Jane Vaughan 1724

£26.00

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Hands Across the Sea Samplers are pleased to present to you an early 18th century band sampler that was featured in the 2016  exhibition: “Now  Whilst My Hands Are Thus Employed, Three Centuries of Historic Samplers” held at Witney Antiques in England.

Worked in the traditional long, narrow band form of the 17th century, with brightly coloured silks, the original sampler was stitched by Jane when she was just seven years old. This is a remarkable achievement for such a young girl. Every sampler that has survived through the centuries is a wonderful memorial to their young makers. They owe their survival to the past generations that have cherished them and handed them down into our care.

Jane was born in 1711 during the twilight of Queen Anne’s reign. Unfortunately there is no trace of a Jane Vaughan’s birth but we do know that during her childhood George ascended the British throne as the first monarch of the House of Hanover in 1714. Although over fifty Roman Catholics bore closer blood relationships to Anne, the Act of Settlement 1701 prohibited Catholics from inheriting the British throne.

Jacobite rebellions in Scotland in 1715 led by Lord Mar, and in 1719 supported by Spanish troops intending to place James Edward Stuart (‘The old Pretender’) on the throne, found little support and were quickly defeated. The ‘South Sea Bubble’ in which shares in companies were purchased in rash financial speculation before a stock market crash in 1720 left many investors ruined.

During George’s reign, the powers of the monarchy diminished and Britain began a transition to the modern system of cabinet government led by a prime minister. Towards the end of his reign, actual political power was held by Sir Robert Walpole, now recognised as Britain’s first de facto prime minister.

In the early decades of the 18th century literacy became more important and the repeated rows of alphabets found in young girls’ needlework reflects the importance of the sampler as a method of teaching. Jane’s sampler portrays alphabets and numbers in cross stitch, Algerian Eyelets, satin stitch and Montenegrin stitch with each letter or number worked in different coloured silk thread. As with the inscriptions on many early 18th century samplers the words run into each other making it difficult to read the text.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I COMMITED SIN I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THY TESTIMONIS(testimonies)REMOVE FROM ME THE WAY OF INIQUITIE(iniquity) AND ACCORDING TO THI(thy) COMMANDMENTS DIRECT THOU ME PLEAD THOU MY CAUSE OMNIPOTENTIE HOUA FOR MANI(many) ARE MINE ENEMIES O LORD THOU KNOWEST.

IANE (Jane) VAUGHAN HVR (her) WORK BEGAN AND ENDED IN THE SEVEN YEAR OF HVY(her) AGE OC TOYE

It is possible the inscription has been taken from Psalm 119 which is the longest psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is referred to in Hebrew by its opening words, “Ashrei temimei derech” (“happy are those whose way is perfect”).

The lower half of the sampler has rows of border patterns including 2 “oriental” figures, Jane’s version of boxers.

Jane’s sampler has been rated as being suitable for an intermediate stitcher. For those wishing to progress she is a good introduction to the beauty of band samplers from the early 1700’s. All the motifs have been counted out for you within the graph and there are comprehensive instructions together with stitch guides.

The stitches used are cross stitch over 2 and 3 threads, satin stitch, Algerian eyelets, Montenegrin stitch over 2 and 3 threads, stem stitch, back stitch, double running stitch and faggot stitch.

Jane’s sampler was a joy to reproduce and stitch. I hope that you have many hours of enjoyment stitching this stunning band sampler ~ Nicola.

Thread Legend

The 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 Vintage Examplar.

Soie d’Alger/DMC

2644 x 3/347 x 3 ~ Salmon – very dark

3833 x 1/372 x 1  ~ Mustard – light

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

5024 x 1/501 x 1  ~ Blue green – dark

3815 x 1/832 x 1 ~  Golden Olive

3733 x 2/733 x 2 ~ Olive green – medium

3812 x 2/738 x 2 ~ Tan – very light

2926 x 3/815 x 3 ~ Garnet – medium

3745 x 1/830 x 1 ~ Golden olive – dark

3435 x 1/839 x 1 ~ Beige brown – dark

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

1814 x 1/927 x 1 ~ Grey green – light

1812 x 1/928 x ~ Grey green- very light

1745 x 1/931 x 1 ~ Antique blue – medium

3724 x 2 3363 x 2 ~ Pine green – medium

1746 x 2/3750 x 2 ~ Antique blue – very dark

1742 x 1/3753 x 1 ~ Antique blue – ultra very

 

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 168 stitches (w) x 680 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

28ct – Design: 12″ x 48.57″ Fabric: 18″ x 54.57″

32ct – Design: 10.5″ x 42.5″ Fabric: 16.5″ x 48.5″

36ct – Design: 9.33″ x 37.78″ Fabric: 15.33″ x 43.78″

40ct – Design: 8.4″ x 34″ Fabric: 14.4″ x 40″

Stitch Guide

Jane’s sampler has been rated as being suitable for an intermediate stitcher. For those wishing to progress she is a good introduction to the beauty of band samplers from the early 1700’s. All the motifs have been counted out for you within the graph and there are comprehensive instructions together with stitch guides.

The stitches used are cross stitch over 2 and 3 threads, satin stitch, Algerian eyelets, Montenegrin stitch over 2 and 3 threads, stem stitch, back stitch, double running stitch and faggot stitch.

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 fabric in the direction shown on the chart. Use 1 thread making repeated passes until the desired coverage is achieved.

Algerian Eyelet – Enter your needle at 1, go down at 2, up at 3, down at 4 and so on until your eyelet stitch is complete. With each stitch pull the thread slightly so that the fabric distorts slightly, as it’s this tensioning action that creates the holes in the centre of each stitch.

Montenegrin stitch consists of 3 stitches, a long oblique stitch (1), a short diagonal stitch (2) and an upright stitch (3).

Compensation stitches (a &b) are required at the start of a row and (c,d & e) at the end of the row to give a finished appearance.

The diagram above demonstrates the stitch path for Montenegrin stitch worked over 2 threads, the diagram below worked over 3 threads.

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.

Backstitch – stitches are sewn backwards to the direction of the stitching. Bring your needle up at 1 and back down at 2.Move forward and bring your needle up at 3, then
back down at 4 (1). Repeat.

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.

Faggot stitch is basically a back stitch. Two journeys are needed to complete
all four sides.

 

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.