The needlework of Dorcie Sampson 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.
Dorcie Elizabeth Sampson was born in 1892 in Kintbury, Berkshire. She was the eldest of five children born to George John Sampson, a carpenter and joiner, and his wife Sarah, née Norris.
There were two fee-paying boarding schools in the village together with Anglican and Wesleyan Methodist Sunday schools. Dorcie recorded on her 1905 sampler that she attended St Mary’s School which was a daily school founded 1831.
A friend who is a needleworker was born in the village of Kintbury and lived there until she married in 1963. She wrote to me to tell me “… the name Sampson was quite common in the village, and I was (unsuccessfully) given piano lessons by a Mrs Sampson in the 50s; her family were farriers with a smithy in the nearby village of Elcot and another in the village of Hamstead Marshall. Her son Geoff was farrier for Royalty and had a Royal Warrant from the late Queen Mother, as he shod her racehorses.”
Dorcie married Albert Jubilee Beavis in 1916. In the 1911 census return, Albert can be found boarding with the Sampson family in Church Street, Kintbury. Albert’s occupation was recorded as a farrier and Dorcie’s as a draper’s assistant.
Dorcie died on April 4, 1949 at The War Memorial Hospital Andover, Hampshire. Albert died two years later in 1951. We have found no record of them being blessed with children. When Albert died, his estate was left to one of Dorcie’s brothers.
We wonder how Dorcie’s childhood needlework stayed together down the years. If only we could ask her!
When reproducing Dorcie’s three samplers, we finished the “Honesty” sampler into a mattress pin cushion. We have not included detailed finishing instructions with this booklet as there are numerous “how-to” video tutorials available on YouTube.
For the base of the pin cushion, we stitched out the border pattern used on the three larger panels that are charted within this booklet. You may wish to add your own name to the base panel using the alphabet Dorcie stitched in her marking sampler.
We finished the pin cushion by whip stitching the backstitched blue lines together and used crushed walnut shells to fill the pin cushion.
The samplers are worked with cross stitch over two threads of linen and some Algerian eyelets. They have been rated suitable for all levels of abilities and can be worked on Aida or linen.
Thread Legend
Dorcie’s three samplers have been reproduced with a palette of 10 colours from Au Ver à Soie’s range of Soie 100.3. We have provided conversions for Soie d’Alger (SDA) and DMC below. Only one skein or spool is required on 36 to 56ct linen for the two samplers and the “Honesty” motto sampler (when finished as a sampler). If you stitch the two samplers, and the “Honesty” motto sampler is finished as a pin cushion, you will need two skeins of DMC when working on 36ct linen and two skeins of SDA when working on 36 and 40ct linen. No extra spools of Soie 100.3 are required.
The 1906 Sampler 100.3 / SDA / DMC ~ Colour 067
/ 3312
/ 316
~ Antique mauve
77
/ 2914
/ 3833
~ Raspberry
109
/ 2936
/ 815
~ Garnet
152
/ 2143
/ 581
~ Moss green
427
/ 1433
/ 318
~ Steel grey
491
** / 2136
/ 3345
~ Hunter green
** this shade is in short supply we recommend 079 as a substitution647
/ 2125
/ 470
~ Avocado green
679
** / 544
/ 743
~ Yellow
** this shade is in short supply we recommend 674 as a substitution The 1905 Sampler and the “Honesty” Motto Sampler 100.3 / SDA / DMC ~ Colour313
/ 1716
/ 311
~ Navy blue
664
/ 1026
/ 321
~ Christmas red
Linen Sizes
The models were stitched on a Zweigart-based linen overdyed to the shade “Lallybroch” by Tabbycat Linens. The samplers have been rated as suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and are worked in cross stitch over 2 threads of linen along with eight-legged eyelets over 4 threads of linen. They can be worked on Aida, Linaida, or linen. Our calculations have included a 3" margin for finishing and framing unless specified.
1905 sampler ~ 107 stitches (w) x 140 stitches (h). 36ct linen: Design: 5.94" x 7.78" Fabric: 11.94" x 13.78"
40ct linen: Design: 5.35" x 7" Fabric: 11.35" x 13" 46ct linen: Design: 4.65" x 6.09" Fabric: 10.65" x 12.09"
1906 sampler ~ 103 stitches (w) x 115 stitches (h). 36ct linen: Design: 5.72" x 6.39" Fabric: 11.72" x 12.39"
40ct linen: Design: 5.15" x 5.75" Fabric: 11.15" x 11.75" 46ct linen: Design: 4.48" x 5" Fabric: 10.48" x 11"
Honesty motto sampler ~ 99 stitches (w) x 46 stitches (h). 36ct linen: Design: 5.5" x 2.56" Fabric: 11.5" x 8.56" 40ct linen: Design: 4.95" x 2.3" Fabric: 55.5" x 8.3" 46ct linen: Design: 4.3" x 2" Fabric: 10.3" x 8"
Honesty pin cushion ~ the overall size of fabric required will depend on how you lay out the six panels that form the pin cushion. We recommend that for finishing you allow a 1" margin for each of the six panels
Stitch Guide
The samplers are worked with cross stitch over two threads of linen and some Algerian eyelets. They have been rated suitable for all levels of abilities.
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.
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 sits well within the eyelet.
