Matilda Swallow 1820 ~ the 2021 Queen of the May ~ a pdf download

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Each year Hands Across the Sea Samplers publishes a sampler which we consider to be not only beautiful but outstandingly so and worthy to be crowned our Queen of the May.

We are pleased to offer to you Matilda Swallow our Queen of the May for the year 2021.

Available as a printed booklet or as a pdf download. Click HERE for the printed booklet.

Matilda’s sampler is without doubt a “bobby dazzler”; there is so much to delight the eye. She has been reproduced using the still vibrant colours from the front of her sampler.

Matilda showed great diligence and industry with her needle. The verse she chose for her sampler “The Lord my pasture shall prepare and feed me with a shepherd’s care” is the first verse of the hymn “The Good Shepherd” written by Joseph Addison.

The dominant motif in Matilda’s sampler is the magnificent Temple of Fame nestled between two fruiting trees and guarded by two red lions. The lions symbolise strength, courage, dignity, and pride. Two angels with trumpets signifying that they are the voice of God hover either side of the temple.

We have found a Matilda Swallow being baptised on September 6, 1807 in Bengeo, Hertfordshire. We were unable to find a marriage for Matilda, but we did find a burial record for a Matilda Swallow in Tottenham, London on October 24, 1847. This Matilda is recorded in the 1841 census working as a servant for a family in Tottenham, London.

We have found Matilda’s mother Ann in family history records still alive at aged eighty living with her son and his family in Hertfordshire. Eighty was a very good age for the times.

It is possible that all Matilda’s family had to remind them of her was the beautiful sampler she stitched when she was thirteen years old. As it was passed down the generations, the sampler has certainly been cherished and well cared for through the ensuing years. We hope that your Matilda will be equally cherished by your family.The sampler, whilst a large one, is suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

Matilda’s sampler has been painstakingly charted by Sandra Moffitt and lovingly stitched by Judy Hall. 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

Matilda’s sampler has been reproduced using a palette of thirty-eight colours carefully matched to the colours found on the front of the sampler today. The model was stitched using Soie d’Alger from Au Ver a Soie. We have included below conversions for Soie 100.3 and DMC.

Estimated thread quantities for varying linen counts and the number of strands of thread have been listed below.

 

1 Strand of Soie 100.3 on 46ct Linen

022 ~ Golden olive

071 ~ Pewter ~ very light

076 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

077 ~ Raspberry ~ light

079 ~ Moss green ~ dark

080 ~ Beige grey ~ light

129 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

142 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

152 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

154 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

155 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

156 ~ Hazelnut brown

211 ~ Off white

252 ~ Mauve ~ medium

303 ~ Old gold ~ medium

309 ~ Grey green ~ very light

323 ~ Old gold ~ light

479 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

468 ~ Grey green ~ medium

486 ~ green ~ dark

494 ~ Salmon

524 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

525 ~ Copper

542 ~ Tan

572 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

584 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

588 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

607 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

616 ~ Olive ~ dark

634 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

681 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

705 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

712 ~ Grey green ~ light

740 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

756 ~ Black avocado green

779 ~ Coral ~ dark

Crème ~ Cream

Noir ~ Black

 

1 Strand of Soie d’Alger on  46ct Linen

516 ~ Moss green ~ dark

524 ~ Golden olive

525 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

526 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

615 ~ Copper

935 ~ Coral ~ dark

1735 ~ Grey green ~ dark

1742 ~ Grey green ~ very light

2214 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

2243 ~ Old gold ~ medium

2541 ~ Off white

2621 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

2756 ~ Grey green ~ light

2757 ~ Grey green ~ medium

2924 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

2931 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

2932 ~ Salmon

2943 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3011 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3024 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3026 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

3222 ~ Pewter ~ very light

3411 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

3433 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3435 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3711 ~ Beige grey ~ light

3725 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3726 ~ Black avocado green

3812 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

4113 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

4222 ~ Old gold ~ light

4234 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown

4235 ~ Tan

4241 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

4534 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

4645 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

Brut ~ Cream

Noir ~ Black

 

1 Strand of Soie d’Alger on 40ct Linen

516 ~ Moss green ~ dark

524 x 2 ~ Golden olive

525 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

526 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

615 ~ Copper

935 ~ Coral ~ dark

1735 ~ Grey green ~ dark

1742 ~ Grey green ~ very light

2214 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

2243 ~ Old gold ~ medium

2541 ~ Off white

2621 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

2756 ~ Grey green ~ light

2757 ~ Grey green ~ medium

2924 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

2931 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

2932 ~ Salmon

2943 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3011 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3024 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3026 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

3222 ~ Pewter ~ very light

3411 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

3433 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3435 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3711 ~ Beige grey ~ light

3725 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3726 ~ Black avocado green

3812 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

4113 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

4222 ~ Old gold ~ light

4234 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown

4235 ~ Tan

4241 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

4534 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

4645 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

Brut ~ Cream

Noir ~ Black

 

1 Strand of Soie d’Alger on 36ct Linen

516 ~ Moss green ~ dark

524 x 2 ~ Golden olive

525 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

526 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

615 ~ Copper

935 ~ Coral ~ dark

1735 ~ Grey green ~ dark

1742 ~ Grey green ~ very light

2214 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

2243 ~ Old gold ~ medium

2541 ~ Off white

2621 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

2756 ~ Grey green ~ light

2757 ~ Grey green ~ medium

2924 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

2931 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

2932 ~ Salmon

2943 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3011 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3024 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3026 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

3222 ~ Pewter ~ very light

3411 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

3433 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3435 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3711 ~ Beige grey ~ light

3725 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3726 ~ Black avocado green

3812 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

4113 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

4222 ~ Old gold ~ light

4234 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown

4235 ~ Tan

4241 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

4534 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

4645 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

Brut ~ Cream

Noir ~ Black

 

2 Strands of Soie d’Alger on 28ct Linen

516 ~ Moss green ~ dark

524 x 3 ~ Golden olive

525 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

526 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

615 x 2 ~ Copper

935 x 2 ~ Coral ~ dark

1735 ~ Grey green ~ dark

1742 ~ Grey green ~ very light

2214 x 3 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

2243 ~ Old gold ~ medium

2541 ~ Off white

2621 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

2756 x 2~ Grey green ~ light

2757 ~ Grey green ~ medium

2924 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

2931 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

2932 ~ Salmon

2943 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3011 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3024 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3026 x 2~ Raspberry ~ very dark

3222 ~ Pewter ~ very light

3411 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

3433 x 2 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3435 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3711 ~ Beige grey ~ light

3725 x 2 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3726 x 2 ~ Black avocado green

3812 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

4113 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

4222 ~ Old gold ~ light

4234 x 3 ~ Hazelnut brown

4235 ~ Tan

4241 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

4534 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

4645 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

Brut ~ Cream

Noir x 2 ~ Black

 

2 Strands of DMC on 36ct Linen

151 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

168 ~ Pewter ~ very light

310 ~ Black

347 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

349 ~ Coral ~ dark

422 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

436 ~ Tan

580 ~ Moss green ~ dark

644 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

676 ~ Old gold ~ light

712 ~ Cream

729 ~ Old gold ~ medium

730 x 2 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

739 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

746 ~ Off white

760 ~ Salmon

777 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

822 ~ Beige grey ~ light

829 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

830 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

832 x 2 ~ Golden olive

840 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

921 ~ Copper

926 ~ Grey green ~ medium

927 x 2 ~ Grey green ~ light

928 ~ Grey green ~ very light

934 x 2 ~ Black avocado green

936 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3031 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3354 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3768 ~ Grey green ~ dark

3802 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

3803 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3827 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

3833 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3863 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3864 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

3828 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown

 

2 Strands of DMC on 28ct Linen

151 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra light

168 ~ Pewter ~ very light

310 ~ Black

347 ~ Salmon ~ very dark

349 ~ Coral ~ dark

422 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light

436 ~ Tan

580 ~ Moss green ~ dark

644 ~ Beige grey ~ medium

676 ~ Old gold ~ light

712 ~ Cream

729 ~ Old gold ~ medium

730 x 2 ~ Olive green ~ very dark

739 ~ Tan ~ ultra very light

746 ~ Off white

760 ~ Salmon

777 x 2 ~ Raspberry ~ very dark

822 ~ Beige grey ~ light

829 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark

830 ~ Golden Olive ~ dark

832 x 2 ~ Golden olive

840 ~ Beige brown ~ medium

921 ~ Copper

926 ~ Grey green ~ medium

927 x 2 ~ Grey green ~ light

928 ~ Grey green ~ very light

934 x 2 ~ Black avocado green

936 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

3031 ~ Mocha brown ~ very dark

3768 ~ Grey green ~ dark

3802 ~ Antique mauve ~ very dark

3827 ~ Golden brown ~ pale

3803 ~ Mauve ~ medium

3354 ~ Dusty rose ~ light

3828 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown

3833 ~ Raspberry ~ light

3863 ~ Mocha beige ~ medium

3864 ~ Mocha beige ~ light

Linen Sizes

The design area is 364 stitches (w) x 422 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3″ margin for finishing and framing. We recommend that you use a count and fabric that you enjoy working with.

Our suggested linens for Matilda’s sampler are Legacy Linen’s Victoria Sponge Cake in 30ct, Corn Tassel in 37ct, Foxtail Millett in 45ct, or Sycamore Seedpod in 53/63ct.

 

28ct linen: Design: 26.00″ x 30.14″ Fabric: 32.00″ x 36.14″

30ct linen: Design: 24.27″ x 28.13″ Fabric: 30.27″ x 34.13″

32ct linen: Design: 22.75″ x 26.38″ Fabric: 28.75″ x 32.38″

36ct linen: Design: 20.22″ x 23.44″ Fabric: 26.22″ x 29.44″

40ct linen: Design: 18.20″ x 21.10″ Fabric: 24.20″ x 27.10″

46ct linen: Design: 15.83″ x 18.35″ Fabric: 21.83″ x 24.35″

56ct linen: Design: 13.00″ x 15.07″ Fabric: 19.00″ x 21.07″

62/52ct linen: Design: 11.74″ x 16.23″ Fabric: 17.74″ x 22.23″

Stitch Guide

Matilda’s sampler is predominantly worked with cross stitch laid over two threads of linen. The verse and the shepherd’s face are worked in cross stitch over one thread of linen. Matilda also used French knots, Algerian eyelets, and satin stitches together with a combination of stitches to work the centre of each of the flowers that form the cartouche surrounding her name. The sampler, whilst a large one, is suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

 

 

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.

You have to be careful not to pull the thread through the intersection of the woven linen threads. The warp and weft fibres are not “interlocked” at intersections; they simply pass over and under one another. As a result, when stitching over one thread, some stitches can slip and disappear. Lay your stitches away from the direction you are working. This prevents the thread from slipping through the intersections.

 

 

Algerian eyelet ~ When worked over four threads of linen, 8 stitches are 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

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.

French knot ~ Bring your needle up through the fabric. Holding the thread taut with the finger and thumb of one hand use the other hand to wind the thread around the needle tip twice. Still holding the thread, insert the needle close to where you brought your needle up. Pull the needle and thread through to the back of the fabric until the knot is formed and lies securely on the surface.

The centre of each of the flowers in the cartouche surrounding Matilda’s name are created by first working 4 elongated lazy daisy stitches. If you are working on a low count fabric you may need to add a long straight stitch in between the lazy daisy stitches to provide adequate coverage of your linen. A cross stitch is then worked over the point where the lazy daisy stitches meet. Finally outline the cross stitch with four straight stitches. This could be achieved with back stitch or double running stitch.

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 email, address shown below, or the contact page on our website.

Chart Correction

Correction #01 June 10, 2021 ~ Please note that stitch in the border vine (circled in green) shows an incorrect colour. The stitch should be in the same colour as the rest of the vine ~ 3726 / 756 / 934 Black avocado green.