I found the pattern for this reproduction 1872 sampler in the September 2006 issue of "Cross-Stitch & Needlework" and just had to stitch it. I know that 1872 is well past the heyday of sampler making in America so found this piece a little intriguing. Interestingly, even as early as 1834, Mrs. L. Maria Child wrote in The Girl's Own Book that:Indelible ink is now so much in use, that the general habit of marking samplers is almost done away: but like many other old-fashioned things, it is a very good thing. There are times in everybody's life when it is convenient to know how to mark the letters of the alphabet; good taste may be shown in it, as well as in other branches of needle-work; and, at all events, it is a safe and pretty employment for idle little fingers.I love stitching these old samplers and this one was especially fun to work on. I initially thought I might get bored using just a single color of floss throughout but that didn't happen at all. The frame is actually one I already had but I think it looks like it was made to go with this piece. I love it when that happens!
Happy stitching!
Sandy
