The Queen of the May is a tradition that celebrates beauty, renewal, and honour. Each year, we select a sampler that embodies these qualities - a design that rises above the rest, chosen not only for its visual appeal, but for its enduring presence.
A vintage sampler reproduction by NeedleWork Press from Isabella Hardy featuring beautiful red designs.
Stitched on Weeks Dyes Works "Linen" using Classic Colorworks floss. The stitch count is 108 x 99 and the finished size on 32 count fabric is 6.8" x 6.2".
In 1894, in the small town of Pouance, there lived a young girl named Lea
Letourneur. Unlike many embroiderers of her time, who endlessly repeated their neat red alphabets, Lea dreamed of light, of flowers, and of birds. Stitch by stitch, her needle traced an alphabet bursting with life, bordered... Read more
In her roses garden... the peacock unfurls its silken silence. Each feather seems like a captive ray of daylight, each thread a caress of time. Motionless beauty, it reigns-proud and gentle-over the stitcher's garden.
Stitched on 40 count linen. The stitch count is 184 x 180 and the finished size is 9.2" x 9".
Model stitched over 2 threads on 46 Ct. Vintage Autumn Gold by Lakeside Linens with NPI Silk. Stitch Count:187 x 183 and the finished size is 8.13" x 7.96".
Julia Rachel De La Mare, 1849, A Fuersney, Channel Island Sampler.
The Antique: This lovely vibrant sampler is in the style common to the time called Berlin Woolwork, named such after the printed patterns originating from Berlin where individual motifs such as florals, birds, the center... Read more
Step back into the mid-19 century with this sampler, originally stitched on stitched in 1847 with wool on canvas.
Pattern is stitched on the fabric of your choice using Au Ver A Soie threads. Stitch count is 179 x 174. Finished size on 16/32 Ct. is 11.19" x 10.88".
Elizabeth finished her stunning sampler on Wednesday, February 1, in the year 1854. The sampler would have been worked as part of her education. It would have taken many hours to complete and is an amazing achievement. A bobby dazzler of a sampler! Elizabeth created a cohesive, engaging, and... Read more
National Female Model School Sampler - Kildare Place, Dublin circa 1820
This pattern has 1 specialty stitch - the Satin Stitch. And the small alphabet at the top and the small letters at the bottom are stitched over 1 thread of linen.
Pattern is stitched on 46 ct. linen with 100/3 Au Ver a Soie silk floss. The stitch count is 96 x 147 and the finished size is 4.17" x 6.39".
Although we have been unable to identify our sampler maker, she definitely knew her geography. Harriet accurately listed the states and territories of the date she stitched in her sampler. Even though the antique sampler is in a tattered state, we are especially happy to preserve Harriet's legacy by... Read more
Note from the designer: "This densely worked sampler displays exquisite detail and contains many of the most popular needlework motifs of the seventeenth century. The flowers are realistically shaded to achieve a natural look."
Finished size on 35 count linen is 7 1/4" x 25... Read more
Who was Mrs Campbell? Without a first name for Mrs Campbell, it has proved impossible to trace her. We believe that Mrs Campbell was most probably a needlework teacher and that her colourful sampler was used as a teaching tool.
Model was stitched on Woodsmoke by Tabby Cat Linens. Stitch... Read more
Cross stitch pattern from Needlemade Designs featuring a vintage sampler with the phrase "Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the holy duty of man"!
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Dirty Teacup from Needle and Flax using Soie d'Alger threads with DMC conversion. Stitch count is 239 x 299. Finished size is 11.95" x 14.95".
Cross stitch pattern from Scarlett House featuring an antique reproduction of a sampler from the "Wesleynn School".
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct. linen with Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks floss (includes DMC Conversion). Stitch count is 167 x 162. Finished size is 8.35" x 8.1".
Cross stitch pattern from Scarlett House featuring a sampler with the phrase "Bless us all with needle in hand. Whether we use a hoop or a stand. May our stitches be even and tight. Whether we start on the left or the right"!
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Cactus Wren from Fox and... Read more
Cross stitch pattern from Fox and Rabbit featuring a beautiful strawberry sampler!
Patterns are stitched on 40 count Paperbark Linen by Fox and Rabbit using Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks and DMC with DMC conversions. Stitch count is 129 x 89. Finished size is 6.45" x 4.45"
Cross stitch pattern from Quaint Rose Needle Arts featuring an antique reproduction design of a beautiful bird with a pear fruit from 1910.
Models stitched on 36 count Cactus Wren by Fox and Rabbit using DMC floss. The Bird has a stitch count of 90 x 120 with a finished size of 5" x 6.67". The Pear has a stitch count of 98 x 114 with a finished size of 5.44" x 6.33".
This booklet from Blackbird Designs features 4 projects.
Moments of Glad Grace, Button Box, and Sing the Joyful Birds are stitched on 36 count Legacy by Picture This Plus using Classic Color Works, Gentle Arts, and Weeks Dye Works threads
Moments of Glad Grace stitch count 183w x... Read more
Model stitched one over two on 40 Ct. Heartland using Gentle Art Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works. Stitch Count: 185W x 145H. Design Size: 9.25" x 7.25"
Here we find an alphabet intertwined with irises, religious symbols with singular shapes, and a border of stylized roses that seems to whisper the elegance of days gone by.
Stitched on 40 count linen. The stitch count is 400 x 411 and the finished size is 20" x 20.55".
"Immortal made what should we mind So much as Immortality we beings for a heaven designed what but a heaven our care should be". Yes, this sampler is large... but such a joy to stitch. this is a stunning English sampler from 1803 done in muted colors.
The model was stitched over 2 threads on 40 Ct. Cocoa linen from Weeks Dye Works with Gentle Art Sampler threads and Classic Colorworks floss. There is the original "faded" colors and an alternate, brighter floss version. Stitch Count: 338W x 269H. Finished size: 17" x 13 1/2".
Model stitched on 40 ct Autumn Gold from Lakeside linen using Gloriana's, Dinky Dyes and Classic Colorworks silks. Shown on an Ackfeld Manufacturing hanger. Stitch Count: 292W x 388H and the finished size is 14.6" x 19.4".
Chart recommends 32 count linen and DMC floss, but you can stitch on any fabric of your choice! Stitch count is 630 x 390. Fabric size needed 45 inches x 31 inches. Finished size is 39.38 in wide X 24.38 in high.
Cross stitch pattern from Fox and Rabbit featuring a beautiful reproduction sampler!
Patterns are stitched on 40 Up in the Attic Linen by Fox and Rabbit and Zweigart Cream linen using Weeks Dye Works and DMC with DMC conversions. Stitch counts and finished sizes:
Front: 94w X 92h;... Read more
Reproduction of a French Sampler. In 1861, Mademoiselle Leroux let a delicate vase of flowers bloom beneath her needle, a gift for her uncle and aunt. A timeless bouquet, suspended in the grace of passing day.
Stitched on 16 count Zweigart linen. The stitch count is 271 x 206 and the finished size is 16.94" x 12.88".
The Walker Sisters was the book released at the Blackbird Designs Farewell Retreat held at Dyeing to Stitch in September 2024.
Hannah Walker - Aged 6 - 1814: Stitched on 36 ct fabric using Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts threads. Stitch count is 123w x 145h. Finished size is 6 7/8" x... Read more
Note from the designer: I've had this antique reproduced since 2015, but I had always wanted to pair it with some little companion pieces before releasing it. I've finally done just that!
What drew me to this sampler was the oversize, unusual bird (I am always drawn to odd birds on... Read more
I am pleased to introduce a new pattern! A French redwork marking sampler stitched by Rosalie Amphoux Vauvert. I love it for its small size and simple alphabets and numbers, some worked rather plainly and others quite prettily.
Pattern was stitched on 36 Alabaster from Weeks Dye Works using The Gentle Arts floss. Stitch count is 127w x 130h. Finished size is 7"w x 7.25"h.
This is a reproduction of an unfinished German sampler which bears typical characteristics of Saxon samplers. Uses cross stitch, back stitch, a few Algerian eyes, and Satin stitch.
Model stitched over 2 threads on 40 Ct. "linen" colored linen from Weeks Dye Works with Gentle Art Sampler threads. Stitch Count: 237W x 670H. Finished size: 11.85" x 33.5".
The model was stitched over 2 threads on 40 Ct. Parchment linen from Weeks Dye Works with The Gentle Art Sampler threads, Weeks Dye Works floss, and Classic Colorworks floss. Stitch Count: 300W x 427H. Finished size: 15" x 21 1/2".
Five antique samplers are included with this collection. Select a fabric and thread of your choice.
Abingdon 1878 Stitch Count: 190W x 158H. Berta Heinen Sampler 1904 Stitch Count: 166W x 171H. The Brkits L Sampler Stitch Count: 195W x 155H. The Greek Key Sampler Stitch Count: 114W x 108H. The Star Sampler Stitch Count: 191W x 139H.