Needlepoint sampler (Glorafilia)
When my children were small (4 little ones in just over 6 years) I realised the only way to scratch the sewing itch was to do patchwork on papers or needlepoint samplers, both of which could just be picked up and dumped at short notice. Fine sewing like whitework was definitely impossible. With no time to design something for myself, a kit was ideal and this one by Glorafilia fitted the bill perfectly. I couldn’t resist a few tweaks, however, so the line of flowers above the deer are different from the original, as are the little flowers in the lattice and the grass and flowers beneath the deer. I also added a brickwork border all round.
Sampler as seen in The Glorafilia Needlepoint Collection (pub. David & Charles)
I had also made a sampler for daughter No 2 and my mother-in-law did a beautiful one in cross stitch for daughter No 3. Sadly both of these were lost when left in storage after a move. My son missed out and no sampler was made for him but to be quite honest, I don’t think this has left him emotionally scarred. For him I made this patchwork ship quilt which he did quite like. Daughter No 2 had a little house quilt, daughter No 1 a star quilt (the big one) and daughter No 3 had a little hexagon quilt. To be fair daughter No 3 had to sew most of it herself but I did add the border, back it, hand quilt and bind it, so I hope she doesn’t feel too hard done by.
Needlepoint sampler detail
If you want to see some more traditional samplers do look at Nicola Parkman’s blog where she charts her own progress on a succession of samplers and describes outdoor life in and around a Cornish cove. Her Scarlet Letter Gallery focuses on finished examples of reproduction samplers whose originals are to be found in British and American museums and is a rich resource for anyone wanting to design their own sampler along historic lines.
Glorafilia sampler: detail
Now I must return to my wedding monograms and perhaps squeeze in another flower for the altar frontal as well.
6 Comments
What an absolutely breathtaking heirloom!
That’s far too generous and somewhat misguided of you, but thank you any way.
How lovely your stitching is – such a joy to look at. Even though all my children are now well and truly grown up I still find myself with pick up and go projects – hard to break the habit after all these years. Looking at your work always makes me feel like getting on with things…
Don’t break such a good habit Lydia – soon there’ll be grandchildren to benefit from your industry.
Daughter no.3 feels very hard done by…as she recalls she did all the patchwork then asked for assistance in quilting only to have her mothership complete alone…she is very much still waiting but would settle for the David Attenborough sampler…
Ok daughter No 3 I will make you an animal sampler/hanging/quilt. Much love, mum