived a mother honey bee and her little bees 5. BUZZ said the mama. We buzz said the 5, all snug in their cozy beehive!' A luscious flower garden, the welcoming little front door... even the swirly snail is cute! (The word 'their' is mis spelled in the design... you'll probably want to fix that, but maybe not! Both are offered as individual charts. Quaker calls for DMC, Bee Story uses both DMC and Gentle Art Sampler Threads. | ||
Keep It For My Sake Token from Needlework Press  This is a charming adaptation of a 19th Century Friendship Token... a piece of needlework, folded into a secret message! I'm not sure how to describe this... your stitching is done on 14ct perforated paper and forms two parts of the heart-shaped pages... then all is assembled into a folded heart-shaped 'envelope.' Closed... this is simply a flat heart. It opens to reveal the pages of your message, and copies of the vintage antique piece. Can you see from our pic how this resembles on open flower? (The little black clamp-stand in the pic came from the photo dept at Kohl's for $5!!!) Each heart page measures approx 4 x 4-1/2 inches. Package includes the charts, perf paper, felt for needle pages, and 3 pages of colorful, vintage prints of messages to include in your token, along with the assembly instructions. Not sure I've described this perfectly... but the finished piece was lovely... and if you are an antique needlework-lover... this is for YOU! | ||
 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 Content Oh, 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! | ||
 The Colonial Garden Series, Volume III from The Goode Huswife The Goode Huswife as a third 'turbo-book' of 10 charming sampler designs that is presented in the most unique fashion!  Ann has charted her samplers, stitched and framed them, and then printed each image on the front of a 9 x 12 large envelope. Your heavy board-cover book opens to reveal 10 beautiful vintage-inspired envelopes -- each coveting its own sampler chart! All are lovely, all very primitive in flavor... this set deals with gardening, friendship between neighbors, the virtues of keeping that lovely and bountiful garden, and good bee-keeping advice! I just LOVE the envelopes... I think this is a 'double whammy' because you get the charts and the pretty envelopes! | ||
 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. | ||
 French ABCs We have three lovely sets of alphabet letters, charted in elegant and flowing fonts. From Rouge du Rhin, each capitol letter is charted in a single color -- although you could change that if you wish. Quite large in size, the letters in each alphabet range from 50 to 90 stitches in height and 50 to 70 stitches wide. (But then, some are bigger and some are smaller!) Just stunning style and grace, these are perfect as initials on pillow fronts or photo album covers. One features branches and leaves intertwined around the letters, and the other two are much more romantic in feel. Presented in chart format, the covers feature actual photos of a few of the letters, charts are simple and easy to follow. | ||
 Marlene's Sampler from Romy in AustriaI 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 & Thistle You 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 Parlour A 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 Soie A 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. | ||
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Sarah Elliott, The Sewing Chest of a Nantucket Sister Sailor from Primitive Traditions  A STUNNING piece... a sewing chest inspired by the diaries of women who went whaling with their husbands in the early 1800's. Called 'Sailing Sisters,' they endured years at sea away from their families accompanying their husbands on the long, arduous voyages of whale hunting around Cape Horn, into the South Pacific, around the Hawaiian Islands, up to Alaska and on to China! Although Sarah Elliott is a fictional lady... her chest is steeped in rich history of the day. Offered charts, Sarah's sewing chest consists of an exquisite harbor scene on the chest top -- you can see the checkerboard water and the tall ship. (Lovely blues, teals, bricks, greys and whitewashed sands...) It speaks of the sailor leaving his home, remembering family 'with a tear.' Next, there is a lining to the interior top of the chest -- 'Forget Me Not.' Each of the four interior sides features stitching -- the two longer sides feature pockets with stitched fronts that hold precious locks of hair or needlework tools. (I think one of our pics shows the pockets very well.) There are coordinating needle pages, a Biscornu pin cushion -- inspired by Sarah's Quaker upbringing -- a scissor fob and case -- all decorated with mermaids and seaside motifs to match the box top. 
All the stitched pieces are assembled either into the accessories or actual lining and topping pieces for the handpainted 9 x 6 x 5-1/2 matte black
box. Decorated with charming metal loop-rings on the sides, and a faux lock on the front, the top piece comes off. So you can 'fit' the interior
of the box, and line both the top and underside of the lid. (There is even a piece of felt included to glue onto the underside of the box!) Notice
the engraved Olde Colonial Brass Ruler -- 6 inches -- included, as well as the EXQUISITE scrimshaw piece -- A Busk Bookmark -- that is decorated with
a scallop shell, ropes, tall ships, the sun, a mermaid, sea monsters, Nantucket baskets and a mariner's star. There is so much detail in
here... that even on the scissor pocket piece, the three sailors all have different haircuts!!! (French Knots and little Straight Stitches!!!) There are finishing instructions throughout... I love the page telling the story of the piece... you get the placement guide for all the stitched pieces on the main linen cut, and since everything is stitched in DMC, Crescent Colours and Sampler Threads... your stash is waiting with the threads!!! Lots of chart enlargements, great finishing steps and hints... we are even treated to a bibliography of resource and historical reading about whaling!!!Package includes the charts and finishing instructions, the hand-painted chest, the scrimshaw piece (the size of a tongue depressor!), the engraved brass ruler, a sterling whale charm, button (an antique circa 1850 bone button!) and felt for the trunk bottom. Available separately is the 1/2 yard cut of Lakeside Linens 36ct Mourning Dove Linen, and any flosses you don't already own.  This piece is simply stunning! I have a hard time describing its charm! The colors are what you'd expect from a seaside, distressed and weathered scenario... and together with the antiqued loops on either side of the trunk... it presents itself as a miniature, historic picture -- preserved through your needlework -- a glimpse into the past -- a glimpse into the life of another needlewoman. | ||
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! | ||
 A Patchwork Garden Pincushion Ballfrom Twisted Oaks This is SUCH a charming and unique piece... it is a *definite* for your stash -- of things you're *definitely* going to stitch!!! Inspired by Judith's stash of little fabric leftovers... she chose 6 pretty colors of 28ct Cashel Linen, set her husband to the task of perfecting the necessary geometry, and created a delightful garden of Thistles, Sweet William, Bachelor Buttons, Johnny Jumpups, Carnations, and Bluebells. Stitched entirely in Dinky Dyes Australian hand-dyed silks of roses, purples, golds, greens and deep blue, each flower is garnished with a few gold seed beads, and the very bottom of the ball features a lovely 1-1/4 inch gold filigree medallion to finish it off, and hide any tied off finishing threads. The instructions are beautifully done, the charting is clear, fabric placement is all spelled out... this is just so endearing! (I imagine once you perfect the finishing... the sky is the limit with other design options... try some small Quaker motifs... Prairie Schooler Santas over one thread... however, only after you've enjoyed your miniature floral garden!) Offered as the chart with silks, beads and medallion. Fabric offered separately, suggestions offered, but no colors set in stone. | ||
 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 StitchesOffered 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 CoveWow... 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! | ||
Acorn Harvest Thread Keeper from Historic Stitches  This is a simple thread case that stores the most beautiful hand-painted thread palette! Designed by Historic Stitches, the front, back and inside pocket of this keeper are decorated with acorn motifs stitched in DMCs of fern, gold, brown and desert sand, yummy Fall colors. The case measures approx 11-1/2 x 5 on 32ct linen. No special stitches... the featured wooden acorn-shaped palette is just the crowning glory of this piece! Fitting inside the case's pocket... the pic shows overdyed threads you could substitute for the DMCs... the wooden palette, painted by Liberty Hill, measures approx 3-1/2 x 5 and sports 5 holes for threads. Along with the chart, and finishing instructions, you get the palette and lining fabric for your case! Just luscious... if you're an acorn-lover, you have to have this!!! | ||
 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 DesignsTwo 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 CreationsWow... 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!' | ||
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Tokens & Trifles Sewing Cards These are perforated lacy 'doilies' for your stitching!!! Patterned after antique paper sewing cards, these are available in three shapes at this time. Inspired by the small perforated calling cards, popular in England in the 1800's, these were small tokens of affection, and favored bookmarks. A soft white color, acid and lignin free, each package contains one perforated card with the decorative edging, and the other with the decorative edging and center area perforated at 20ct. Surprisingly thick, and satiny-smooth... there are no 'bumps' where the paper has been perforated! We are including 4 complimentary charts with each set of Trifles you purchase... kind of the inspiration for you to find so many more things you want to stitch on these! You can stitch the front and tie the back piece on to create a needlebook, you can use the blank back piece to hide your stitched back, or make it into a gift label... leaving the border stitched or not... frame a photo... lots of things! There are design pads (25 sheets) available as well, that feature dots counted out exactly the same dimension as the cards, so you can work on centering your stitching first on the scrap paper so you won't have to rip out on the final piece! Ivy -- the oval one -- measures 3-1/2 x 2-1/2. Petals -- rectangular -- measures approx 3-3/4 x 2-3/4. Britannia -- round/octagonal measures 3 inches in diameter. Very elegant and classy... there are tons of uses for something small and pretty like these! | ||
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! |
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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. |
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Messages from Indigo Rose This is just a bit of the sampler collection offered by Indigo Rose. Lots of special stitches... lots of color... IR features some different finishing techniques for samplers... like the message pad and basket pin
cushion!  Well, this is certainly the best dressed pad of pink phone message notes!!! Offered as a complete kit, you're stitching on 28ct Antique White Pearl Linen in a bit of Anchor floss, and lots of Caron Waterlilies hand-dyed silks in brass, cherry, steel and moss. Notice the scallops on the border? They're two shades of lavender Mill Hill beads that have been stitched on, to look like cording! The 4-1/2 x 5-ish sampler features cross-stitch and bands of Longarm cross, nothing too difficult. The kit contains all the necessary lining fabric, inside boards, the notepad, just everything! Actually a very good value. It's really just kind of a fun thing... something every stitcher's desk needs... and something fun to take notes in when you take stitching classes!!! | ||
 My Stitching Treasuresfrom 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! |
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| 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. | ||
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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!) |
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| 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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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). |
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 Landscape & Americana from The Workbasket Two enchanting Dutch-style samplers, these measure an impressive 7 x 32" on 28ct linen, and are stitched using Weeks Dye Works overdyed flosses.  Loaded with charming motifs, the designer suggests using some of your favorite special stitches, to give them even more interest... but leaves it to the imagination! Very colorful, and neat, unusual sizes... these are great to hang over a wide doorway or a family room couch. Available as leaflets. | ||
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! |
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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! $48.00 |
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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! |
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Dorothy's Garden from A Stitcher's Hand This is a stunningly beautiful sampler featuring an elegant colonial white house, and a sky-full of very intricate floral spot motifs... all stitched over one thread! The colors are charted in either silk or cotton floss, and are just beautiful. Brilliant greens, deep reds and corals, and soft white-beige, it measures approx 7 x 11 on a 28ct linen. The floral nosegay motifs up in the sky just steal your eye! Available as a chart. |
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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! |
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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 | ||
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