Isabella and Ann Uffindell – A Special and Limited Edition Release

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Isabella and Ann Uffindell are two very special samplers. They are special not only as they are very, very beautiful samplers but also because they were stitched by two sisters. Both the sisters were 10 years of age when they stitched their samplers, Isabella in 1829 and Ann 6 years later in 1835. As a collector sister samplers particularly fascinate me. I find it so remarkable that two samplers remain together through the centuries.

As a reproductionist I believe that I had a duty to Isabella and Ann to keep the girls together. For that reason their charts have been released together in a very special and strictly limited edition 60 page booklet. This really is quite special – the best booklet we have issued to date. It comes with 6 pages of historical information about the girls, their lives and the times in which they lived in.

These girls have an interesting story to tell. Life wasn’t easy for working class unmarried ladies in the 1800’s. Through hard work and determination these two Cockney girls bettered themselves and broke free from servitude. They remind me of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. I know you will enjoy reading about them.

Isabella and Ann have been reproduced using the colours on the front of the samplers – Isabella has a palette of 32 colours and Ann 26. Isabella is the larger sampler with a stitch count of 332 x 481, Ann has a stitch count of 320 x 378. Ann included a verse on her sampler:

O my soul, what canst thou do,
With eternity in view?
Flee to Jesus, Flee away
Not to-morrow, come to-day,
Come this moment, For to thee,
Next may be eternity.

The stitches in both samplers are mainly cross stitch over 2 with the text in over one. There are a handful of small over one motifs in Ann’s sampler. They have been shown not only in the main body of the chart but have also been separately enlarged for your ease of use. Both samplers’ distinctive wreaths have been stitched with padded satin stitches and detailed photos have been included within the booklet.

Isabella and Ann have been reproduced in close collaboration with J.Lee Halpin and Lisa Brown. The three of us hope that the sisters bring you, our sisters in stitches, much joy.

We have issued two sets of blank greeting cards that feature the samplers on the front covers.

These colourful cards with their red wreaths will make fabulous Christmas cards for your personal use or the packs wonderful Christmas presents for your stitching friends. They come with small charts on the back. They are sold in packs of 10 and we can mix the packs. To order the cards please click HERE.

Thread Legend - Isabella

Isabella’s sampler has been reproduced with Au Ver à Soie d’Alger silks and the skein quantities calculated based on 1 strand on 36ct fabric. We have provided a DMC conversion based on 2 strands on 36ct fabric. The model was stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen Pecan Butter.

Soie d’Alger / DMC                                                                                                                  

2925 x 1 / 304 x 1 ~ Christmas red – medium

2644 x 1 / 347 x 1  ~ Salmon – very dark

2643 x 1 / 351 x  1 ~ Coral

2578 x 1 / 407 x 1 ~ Desert sand – dark

3741 x 2 / 422 x 2  ~ Hazel nut brown – light

3426 x 2 / 500 x 2 ~ Blue green – very dark

5024 x 1 / 501 x 1 ~ Blue green – dark

2145 x 2 / 580 x 2 ~ Moss green – dark

2144 x 1 / 581 x 1 ~ Moss green

4115 x 1 / 632 x 1 ~ Desert sand – ul/very dark

3835 x 1 / 640 x 1 ~ Beige grey – very dark

3342 x 1 / 644 x 1 ~ Beige grey – medium

2213 x 1 / 731 x 1 ~ Olive green – dark

2246 x 1 / 780 x 1 ~ Topaz – ul/very dark

2245 x 1 / 782 x 1  ~ Topaz – dark

3745 x 1 /  829 x 1  ~ Golden olive – very dark

3815 x 1 / 832 x 1  ~ Golden olive

1746 x 1 / 924 x 1  ~ Grey green – very dark

1814 x 1 / 927 x 1  ~ Grey green – light

3736 x 1 / 3011 x 1 ~ Khaki green – dark

3732 x 1 / 3013 x 1 ~ Khaki green – light

F11 x 1 / 3033 x 1 ~ Mocha brown – very light

2242 x 2 /  3046 x 2 ~ Yellow beige – medium

3725 x 1 / 3362 x 1 ~ Pine green – dark

3724 x 2 / 3363 x 2 ~ Pine green – medium

3723 x 1 / 3364 x 1 ~ Pine green

3416 x 1 / 3371 x 1  ~ Black brown

1735 x 1 / 3768 x 1 ~ Grey green – dark

4114 x 1 / 3772 x 1 ~ Desert sand – very dark

3344 x 1  / 3790 x 1 ~ Beige grey – ultra dark

4524 x 1 / 3828 x 1 ~ Hazel nut brown

2916 x 1  / 3831 x 1 ~ Raspberry – dark

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 332 stitches (w) x 481 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

28ct – Design: 23.71″ x 34.36″ Fabric: 29.71″ x 40.36″

32ct – Design: 20.75″ x 30.06″ Fabric: 26.75″ x 36.06″

36ct – Design: 18.44″ x 26.72″ Fabric: 24.44″ x 32.72″

40ct – Design: 16.6″ x 24.05″ Fabric: 22.6″ x 30.05″

Thread Legend - Ann

Ann’s sampler has been reproduced with Au Ver à Soie d’Alger silks and the skein quantities calculated based on 1 strand on 36ct fabric. We have provided a DMC conversion based on 2 strands on 36ct fabric. The model was stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen Pecan Butter.  The sampler has been reproduced using the colours on the front of the original sampler.

Soie d’Alger / DMC 

3833 x 1 / 371 x 1 ~ Mustard

4245 x 1 / 420 x 1  ~ Hazel nut brown – dark

F9 x 1 /422 x 1 ~ Hazel nut brown – light

1846 x 2 / 500 x 2 ~ Blue green – very dark

4535 x 1 / 610 x 1 ~ Drab brown – dark

4534 x 1 / 611 x 1 ~ Drab brown

3835 x 1 / 640 x 1 ~ Beige grey – very dark

3834 x 1 / 642 x 1 ~ Beige grey – dark

3845 x 1 / 645 x 1 ~ Beaver grey – very dark

2543 x 1 / 676 x 1 ~ Old gold – light

F5 x 2 / 739 x 2 ~ Tan – ultra very light

2646 x 1 / 814 x 1 ~ Garnet – dark

946 x 1 / 815 x 1 ~ Garnet – medium

3745 x 2 /  829 x 2  ~ Golden olive – very dark

4244 x 1 / 832 x 1 ~ Golden olive

4246 x 1 / 869 x 1 ~ Hazel nut brown – very dark

1726 x 1 / 924 x 1 ~ Grey green – very dark

5384 x 1 / 926 x 1 ~ Grey green – medium

1741 x 1 / 928 x 1 ~ Grey green – very light

4541 x 1 / 950 x 1 ~ Desert sand – light

3832 x 1 / 3013 x 1 ~ Khaki green – light

3715 x 2 / 3051 x 2 ~ Green grey – dark

1845 x 2 / 3362 x 2 ~ Pine green – dark

2915 x 1 / 3712 x 1 ~ Salmon – medium

1743 x 1 / 3768 x 1 ~ Grey green – dark

2916 x 2 / 3831 x 2 ~ Raspberry

 

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 320 stitches (w) x 378 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

28ct – Design: 22.86″ x 27.00″ Fabric: 28.86″ x 33.00″

32ct – Design: 20.00″ x 23.63″ Fabric: 26.00″ x 29.63″

36ct – Design: 17.78″ x 21.00″ Fabric: 23.78″ x 27.00″

40ct – Design: 16.00″ x 18.90″ Fabric: 22.00″ x 24.90″

Stitch Guide for Isabella & Ann

Ann and Isabella’s samplers have been rated as suitable for an intermediate stitcher but is not beyond a determined beginner wishing to explore satin stitch. Within their booklet are clear stitch diagrams, stitching notes, separate and enlarged graphs of the over one flower sprays (pages 30, 31 and 32) and close up photographs of the satin stitched motifs.

The samplers are stitched mainly using cross stitch over two threads. On Ann’s sampler there is some cross stitch over one thread – the verse, Ann’s name, age and six small but exquisite sprays of flowers. Satin stitch has been used for the beautiful wreaths which are a distinctive feature of both Ann and Isabella’s samplers. There are a handful of double running stitches.

On Isabella’s sampler there is also a small amount of cross stitch over one thread – Isabella’s name, age and the King’s initials “GR”. Satin stitch has been used for the beautiful Christmas Red wreath, the two small circular wreaths and some flower heads.

The charts show both the shade symbol and the colour block. Each square on the graph represents two linen threads. The graph has been annotated with instructions, stitch diagrams and shade numbers for ease of use. The cross stitched motifs have been counted out stitch by stitch, thread by thread. Ann and Isabella drew their wreaths onto the fabric and embroidered over. We have sketched out the wreaths and transferred them onto the graph so that you can count them out. No tracing is necessary. Before embroidering the satin stitches Isabella and Ann used a thick white and probably inexpensive thread both to outline and to pad out the vine and leaves of the wreaths.

 

Cross Stitch is made up of 2 stitches  worked over 1 or 2 threads. Make all your stitches cross in the same direction for a neat and uniform finish.

Satin Stitch –  run a straight stitch between each thread of the fabric in the direction shown on the chart. Use 1 thread  making  repeated passes until the desired coverage is achieved.

Double  Running Stitch is worked  in two journeys.  On  the outward   journey  you mark out the motif and on the return trip you  fill  in  the  gaps.  It  is  also  called Holbein Stitch.

 

N.B: For padding out the vines you could use either satin stitch, double running stitch or stem stitch.

Stem Stitch ~ when working from left to right. Bring needle up at 1 and down at 2. Bring needle back up halfway between 1 and 2 at 3. Be sure to keep thread below the needle. When working from right to left keep the thread above the needle.

Hands Across the Sea Samplers are on hand to help those stitching our charts. If you need assistance or have any questions we can be reached via the CONTACT page on our website. Our website has stitching tutorials which can be found in the “SEWING BASKET AND TOOLS” section.

Video

Notification of Chart Corrections

We apologise for any charting errors. Unfortunately these do occur from time to time.

The two flowers below each appear many times throughout Ann’s border. A charting mistake has been been identified and has been corrected. Please see the two stitches indicated within the highlighted area. This effects all the flowers in the border in these colourways.

 

Please note two corrections on Page 1 of Isabella’s chart highlighted by red boxes.

Ann Uffindell by Pamela Nesler

A finish by Mary Gurney