Emilie’s sampler is presented to you in two different formats ~ an instant PDF download and as a printed booklet. Details of the printed booklet can be found HERE.
Emilie worked her sampler on approximately 24ct linen with wool threads in 1890. The sampler was backed with a piece of cotton fabric and edged and bound with silk ribbon and four silk bows. In the top section of her sampler Emilie diligently stitched her numbers and two sets of the alphabet, one in a simple, clean font and the other in an impressive font. In the bottom section there is a burst of colour as Emilie laid attractive geometric border patterns.
We have given some thought to Emilie’s surname. The Kalwar are an Indian caste historically found in the northern and central India. However, it is also a surname that is found in German family history records. Using Ancestry, we were able to find an Emilie Charlotte Kalwar who was born in Latvia on July 28, 1864 to Adalph and Elwine. Her birth is recorded in the records of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. If this is the correct Emilie, then she was 26 years old when she stitched her sampler.
Alternatively, using Family Search, we found an Emilie Kalwar being born on July 5, 1868 to Josef Kalwar and Anna Clorzirek. She was baptised the day after her birth on July 6 at “Haatsch, Ratibor, Schlesien, Preußen, Deutschland”. Ratibor was a Prussian district in Silesia. This Emilie would have been 22 when she finished her sampler.
Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm which Emilie is the samplermaker. What a shame she did not record where she lived on her sampler.
Emilie’s delightful sampler has been reproduced with a palette of thirteen colours from Au Ver à Soie’s range of Soie 100.3. We have provided conversions for Soie d’Alger (SDA) and DMC.
The sampler has been rated as suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and is worked entirely in cross stitch over 2 threads of linen. It can be worked on Aida, Linaida, or linen. The model was stitched on Zweigart-based linen overdyed to the shade “Cat’s Whiskers” by Tabbycat Linen.
