Quaker Bird in a Tree Etui with Scissor Chatelaine

This attractive and careful copy of a Quaker pattern held in the archive at Ackworth School near Pontefract is another one-off treasure. Worked in counted cross stitch on unbleached linen, using what I term ‘schoolhouse red’, it is very special. The etui is lined in faux silk with woven linen bands to hold needles and scissors. The hand-crafted scissor chatelaine is handmade and slips inside as shown in the pictures.

This etui measures 9 x 5in (23 x 12.5cm) and is supplied wrapped in recycled tissue, gift boxed and includes four gold-plated needles and a pair of Italian chatelaine scissors.

Ackworth School near Pontefract, West Yorkshire has recently celebrated the passage of its 247th academic year as a Quaker School. As founder of the Cross Stitch Guild, I was thrilled to join forces with the school to promote and support continued work with the antique sampler collection held at the school.

These very early and very fine samplers are distinctive in the use of the medallion shapes and motifs, which are seen in Quaker samplers in other Schools and institutions too. This bird motif is a particular favourite of mine!