With an extensive palette of twenty three colours, this finely stitched English sampler reflects the traditions and motifs of two centuries of sampler making.

A four-sided stylized floral border surrounds three main pictorial and pattern sections: the first with large stags and flying angels; the second with verses and an arcaded carnation and diaper motif band reminiscent of the seventeenth century; and the lower scene with Adam and Eve in the Garden, with celestial forms, billowing clouds, and trumpeting angels above.

With the intricately worked short verses interspersed with pictorial sections and pattern bands, especially the seventeenth century style arcaded band, and the freehand stags, this sampler is very similar to one stitched by ANN HAIR in 1762, in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge in England.

Stitches used in Mary Keeling's sampler are cross, tent, stem, satin, and tiny bit of Queen.

On 40 count linen the finished sampler will be closest in size to the original. The Scarlet Letter model was stitched on 40 count linen with silk floss.

Linen: 35 or 40 count (Please Specify). Kit contains fabric, silk or cotton thread, needle and instructions.

Finished size: 18-1/4"x23" or 16"x20-1/4"

Some experience is advisable.

Scroll down to see sections of this piece in close up.