Sarah Borton 1815

£26.00

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Sarah finished her sampler in the ninth month of the year 1815.  After an extensive search we have found two Sarah Bortons who would fit our time frame.  One of our Sarahs was born in Acaster Malbis in York, England in 1805 and the other in Preston-next-Faversham, Kent, England in 1806. We suspect, due to the scene portrayed, that the latter girl is more likely to be our sampler maker. The sampler is a beautiful example of school girl art and fine needlework, especially for a 9 or 10 year old.

A rural English scene is one of the beautiful features of Sarah Borton’s sampler.  A farmer and servant are busy building hayricks;  a very important chore on a farm. The farmer’s wife is drawing a bucket of water from the well.  A meandering strawberry outer border surrounds this charming sampler.  There are four different alphabets stitched in cross stitch, Algerian eyelet, and satin stitch along with a dividing honeysuckle border.  Other stitches used are French knots, stem stitch, chain stitch and four sided stitch. The main feature of Sarah’s sampler is the pretty freehand wreath that contains the verse.  Sarah stitched two crowns on her sampler with the initials K and E.  It was a common practice in some schools in England and Scotland to stitch rows of crowns and coronets with a single letter underneath.  “K” for King, “D” for Duke and “E” for Earl etc.

Sarah used the very popular sampler verse “Jesus permit thy gracious Name to stand, As the first efforts, of an Infant hand”.  This verse is believed to have been composed by the hymn writer John Newton (best known for “Amazing Grace”) for his niece, but it is possible that it was composed by Isaac Watts for his niece.

There are a variety of stitches used: cross stitch over 1 and 2 threads, chain stitch, satin stitch, French knot, four sided stitch and Algerian eyelets. Sarah’s sampler has been rated as suitable for advanced stitchers, however, it is not beyond confident and determined intermediates. Within the sampler’s 32 page full colour booklet is a 9 page stitching guide with detailed photographs and comprehensive instructions.

Sigrid and Torsten greatly enjoyed reproducing Sarah, their debut sampler for Hands Across the Sea Samplers. The colour of the linen and silks used in the reproduction have been carefully matched to the time mellowed colours on the antique sampler.

Sigrid, Torsten and Hands Across the Sea Samplers hope that Sarah’s chart gives you many hours of enjoyment and we look forward to seeing photographs of your finished sampler.

At the very core of Hands Across the Sea Samplers is a team of needleworkers who are passionate about antique samplers and being able to share those samplers with you. We are on hand to help those stitching our charts. If you need assistance or have any questions we can be reached via the CONTACT page on our website. Our website has stitching tutorials which can be found in the “SEWING BASKET/TOOLS SECTION” section.

Video

Thread Legend

The sampler has been reproduced with Au Ver à Soie d’Alger silks and the skein quantities calculated based on 1 strand on 36ct fabric. We have provided a DMC conversion based on 2 strands on 36ct fabric. The model was stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen Sand Dune.

Soie d’Alger / DMC

Noir x 1  / 310 x 1 ~ Black

2642 x 1  / 352 x 1 ~ Coral – light

1842 x 1 / 368 x 1 ~ Pistachio green – light

1841 x 1  / 369 x 1 ~ Pistachio green – very light

3733 x 1  / 370 x 1 ~ Mustard – medium

3823 x 1 / 437 x 1 ~ Tan – light

1846 x 1 / 500 x 1 ~ Blue green – very dark

3726 x 1 / 520 x 1 ~ Fern green – dark

1744 x 1 / 597 x 1 ~ Turquoise

4535 x 1 / 611 x 1 ~ Drab brown

2522 x 1 / 677 x 1 ~ Old gold – very light

3812 x 1 / 738 x 1 ~ Tan – very light

2516 x 1  / 780 x 1 ~ Topaz – ultra very light

525 x 1 / 832 x 1 ~ Golden olive

4246 x 1 / 869 x 1 ~ Hazel nut brown – very dark

4123 x 1 /  898 x 1 ~ Coffee brown – very dark

2145 x 1 / 3011 x 1 ~ Khaki green – dark

4524 x  1 / 3045 x 1 ~ Yellow beige – dark

3715 x 1 / 3052 x 1 ~ Green grey – medium

3725 x 1 / 3362 x 1 ~ Pine green – dark

2915 x 1 / 3712 x 1 ~ Salmon – medium

4535 x  1 / 3790 x 1 ~ Beige grey – ultra dark

621 x 1  / 3822 x 1 ~ Straw – light

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 258 stitches (w) x 304 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

28ct – Design: 18.43″ x 21.71″ Fabric: 24.43″ x 27.71″

32ct – Design: 16.13″ x 19″ Fabric: 22.13″ x 25″

36ct – Design: 14.33″ x 16.89″ Fabric: 20.33″ x 22.89″

40ct – Design: 12.9″ x 15.2″ Fabric: 18.9″ x 21.2″

 

Stitch Guide

There are a variety of stitches used: cross stitch over 1 and 2 threads, chain stitch, satin stitch, French knot, four sided stitch and Algerian eyelets.

Sarah’s sampler has been rated as suitable for advanced stitchers, however, it is not beyond confident and determined intermediates. Within the chart’s booklet is a 9 page stitching guide with detailed photographs and comprehensive instructions.

A complimentary step-by-step photo trail tutorial has been provided through our website for the freehand flowers and leaves – see “Fearless Freehand – Step 2”

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Cross Stitch – is made up of 2 stitches worked over 1 or 2 threads. Make all your stitches cross in the same direction for a neat and uniform finish.

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Satin Stitch – run a straight stitch between each thread of fabric in the direction shown on the chart. Use 1 thread making repeated passes until the desired coverage is achieved.

Chain Stitch –  bring your needle up at 1, then go back down through the same hole to form a loop. Bring the needle up at 2 and pull the thread until the loop is the shape and size required. Repeat to create a chain. To end the row make a small stitch over the last loop to hold it in place.

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. Sarah worked her FSS with normal tension but it can be used for other projects with a pulled tension to create a lacy effect.

Stem stitch – when working from left to right. Bring your needle up at 1 and down at 2. Bring your needle back up halfway between 1 and 2 at 3. Be sure to keep thread below the needle. When working from right to left keep the thread above the needle.

French knots –  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 firmly around the needle tip three times (as Sarah did). 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.

Alergain eyelet – bring your needle up at 1, go down at 2, up at 3, down at 4 and so on until your eyelet stitch is complete. With each stitch pull the thread so that the fabric distorts slightly, as it is this tensioning action that creates the hole in the centre of each 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 the CONTACT page on our website. Our website has stitching tutorials which can be found in the “SEWING BASKET AND TOOLS” section.

 

Freehand Tutorial

Sarah’s sampler has a beautiful wreath surrounding the verse. The stitches she used to stitch the flowers, leaves and vines were stem stitch, satin stitch and French knots.

We want to take the fear out of the freehand elements of this sampler for you and for you to be able to stitch this sampler with confidence so we have counted out and graphed this wreath.

We have also designed a small motif together with a step-by-step photo trail tutorial for you to “have a go”. Whilst this motif has been made up it incorporates the flowers, leaves and vine that appear in the sampler.

 

The vine has been counted out and should be stitched exactly as charted in stem stitch.

Stem stitch – when working from left to right. Bring your needle up at 1 and down at 2. Bring your needle back up halfway between 1 and 2 at 3. Be sure to keep thread below the needle. When working from right to left keep the thread above the needle.

The vine is stitched with 2 outer rows of stem stitch in a dark green and an inner row in a lighter green.

The 3 rows should be stitched close together.

Next we will stitch the first leaf in the dark green. Using the guide lines in the chart for placement outline the leaf  in stem stitch.

Fill in the leaf with long satin stitches.

The stalk and calyx of the first flower is stitched in a dark green satin stitch. The flower head is stitched with long satin stitches. The flower head on the chart is to be used as a guide line. There is no need to count out each stitch. Work around the flower head either clockwise or anti clockwise in one colour.

Add the second colour, a slightly darker pink in the same way as the first colour.

Lastly add the third colour, a cream. On this pass the base of each stitch should share the same hole.

For the second flower we will use a medium green to stem stitch the stalk.

Next we will back stitch the shape of the flower head in a pale gold.

The flower head is filled with satin stitch.

Envisage the shape of the petals and how they spread out from the flower’s centre.

Leave the centre of the flower empty for now. Back stitch the outline of the flower head again.

Now we will add French knots to the centre.

French knots –  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 firmly around the needle tip three times (as Sarah did). 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.

We will now add the second leaf.

Outline the leaf in stem stitch in the lighter green.

Then fill in the leaf with satin satin. Repeat for the third leaf but this time add some of the darker green to the leaf.

Also add to the first leaf  two satin stitches in cream.

The stalk of the last flower is stitched in stem with the light and medium greens. In a pale lemon outline the flower head in long stitches, following the charted outline.

Fill with satin stitches adding some stitches in hazel nut brown.

Finally add three French knots to the flower.

We hope that you have enjoyed this short tutorial. We are committed to helping you stitch our designs. If you need further help please CONTACT us via our website.

 

 

 

Greeting Cards

We have a range of blank greeting cards available which feature Sarah’s beautiful sampler, full details can be found HERE.

From the Designers

From the designers:

It was fascinating to delve into the sampler. We could see where Sarah had motivation, had a bad day, or did not want to work on her sampler. We were able to see where she has traced the design for the freehand embroidery on the old linen, and how she had decided to stitch certain leaves and flowers differently. We have shared a part of Sarah’s life through the reproduction. Sarah had fallen into oblivion during the course of the 200 years. I think she never thought of her work being reawakened.
Everything is impermanent. When I stitch a Sampler it is part of my life with all memories. Samplers are values to touch and maintain. Torsten and I have resurrected a memory. Sarah is now in our hearts.
Es war faszinierend in das Bild einzutauchen. Wir konnten sehen wo Sarah Motivation besaß, oder einen schlechten Tag hatte oder auch keine Lust an ihrem Werk zu arbeiten.Wir konnten noch stellenweise ihre Handskizzen der freien Stickerei erkennen. Wir sahen den Entwurf auf dem alten Leinen und wie sie sich doch anders entschieden hat bestimmte Blätter und Blüten zu sticken.
Wir haben durch die Reproduktion ein Stück von Sarahs Leben geteilt. Sarah war in Laufe der 200 Jahre in Vergessenheit geraten. Ich glaube sie hat nie daran gedacht das gerade ihr Werk nochmals zum Leben erweckt werden wird.Alles ist vergänglich. Wenn ich eine Bild sticke ist das ein Teil meines Lebens mit allen Erinnerungen.
Sampler sind Werte zum Anfassen und erhalten die Erinnerung aufrecht.Torsten und ich haben eine Erinnerung wiedererweckt.Sarah ist in unserem Herzen.

 

Sigrid and Torsten

April 2017 Hessen Germany