This sampler is brought to you as part of a series of “Little Gems” that are available as a pdf download by Hands Across the Sea Samplers. The project has been stitched using cross stitch over two threads and is rated as suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. Minnie’s sampler can be stitched either on Aida, Linaida, or linen.
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 four-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 four-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).
Minnie’s sweet sampler certainly stood out for us as an example of a child’s needlework. Using only two colours, the twelve-year-old child recorded her alphabet in the upper and lower case, her numbers through 1 to 10, and a verse taken from Exodus 20:12.
“Honour thy father and mother that thy days may belong upon the land and which the Lord thy God giveth thee”.
Whilst we have no contemporary account of Minnie’s character, we suspect that her concentration wavered as she plied her needle. You will need to take care and follow the charted stitches – Minnie has trouble keeping to a straight line in sections. For us this adds to the charm of a child’s work.
Minnie Standlake was born in the October of 1884 at South Tawton in the beautiful county of Devon to William Standlake and Elizabeth Ann née Arscott. William and Elizabeth, known as Annie, married in the September of 1873 in Okehampton, Devon. Minnie was one of ten children born over a 22-year period. The photograph is of Minnie’s mother believed to have been taken on the occasion of her marriage at approximately 22 years old. She was the daughter of a farmer of 180 acres, which is a considerably sized farm. The Arscotts and the Standlakes had been neighbours.
In the 1891 census Minnie and her family were living in a Cottage at Waye Farm in Throwleigh, Devon. Her father was an agricultural labourer; however by the time of the 1901 census, he had his own farm. The Standlake family can be found at Shilstone Farm at Throwleigh on Dartmoor. Minnie married Charles Henry Westlake in April 1909. In the 1911 census Minnie and Charles were living at 3 High Street, Okehampton. Charles worked as a labourer on the railway. Sadly, it is noted that their only child had died. Minnie’s life was a short one, she died in the March of 1923 at the age of 38. We shall have to wait for the release of the 1921 census to discover if she and Charles had any more children. The Greek word for honour means “to revere, prize, and value.” Someone cherished Minnie’s little sampler, and we very much hope that it was a daughter or son.
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. 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. Our website has stitching tutorials which can be found in the “Sewing Basket and Tools” section.
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