The sampler is offered to you in two different formats ~ as a printed booklet and as an instant PDF download. Details of the PDF download can be found HERE.
Sarah finished her delightful sampler when she was 12 years old in 1841 at Brighouse. The motifs, the layout, and her chosen colour palette have charmed us.
The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities. Sarah worked her sampler with cross stitch over two threads of linen, with the dedication being cross stitch over one thread of linen, and some small sections of satin stitch.
The original sampler was stitched with cotton thread on approx. 32ct linen The stitches she used are cross stitch over two threads of linen, with the dedication being cross stitch over one thread of linen, and some small sections of satin stitch.
The small mill town of Brighouse stands on the bank of the River Calder in North Yorkshire. In 1753 there were only 55 houses in Brighouse with many local people working in the textile industry from their own homes.
Sarah was born on December 22, 1828 and baptised on February 12, 1829 at the Independent Brighouse Chapel. Her parents were William Fletcher, a waterman, and his wife Hannah (née Lockwood). Two more daughters, Pricilla and Ann, were born to William and Hannah.
In the 1841 census the Fletcher family can be found living on New Road. In the 1851 census Sarah was in service as a housemaid to a merchant’s family in Wells Close, Hipperholme cum Brighouse. It appears that her father had died by this time, and her mother can be found as the head of the household with Pricilla and two grandchildren. She is noted as a proprietor of houses, indicating a level of financial comfort. Unfortunately, we can find no further mention with a degree of certainty of our Sarah.
With grateful thanks to J Lee Halpin who lovingly stitched the model for Sarah’s sampler.
We hope that Sarah will bring you much pleasure as you recreate her sampler.
Thread Legend
Sarah’s delightful sampler has been reproduced using Soie 100.3 from Au Ver à Soie. We have provided conversions for Soie d’Alger and DMC. Only one spool or skein of each colour is required with the exception of DMC 3012, where two skeins are required for 28–36ct, and Soie d’Alger 3835, where two skeins are required for 36ct and three skeins for 28ct.
There is currently a global shortage of some shades of silk. We have liaised with Access Commodities, the US distributors for Au Ver à Soie, to identify which shades may be difficult to source. There is 1 shade of Soie 100.3 and 1 shade of Soie d'Alger where we have suggested alternative shades.
Soie 100.3 ~ Colour Description 031 ~ Old gold ~ medium
048 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ dark
205 ~ Coffee brown ~ dark
224 ~ Old gold ~ light
** #154523 ~ Salmon ~ very dark
580 ~ Khaki green ~ medium
621 ~ Grey green ~ light
631 ~ Dusty rose ~ very dark
661 ~ Golden yellow ~ very light
697 ~ Brown grey ~ very dark
Soie d'Alger ~ Colour Description1814 ~ Grey green ~ light
2916 ~ Salmon ~ very dark
** #26452936 ~ Dusty rose ~ very dark
3812 ~ Old gold ~ light
3835 ~ Khaki green ~ medium
4216 ~ Coffee brown ~ dark
4242 ~ Old gold ~ medium
4246 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ dark
4241 ~ Golden yellow ~ very light
4536 ~ Brown grey ~ very dark
DMC ~ Colour Description150 ~ Dusty rose ~ very dark
347 ~ Salmon ~ very dark
676 ~ Old gold ~ light
729 ~ Old gold ~ medium
801 ~ Coffee brown ~ dark
869 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ dark
927 ~ Grey green ~ light
3012 ~ Khaki green ~ medium
3021 ~ Brown grey ~ very dark
3078 ~ Golden yellow ~ very light
Linen Sizes
The design area is 135 stitches (w) x 251 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3" margin for finishing and framing. The model was stitched on 45ct linen in Jersey Cream from Legacy Linen. You should stitch Sarah on your preferred colour and count of linen.
28ct linen: Design: 9.64" x 17.93" Fabric: 15.64" x 23.93"
32ct linen: Design: 8.44" x 15.69" Fabric: 14.44" x 21.69"
36ct linen: Design: 7.50" x 13.94" Fabric: 13.50" x 19.94"
40ct linen: Design: 6.75" x 12.55" Fabric: 12.75" x 18.55"
46ct linen: Design: 5.87" x 10.91" Fabric: 11.87" x 16.91"
56ct linen: Design: 4.82" x 8.96" Fabric: 10.82" x 14.96"
Stitch Guide
The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities. Sarah worked her sampler with cross stitch over two threads of linen, with the dedication being cross stitch over one thread of linen, and some small sections of satin stitch.
Cross stitch ~ is made up of two stitches worked over two threads. You should make all your stitches cross in the same direction for a neat and uniform finish.
Satin stitch ~ run a straight stitch between each thread of fbric in the direction shown on the chart. Use one thread making repeated passes until the desired coverage is achieved.
