Isabella Uffindell 1829 was originally published by Hands Across the Sea Samplers in a special limited-edition booklet as a duet with her sister Ann Tong Uffindell 1835. Isabella and Ann were our gift to our stitching sisters in 2017, and as they each make their solo appearance at the end of 2019, they are once again our gift to a new audience of sampler lovers. They come from our hearts to your hands.
When we reproduce samplers, we not only follow the path that the little girls’ needles and floss originally took but as we research the girls, we also follow a meandering thread back through time casting a light onto their lives.
Isabella and Ann 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.
Isabella has been reproduced using the colours on the front of the samplers in 2016.
Ann’s sampler can be found HERE.
Stitch Guide
Isabella’s sampler has been rated as suitable for an intermediate stitcher but is not beyond a determined beginner wishing to explore satin stitch.
Her sampler is stitched mainly using cross stitch over two threads. 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. Isabella drew her wreath onto the fabric and embroidered over. We have sketched out the wreath and transferred it onto the graph so that you can count it out. No tracing is necessary. Before embroidering the satin stitches Isabella 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.
Chart Correction
Please note that there is a correction for page 7 and 9 of the graph in the areas highlighted in the photographs below. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
