In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Chester County was a prosperous agrarian community, with a well-developed culture, and fertile lands. The Quaker Schools' influence on sampler-making there (most notably that of the Westtown School), extended beyond their classrooms into private homes, and is reflected in many of the samplers, including Mercy's.

One often sees a very balanced format in samplers made in this region, nicely detailed undulating floral borders, a verse often titled Extract, a variety of stitches other than cross, and often active little scenes in the lower third - in this case an idyllic agrarian scene. Similar satin-stitched grassy mounds with small sheep appear on other Chester County samplers.

Origin and date: Pennsylvania 1833

Linen count and finished size: 30-count, 14"x18". Kit contains fabric, cotton and silk thread, needle and instructions.

Stitches: Cross, rice, Queen, satin and stem stitches

Source: The Scarlet Letter