Ruth Bates 1823 ~ a pdf download

£20.00

Add to Wishlist
Add to Wishlist

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

Those familiar with the Hands Across the Sea Samplers’ portfolio will recognise the names of the sisters Ann and Isabella Uffindell. It was whilst we were reproducing the sisters that Ruth Bates found us.

A sampler, badly in need of cleaning and repair that was stitched by a Ruth Bates when she was just eight years old, came up for auction. Ruth’s sampler had so many similarities to Isabella’s that there had to be a connection. We were able to make contact with one of Ruth’s descendants, a medieval archivist who had some information on the family’s history. Ruth was born in Plaistow, London, on August 16, 1815 to Joseph Bates and Esther Bates, née Cartwright.

The most interesting rabbit hole that Ruth’s sampler took us down was how Isabella and Ruth came to stitch two similar samplers six years apart at a time when children were educated in many different ways, or not at all, depending on their parents’ financial situation, social class, religion, and values?

We believe the connection is the governess Elizabeth Bates, Ruth’s unmarried paternal aunt. Whilst Ruth’s father was alive it would have been natural for his unmarried sister to live with the family and assist with the care and education of his young daughters. Elizabeth probably taught Ruth to stitch using her own childhood sampler to work from.

Ruth’s father died whilst she was still a young girl. Her mother, in reduced circumstances and living off an annuity, moved the family from Plaistow into a smaller house in St Leonard’s, Shoreditch. An area popular with nonconformist families and a very short distance from Finsbury and the Uffindells.

It is possible that there was not enough space for Elizabeth to continue to live with the family and without her brother’s financial support, she had to seek work as a governess. On the 1841 census Elizabeth was recorded as lodging with the Uffindells.

The Uffindells were not in the financial position or class to employ a governess but it is possible that when Elizabeth was not teaching her charges, she spent some of her leisure time teaching Isabella and Ann needlework, either through kindness or as part payment towards her rent. This would explain why Ruth and Isabella’s samplers have so many similarities.

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

Version 1 ~ A pdf with a twenty-five-page colour chart.

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

Version 3 ~ A pdf with a twenty-five-page black and white symbol chart.

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

The design is suitable for intermediate and advanced needleworkers but is not beyond a determined beginner. The stitches used are cross stitch over 1 and 2 threads and satin stitch.

 

With our grateful thanks to Lisa Brown who lovingly stitched the model of Ruth’s sampler. 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.

Guest checkout ~ Upon completion of purchase you will instantly receive an email confirming your order and giving you a link to download the .pdf. It is important that you ensure the correct email address is given. If the email is not received into your in-box please check your spam folder. You may find it easier to register as a user on our website as you will then be able to visit your account to download the .pdf directly to your PC.

Thread Legend

Ruth’s sampler has been stitched with a palette of twenty-four colours from Au Ver à Soie’s range of Soie d’Alger. We have provided conversions for Soie 100.3 and DMC. Estimated thread quantities for varying linen counts and the number of strands of thread used have been listed below.

Please note that on 40ct linen and above when stitching the verse and dedication (cross stitch over one thread) we would recommend substituting the Soie d’Alger 3446 for Soie 100.3 627.

Soie d’Alger ~ 1 strand on 46ct linen

 F09

F11 x 2

3446

1745

2543

2757

2911

3195

3424

3724 x 2

3725

3733

3734

3745

3823

3835

4245

4246

4523

4524

4534

4624

4625

5025

 

Soie d’Alger ~ 1 strand on 40ct linen

 F09

F11 x 2

3446

1745

2543

2757

2911

3195

3424

3724 x 2

3725

3733

3734

3745

3823

3835

4245

4246

4523

4524

4534

4624

4625

5025

 

Soie d’Alger ~ 1 strand on 36ct linen

 F09

F11 x 2

3446

1745

2543

2757

2911

3195

3424

3724 x 2

3725

3733

3734

3745

3823

3835

4245

4246

4523

4524

4534

4624

4625

5025

 

Soie d’Alger ~ 2 strands on 28ct linen

F09

F11 x 3

3446 x 2

1745 x 2

2543

2757

2911

3195

3424 x 2

3724 x 3

3725 x 2

3733

3734 x 2

3745

3823

3835

4245

4246

4523

4524

4534

4624 x 2

4625

5025

 

Soie 100.3 ~ 1 strand on 46ct linen

425

211

627

486

148

468

160

584

550

707

705

580

274

455

746

576

492

048

156

634

572

499

518

209

 

DMC ~ 1 strand on 40ct linen

422

3033

3799

3768

3822

927

754

3790

3022

3346

895

733

3011

830

437

640

680

420

436

3828

612

498

902

500

 

DMC ~ 2 strands on 36ct linen

422

3033 x 2

3799

3768

3822

927

754

3790

3022

3346 x 2

895

733

3011

830

437

640

680

420

436

3828

612

498

902

500

 

DMC ~ 2 strands on 28ct linen

422

3033 x 2

3799

3768

3822 x 2

927

754

3790

3022 x 2

3346 x 2

895 x 2

733

3011 x 2

830

437

640

680

420

436

3828

612

498 x 2

902

500

 

 

 

 

 

Linen Sizes

The design area is 296 stitches (w) x 395 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3″ margin for finishing and framing.

The model was stitched on Weeks Dyeworks 46ct Zweigart-based linen in Parchment. This colour is available in various counts. You should use a count of linen that you will enjoy working on.

28ct: Design: 21.14″ x 28.21″ Fabric: 27.14″ x 34.21″

30ct: Design: 19.73″ x 26.33″ Fabric: 25.73″ x 32.33″

32ct: Design: 18.50″ x 24.69″ Fabric: 24.50″ x 30.69″

36ct: Design: 16.44″ x 21.94″ Fabric: 22.44″ x 27.94″

40ct: Design: 14.80″ x 19.75″ Fabric: 20.80″ x 25.75″

46ct: Design: 12.87″ x 17.17″ Fabric: 18.87″ x 23.17″

56ct: Design: 10.57″ x 14.11″ Fabric: 16.57″ x 20.11″

62/52ct: Design: 9.55″ x 15.19″ Fabric: 15.55″ x 21.19″

Stitch Guide

The design is suitable for intermediate and advanced needleworkers but is not beyond a determined beginner. The stitches used are cross stitch over 1 and 2 threads and satin 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.

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.

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.

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/tools” section.