Sarah Maydman Sampler Study Box

This is a very special sampler lent to me by my late friend Lucy Evans, who had inherited a few early samplers from her mother. I did meet her mother once and she was simply terrifying – like a character from a Bronte story!

Originally stitched in 1693, Sarah’s sampler has been charted for us by the late Jane Napier. She has included all the errors and inconsistencies as seen on the original sampler to preserve its character.

Please can I say that this is a very challenging piece of stitching and should not be attempted by a novice. More experienced stitchers will love the variety of stitches.

My choice would be to work on Belfast 32-count linen, which would give an impressive finished size of 11.25 x 28in (28.5 x 71cm).

In your lovely JG Book Box, you will find:

• A large picture of your sampler
• The beautifully printed chart made up of three x A3 sheets
• Detailed instruction sheets including illustrations of the stitches
• A copy of my book Stitching your own Little Piece of History
• A gold-plated needle
• Faux-ivory thread holder with two shades of thread for an optional folded hem (detailed instructions for this are also included)

I have enjoyed collecting old samplers for over 20 years and love living with them hung on my walls. If only they could talk, just imagine the stories they could tell of the young stitchers creating them.

Jannet Baird Sampler

Mary Ann Gollins Sampler