Medium Framed Victorian Paper Scraps

Many years ago, I met an extraordinary very elderly lady called Laura Seddon. Having got into conversation with her, I discovered she had the most extra ordinary collection of greeting cards, many dating back to 1840. I was telling her of my interest in Bristol Board or what we now call ‘perforated paper’ and to my complete surprise, within a week, she sent me wonderful collection of embroidered paper bookmarks and other stitched pieces.

This framed (unglazed) collage of perforated paper cards, scraps and bookmarks came from that gift and includes three stitched bookmarks and three stitch Victorian scraps. I have mounted this selection on linen and left it unglazed as posting glass is not an option! (If you wish to add glass yourself, remember that the glass should not touch the stitched pieces.)

The frame measures 11 x 9in (28 x 22.5cm).

Stitching paper (also called perforated paper) can be stitched, folded, glued and cut to make cross stitch projects and used to fill scrapbooks and treasure albums. I have collected items stitched on early perforated paper for many years and these include samplers, bookmarks and needle cases.

Stitching paper is based on early Victorian punched paper, also referred to as Bristol Board and was made in England as early as 1840. The Victorians used it to work bookmarks, needle cases, pincushions, glove and handkerchief boxes, notebook covers and greetings cards.

Modern stitching paper is generally the equivalent of a 14-count fabric, so you can transfer cross stitch charts on to this medium if the design does not include three-quarter cross stitches. If you look at the examples in the pictures you will see that the early perforations were very much finer and often included a decorative punched or embossed border.