Agnes Binnie was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, on March 22, 1808, to Robert Binnie and Mary Addie. She married James Barclay on March 16, 1832, in Falkirk, Stirlingshire. The couple had at least six sons and three daughters. Around 1870 they emigrated to Scotland Township in McDonough, Illinois.... Read more about Agnes Binnie 1824 - Cross Stitch Pattern
This is a reproduction of an English sampler made in Bradford, Yorkshire, that shows distinct influences of Scottish needlework traditions, particularly in the illuminated alphabets. The bold primary colors were reproduced from the front of the original sampler, which retains its amazing... Read more about Sarah Hutchinson 1762 - Cross Stitch Pattern
The original Scottish antique sampler had never been framed and so it was in excellent condition with the same vibrant, unfaded colors on the front as well as on the back. An unusual, elaborate four-sided undulating floral and leaf border surrounds a central reserve with a brief moral verse. Adam... Read more about Margaret Reid 1837- Cross Stitch Pattern
This design was excerpted from the top of an early nineteenth-century English sampler. It features an unusual and amusing hunting scene with a solo hunter on horseback pursuing a single hapless stag with a pack of ten spotted hounds on its trail.
This mid-eighteenth-century Scottish band sampler features many classic seventeenth-century patterns, executed in cross, eyelet, double running, counted satin, back, and queen stitches.
This is a reproduction of a Quaker sampler made in Chester County, Pennsylvania consisting of alphabets, numerals, ligatures* and lineal patterns executed in a variety of stitches. The uppermost border with the dangling central flower is often seen on American Quaker samplers of this period (see... Read more about Ann Ward 1808 - Cross Stitch Pattern
This English sampler features a three-sided floral border surrounding thirteen lines of alphabets, neatly cross-stitched in several different lettering styles. Mary Wagstaff was likely born in Huyton, Lancashire in 1809, completing this sampler when she was ten years old. She passed away in... Read more about Mary Wagstaff 1819 - Cross Stitch Pattern
A sampler from the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England.
Skill and expertise in sampler-making did not necessarily peak in the mid-to-late seventeenth century and then wane during what is often called the "golden age" of English sampler-making. These skills... Read more about Rachel Jarratt circa 1760 - Cross Stitch Pattern
This amazing, unprecedented English sampler illustrates so many unique and bold elements of design, stitched in a balanced way inside a four-sided strawberry border. In all my decades of study I've never seen an antique sampler with quite this much bizarre personality.
This is an expansive English sampler with an unusual four-sided leafy branch and floral border, centering a very busy reserve filled with baskets of fruits and flowers, stylized trees and plants, birds, lions rampant, butterflies, rabbits, and stags. A large building/mansion/institution is at the... Read more about Sarah Elizabeth Hollings 1825 - Cross Stitch Pattern
Here is a dainty and colorful mid-eighteenth-century English sampler executed entirely in cross and petit point stitches making it a suitable project for any skill level.
The canvaswork piece from which this bell pull was derived is a book cover, and dates to the first quarter of the 17th century. square tent stitched vignettes, reproduced here in the panels of the bell pull covered the book's spine vertically. It seems appropriate that the allegorical figures of... Read more about Wisdom and Innocence Bell Pull - Cross Stitch Pattern
This extraordinary piece of seventeenth century needlework was originally executed with fine silks on a linen ground, in tent stitch, and is composed of many different slips" or spot motifs, cleverly fitted together. Many of these motifs have symbolic and/or heraldic significance, and they can... Read more about Spot Motif Embroidered Picture 1640 Cross Stitch Pattern
Try as we might, we cannot find another sampler to compare with this one by Sarah Brignell. It is a sampler unto itself: truly an original piece of folk art. The tiny central cartouche with the densely stitched scene floats like a little world unto itself in the midst of the exuberant garden of... Read more about Sarah Brignell 1769 - Christian Cross Stitch Pattern
Note from designer: I bought the original sampler two years ago at market from Dawn Lewis of The Needle's Work Antiques. I fell in love immediately with the organic nature of the sampler. My reproductions come with a page inside where I talk about the sampler, things I noticed, elements that are... Read more about A Natural Beauty Elizabeth Hannell 1840 - Cross Stitch
Fabric is 40 count Flax by Zweigart using Classic Colorworks. Stitch count: 90 x 127. This piece will fit in a 5 by 7 frame, if the rabbet is shallow enough.
The original sampler is a charmer, and can you believe Felicie was only 7? As always, my charts come with a little essay about the antique, and my thoughts about what make the sampler special, in this case, those beautiful, organic borders, the color palette, the airy space contained within, and the... Read more about A French Summer Sampler - Cross Stitch Pattern
Pattern by Shakespeare's Peddler featuring an antique sampler design with the words "Virtues the chiefelt beauty of the mind. The Noblest ornament of human kind. Virtues our safeguard and our guiding star. That stirs up reason when our senses".
Note from the designer: This primitive marking sampler just captured my heart. The colors, the tone on tone, the rich patina and the whimsicalness of it. How can a marking sampler be whimsical you ask? Well, just look at the script K, L & M. They seem to be kicking up their heels and skipping along.... Read more about Susan Weeks Marking Sampler - Cross Stitch Pattern
Pattern is stitched on 36 ct Cocoa using Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks and Southern Fried floss. Stitch count is 199 x 201.
Recommended Southern Fried Floss:Bay Leaf and Spiced Cider
Cross stitch pattern from Samplers Not Forgotten featuring a lovely sampler with the phrase "Thou, before whose face the children's angels stand grant me a helpless child the grace that thy angelic band. May watch my ways and guard my bed and minister to me till I in death shall bow my head and... Read more about Isabella Bickerdike 1810 - Cross Stitch Pattern
Not only do I love the colors Agness used to stitch her sampler but I love how she ran out of room to stitch the date 1844 so she moved the last 4 up to another line.
Pattern is stitched on 28 ct Vintage Sand Dune from Lakeside Linen using Gentle Arts threads. Stitch count is 176 x 238. Finished size is 12.6" x 17".
A charming Autumn sampler done for a friend who doesn't like to go too Halloweeny!
Pattern is stitched on 36 ct Wren from Picture This Plus using Gentle Arts and Classic Colorworks threads. Stitch count is 192 x 180. Finished size is 10.7" x 10".
Pattern is stitched on 36 ct Vintage Pecan Butter from Lakeside Linen using Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts threads. Stitch count is 116 x 116. Finished size is 6.5" x 6.5".
"Lord give me wisdom to direct my ways I ask not riches nor yet for Length of Drop. From rocks and sands And stormy weather Pray God Protect John Negus for ever". "My dear friends I will Bless and praise for giving me learning in My Early days Catherine Negus her Sampler finished... Read more about Catherine Negus 1810 - Cross Stitch Pattern
I love the simplicity of this little sampler. Eliza was 10 years old when she completed her sampler and beautifully hem stitched the edges.
Pattern is stitched on 40 ct Vintage Buttercream from Lakeside Linens using Gentle Arts threads with DMC conversion. Stitch count is 127 x 120. Finished size is 6" x 5.75".
"On the alone my Hope relies Beneath thy cross I fall thou art my life my sacrifice My Savior and My All don 1837". What a stunning English sampler! It was so much fun to stitch with all the motifs and bright colors. Not sure if the swans, bull, or parrot is my favorite... okay, maybe the... Read more about Elizabeth Lamb 1837 - Cross Stitch Pattern
"The best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart" This sampler is done on a beautiful gray linen and stitched I Cross Stitch with threads in pinks, blues, and greens.
This is an outstanding sampler with the verse "Jesus permit thy gracious name to stand As the first effort of an infants hand And while her fingers oer the canvas move Engage her tender heart to seek thy love With the dear children may she have a part And write thy name thyself upon her... Read more about Jane Portues 1837 - Cross Stitch Pattern
"Lord what is life tis like a flower That blofsoms and is gone We see it flourish for an hour With all its beauty on". This sampler is dated December 24, 1834. I was told this sampler was a Christmas gift to Louisa's parents. Louisa was 9 years old when she completed this brightly... Read more about Louisa Dodd 1834 - Cross Stitch Pattern
"Why this in haste sweet boy so soon To go. And leave in tears thy weeping Friends below. Some heavenly voice Dear object of their love calld hence
Thy soul to dwell in realms above Scarce hadst thou learnt the good from
All to know Nor yet had drank the Bitter cup of woe. When heaven ordaind no... Read more about Mary Ann Crumley 1829 - Cross Stitch Pattern
"Few to good breeding make a just pretence Good breeding is the blossom of good sense. The last result of an accomplished mind. With outward grace the bodys virtue joined". I love the bands and motifs Mary Ann used in this sampler. The colors in this sampler are beautiful... the mix of blue... Read more about Mary Ann Robey 1810 - Cross Stitch Pattern
This sampler was brought to me by Stephanie Jirak of Lincoln University, PA. She is the Great Great Great Granddaughter of Nancy Anne Cassell. The family history is included in the chart.
Pattern is stitched on 28 ct Vintage Buttercream using Gloriana and Classic Colorworks threads. Stitch count is 162 x 152. Finished size is 11.6" x 10.9".
This original design was inspired by many antique samplers.
Pattern is stitched on 36 ct Aspen from Weeks Dye Works using Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Arts, and Classic Colorworks threads. Stitch count is 225 x 211. Finished size is 12.5" x 11.75".