QUAKER SAMPLERS I HAVE MET AND LOVED

Today I want to talk about Quaker samplers. I am currently working on Jardin Prive's (sp?) design A Quaker Lady. I also have the Quaker gentleman to stitch. Just wanted to show you how over one thread looks. I have stitched these with 2 strands of black DMC floss over 1 thread on 28 count linen. I do have them on a roller bar and in a Kay's lap stand. This is about 6 hours of "work." I try to stitch about two hours every night. Will post my progress. 

Threads Through Time reproduced a Quaker sampler c. 1810. We learned of this sampler while giving a sampler talk at a local antiques show. The antique sampler had been framed and was glued with Elmer's Glue to a piece of wood. When the owner tried to remove it, she rinsed it but it remained stiff as a board because of all the glue! The first picture is of the front of the sampler. The second alphabet is eyelet stitches over 2 threads of the linen. Notice that the sampler is a bit long and narrow. This is because the linen is an uneven weave.

When I stitched the reproduction, I first thought that I had forgotten to stitch something as it is so square as compared to the original. But it is the even weave of the fabric that shortens up the motifs and makes the piece square. We were not able to find any history on this sampler as the stitcher stitched neither her name nor date on the sampler. The reproduction was stitched on 25 count linen with cross and eyelet stitches. It is small measuring only 9.5" x 10". 

I have found that there are quite a few antique Quaker samplers out there. This is probably because the Quakers favored education for girls and had many schools for them. I own two Quaker samplers. The first one came from an auction house here in Chicago land. It was stitched by Rachel Collins in 1810 with a silk thread on a very fine gauzy linen. You will see many of the usual quaker motifs on this sampler. Notice that it is hemmed all around. I have it laying on my living room floor with a linen napkin underneath—which is why it seems so white.

This is the back of the frame the Rachel Collins came in. It is like those old fruit boxes with cardboard and wood.

The other Quaker sampler that I own I bought at a nearby flea/antiques outdoor market. It was my bonanza day as I also bought a fantastic quilt and a braided rug. I was beside my self with joy. 

Note the bad fold marks on the sampler. I think it was probably found in a drawer and quickly framed for the market. It has no name and no date. I had hoped she would have finished the large W in the middle of the cartouche with Westown School, but no...

I had thought that maybe there was a black mat board behind the sampler in the frame. It was not but was the back of a Budweiser poster of either Gayle Sayers or Walter Payton (don't know which) and the back edges had been outlined with black magic marker! What a surprise it was to open the frame and find this!

Just about time to go on my afternoon walk with my husband but wanted to tell you about a wonderful little book called the Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil. It is English and does sometimes take a bit of figuring out about the language (chips for fries, etc.), but it is a very nice book about a gal and her two young sons pulling up stakes from London and moving close to her Gran in a seaside town in England. Gran has given her the yarn shop to take over. It's a nice cozy up book that I think you'll like. I can hardly wait for the next installment...