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In the year 1827 in the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, a young girl finished stitching a sampler. Today, we celebrate the life of Mary Cornwall through the reproduction of her sampler.
Scotland’s family history records are not the easiest ones to research, and without an age to indicate a year of birth, we cannot pinpoint Mary with certainty. However, a possible Mary was born on March 24, 1819. She was baptised in Saint Cuthberts in Edinburgh on April 25th. Her parents were James Cornwall and his wife Elizabeth, née Sime.
One of the distinguishing features of Scottish samplers are the inclusion of family initials. Mary’s parents’ initials matched the first two recorded by Mary on her sampler. Mary had a brother Thomas and a sister Margaret, a TC and an MC are the third and fourth set of initials on her sampler.
There was often more than one alphabet worked on a sampler. We were particularly taken with the second alphabet Mary worked. Whilst it is the same font as the first, it is worked with four-sided stitch. Note the double “V”.
Girls began to learn needlework by stitching a marking sampler (a primer). Marking samplers served a dual purpose – they taught a child basic embroidery technique and the alphabet and numbers. The letters and numbers learned while embroidering a marking sampler were especially useful, since it was important that a wife was able to keep track of her linens. This was accomplished by marking them, usually in a cross stitch, with her initials and a number. In stitching her sampler, Mary demonstrated that she had mastered the art of marking.
Mary also evidenced that she could work other stitches.
Mary worked her sampler primarily in cross stitch over two threads of linen, together with a section under her name which she worked in cross stitch over four threads of linen. This will work up very quickly. She used cross stitch over one thread to record her name. The other stitches used are backstitch, alternating double backstitch, Algerian eyelet, and four-sided stitch.
Mary’s sampler has been painstakingly reproduced by Lisa Brown and the model lovingly stitched by Nicola Parkman. 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.
Thread Legend
Mary’s delightful monochrome sampler has been reproduced using Soie 100.3 from Au Ver à Soie. We have provided conversions for Soie d’Alger and DMC. Estimated thread quantities for varying linen counts and the number of strands of thread used have been listed below.
Soie 100.3 on 46ct to 56ct linen with 1 strand of#523 x 1
Soie d’Alger on 46ct linen with 1 strand of #2916 x 1
Soie d’Alger on 36ct to 40ct linen with 1 strand of #2916 x 2
Soie d’Alger on 28ct to 32ct linen with 2 strands of #2916 x 3
DMC on 40ct linen with 1 strand of #347 x 1
DMC on 32ct to 36ct linen with 2 strands of #347 x 2
DMC on 28ct linen with 2 strands of #347 x 3
Linen Sizes
The model was stitched using 56ct Zweigart-based linen that was overdyed to the shade Muddy Duck by Tabbycat Linen. The original sampler was stitch on approximately 25ct linen.
The design area is 102 stitches (w) x 167 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3" margin for finishing and framing.
28ct linen: Design: 7.29" x 11.93" Fabric: 13.29" x 17.93"
32ct linen: Design: 6.38" x 10.44" Fabric: 12.38" x 16.44"
36ct linen: Design: 5.67" x 9.28" Fabric: 11.67" x 15.28"
40ct linen: Design: 5.10" x 8.35" Fabric: 11.10" x 14.35"
4
6ct linen: Design: 4.43" x 7.26" Fabric: 10.43" x 13.26"
56ct linen: Design: 3.64" x 5.96" Fabric: 9.64" x 11.96"
Stitch Guide
Mary worked her sampler primarily in cross stitch over two threads of linen, together with a section under her name which she worked in cross stitch over four threads of linen. This will work up very quickly. She used cross stitch over one thread to record her name. The other stitches used are backstitch, alternating double backstitch, Algerian eyelet, and four-sided stitch.
Cross stitch ~ is made up of two stitches worked over one or two threads. You should make all your stitches cross in the same direction for a neat and uniform finish.
Algerian eyelets ~ When worked over four threads of linen, there are 8 stitches laid to create an eyelet. Do not tug on the thread using your needle as your thread will soon break. Instead apply pressure by pulling on the thread close to the stitch. Even tension should be applied, so each individual stitch sits well within the eyelet.
Alternating double backstitch ~ This is a reversible stitch when the stitch path above is followed.
Four-sided stitch ~ forms a square (straight stitch) on the front of the fabric and a cross (diagonal stitch) on the back. Follow the sequence of stitches opposite.
Backstitch ~ When working from your left to the right, bring your needle up at 1 and down at 2; then, moving to the right, bring your needle up at 3 and go back down at 1. Move to the right and bring your needle up at 4 and go back down at 3. Repeat.
