Margaret Ferguson ~ PDF download

£21.00

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Margaret’s sampler is offered to you in two different formats ~ as an instant PDF download and as a printed booklet. Details of the printed booklet can be found HERE.

 

What a pretty sampler the nine-year-old Margaret Ferguson stitched. Using wool and a slightly uneven linen of approximately 31/33 count, the young girl worked a stunning floral border with a profusion of Scotch roses. A wonderful achievement for such a young child!

When studying Margaret’s sampler, the eye is drawn to the house with a blue slate roof that is flanked by trees that are heavily laden with pink blooms. Margaret tells us that the house is the Manse of Harlaw. The house that she stitched is very true to the actual building. Old photos of the Manse can be found on the website canmore.org.uk.

Known today as Harlaw House, this grand Victorian home is set in three acres of grounds and can be found near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, in the North East of Scotland. Today, Inverurie is a prosperous town whose history stretches back well over a thousand years. It lies in a strategically important location on the north bank of the River Don, opposite Port Elphinstone, and on the west bank of the River Urie. As a result of its location it has seen conflict more than once in its history.

The house stands in an elevated position with spectacular views over the surrounding Aberdeenshire countryside. It has two stories, 3 windows harled with margins, and 3 gablets over the first-floor windows. It was designed by the architect William Henderson as a manse for the Free Kirk and was completed circa 1843. The church has long since disappeared.

Without more information, we are unable to say with any certainty which of the several Margaret Fergusons that can be found in census returns for the late 1800s stitched this stunning sampler. It is such a shame that we are unable to tell this gifted needleworker’s story. A lesson to us all about recording our information on our work in the hope that our stitching will enchant needleworkers in the 22nd century and beyond in the same way that we are today by the needlework of yesteryear!

The sampler is predominantly worked with cross stitch laid over two threads of linen. The window panes in the house are worked in satin stitches. The sampler is suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

The reproduction of Margaret’s sampler has been a team effort. Her sampler has been painstakingly charted by Sandra Moffitt, her booklet produced by Nicola Parkman, and the model lovingly stitched by Leona Sweeney. At the very core of Hands Across the Sea Samplers there is a team of needleworkers who are passionate about antique samplers and being able to share those samplers with you.

There are 4 versions of the pdf. You will be able to download any or all of the following pdf and graph versions:

Version 1 ~ A twenty-page colour chart.

Version 2 ~ A one-page colour chart (intended to be viewed/used on your tablet, phone, laptop, or computer).

Version 3 ~ A twenty-page black and white symbol chart.

Version 4 ~ A one-page black and white symbol chart (intended to be viewed/used on your tablet, phone, laptop, or computer).

 

Thread Legend

Margaret’s beautiful sampler has been reproduced using a palette of twenty-one colours. The model was stitched using Soie 100.3 from Au Ver à Soie. We have included below conversions for Soie d’Alger and DMC. Unless specified below only one spool or skein will be required.

 

1 strand of Soie 100.3 on 46 to 56ct  linen     

022 Golden olive ~ light

134 Apricot ~ light

152 Moss green ~ dark

199 Olive green ~ medium

240 Yellow ~ medium

247 Mustard ~ light

284 Terracotta ~ light

303  Golden olive

328 Khaki green ~  ** this colour is in short supply, the recommended substitute is #658

329 Olive green ~ light

425 Tan ~ light ** this colour is in short supply, the recommended substitute is #634

494 Salmon ~ medium

616 Golden olive ~ very dark

644 Coral ~ dark

652 Navy blue

654  Fern green ~ dark

655 Coral

673 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

685 Turquoise

755  Grey green ~ very dark

Noir Black

 

1 strand of Soie d’Alger on 36 to 46ct linen

124 Turquoise

523 Golden olive ~ light

524 Golden olive

526 Golden olive ~ very dark

622 Yellow ~ medium

1414 Navy blue

1746 Grey green ~ very dark

1844 Fern green ~ dark

2144 Moss green ~ dark

2212 Olive green ~ light

2223 Olive green ~ medium

2633 Terracotta ~ light

2642  Apricot ~ light

2643 Coral

2645 Coral ~ dark

2932 Salmon ~ medium

3344 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

3713 Khaki green ~ light

3832 Mustard ~ light

4522 Tan ~ light

Noir Black

 

2 strands of Soie d’Alger on 28 to 32ct linen

124 Turquoise

523 Golden olive ~ light

524 Golden olive

526 Golden olive ~ very dark

622 x 2 Yellow ~ medium

1414 x 2  Navy blue

1746 Grey green ~ very dark

1844 Fern green ~ dark

2144 x 2 Moss green ~ dark

2212 Olive green ~ light

2223 x 2 Olive green ~ medium

2633 Terracotta ~ light

2642  Apricot ~ light

2643 Coral

2645 x 2 Coral ~ dark

2932 Salmon ~ medium

3344 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

3713 x 2 Khaki green ~ light

3832 x 2  Mustard ~ light

4522 Tan ~ light

Noir Black

 

1 Strand on DMC 40 to 46ct linen

310 Black

336 Navy blue

349  Coral ~ dark

351  Coral

372 Mustard ~ light

437 Tan ~ light

520 Fern green ~ dark

580 Moss green ~ dark

597  Turquoise

733 Olive green ~ medium

734  Olive green ~ light

743 Yellow ~ medium

829 Golden olive ~ very dark

832 Golden olive

833 Golden olive ~ light

924 Grey green ~ very dark

3013 Khaki green ~ light

3712  Salmon ~ medium

3778 Terracotta ~ light

3790 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

3824 Apricot ~ light

 

2 Strands on DMC 36ct linen

310 Black

336 Navy blue

349  Coral ~ dark

351  Coral

372 x 2 Mustard ~ light

437 Tan ~ light

520 Fern green ~ dark

580 Moss green ~ dark

597  Turquoise

733 Olive green ~ medium

734  Olive green ~ light

743 Yellow ~ medium

829 Golden olive ~ very dark

832 Golden olive

833 Golden olive ~ light

924 Grey green ~ very dark

3013 Khaki green ~ light

3712  Salmon ~ medium

3778 Terracotta ~ light

3790 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

3824 Apricot ~ light

 

2 Strand on DMC 36ct linen

310 Black

336 Navy blue

349  Coral ~ dark

351  Coral

372 x 2 Mustard ~ light

437 Tan ~ light

520 Fern green ~ dark

580 x 2 Moss green ~ dark

597  Turquoise

733 x 2 Olive green ~ medium

734  Olive green ~ light

743 Yellow ~ medium

829 Golden olive ~ very dark

832 Golden olive

833 Golden olive ~ light

924 Grey green ~ very dark

3013 Khaki green ~ light

3712  Salmon ~ medium

3778 Terracotta ~ light

3790 Beige grey ~ ultra dark

3824 Apricot ~ light

 

 

Linen Sizes

The design area is 271 stitches (w) x 260 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3″ margin for finishing and framing. The model was stitched using a Zweigart-based linen overdyed to the shade Eureka by Fox and Rabbit.

 

28ct linen: Design: 19.36″ x 18.57″ Fabric: 25.36″ x 24.57″

32ct linen: Design: 16.94″ x 16.25″ Fabric: 22.94″ x 22.25″

36ct linen: Design: 15.06″ x 14.44″ Fabric: 21.06″ x 20.44″

40ct linen: Design: 13.55″ x 13.00″ Fabric: 19.55″ x 19.00″

46ct linen: Design: 11.78″ x 11.30″ Fabric: 17.78″ x 17.30″

56ct linen: Design: 9.68″ x 9.29″ Fabric: 15.68″ x 15.29″

Stitch Guide

The sampler is predominantly worked with cross stitch laid over two threads of linen. The window panes in the house are worked in satin stitches. The sampler is suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

Cross stitch ~ When working cross stitch, the top stitch should always lie 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 one thread making repeated passes until the desired coverage is achieved.