Though not a fan of samplers, here I am reviewing a book replete with images, instructions and very relevant historical background to the importance of having your own heirloom .Is a fantastic way to honour and remember important events in your family or friend's lives .
My traumatic experience with samplers comes from having to embroider one on fabric with a cross stitch pattern. As consequence of the choice of stich the work was fastidious, tedious and the effect of the cross stitch on plain fabric was unaesthetically offensive.
The pictures above were taken in November 2019, precisely the month I was suppose to have finished the work. The reason the work fell behind was precisely because of the cross stitch on fabric fastidious task. Not surprisingly I missed my parent's marriage celebration, but 2020 this nightmare will be ready for them.
You must have noticed I make gifts for family and friends instead of buying - hence why I advised yesterday to go ahead and hoard other people's homes with crafts!
If I may recommend, if you are planning to take on sampler projects at least consider Aida fabric as will make your life incredibly easy when facing the charted designs in this book.
If however, you are using fabric, I can only wish you good luck for the extra time lost, but notice that most famous samplers at museums are on fabric, so your work might follow suit in a few decades. Qui sait?
The projects in this book are mainly charted for cross stitch on fabric, but the author makes use of other stitches which she explains the basics with illustrated graphic execution designs, such as,
*Long - armed Cross Stitch
*Satin Stitch
*Satin Stitch Trailing
*Algerian Eye
*Tent Stitch
*Double Running Stitch
*Back Stitch
*French Knots
*Square Stitch
*Florentine Stitch
The 22 projects are preceded by a brief introduction pertaining the historical origin and importance of the original designs, the Fabric to be used, the Thread, the Stitch ( referenced to Chapter 5 'Stitch') and the Colour Key.
- Celebration of a Child's Birthday
- Multicoloured Alphabets in Wool
- Spaniel
- Adam and Eve
- Red and Green Alphabets
- American Fort and Animals
- Red Alphabets
- Wedding Celebration
- Trees, Flowers and Birds
- Child Holding a Rabbit
- Alphabets and Border Patterns
- Gift Sampler
- Multiplication Table
- Valentine
- Busy Bee
- Noah's Ark
- Blackwork Sampler
- Quaker Seminary
- Rabbit
- Family Tree
- Lamb of God
- Whitework Sampler
Here are some pictures taken by me,
The designs are truly beautiful, well charted, easy to follow and to execute if on Aida fabric, and really make the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones .
The historical background and cultural ethnographic referencing to worldwide purposes of Traditional Samplers are clever reminders that preserving the culture of a nation through the use of samplers really makes sense and it does not take much, just a little love materialised in the shape of a gifted sampler!
Truly hope you enjoy this fantastic book,
Best wishes,
Ariane
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