Thanks for suggestions on samplers to stitch! I have the charts for Marquoir de Justine, and Dorothy's Garden (Michelle--are you using silks to stitch that? I would love to kit it up, but I know I can't afford so many silks--does it give conversions? I must pull out my chart!). They are both gorgeous and both are tempting. I looked up all the suggestions--more temptations! I think I would like to stitch the Sampler Company's (Brenda Keyes) Contented Mind Sampler. Unfortunately I don't own it. On the up side, I could use Lambswool (my favorite fabric--nice and stiff and easy to stitch on) and it calls for DMC. I was hoping to choose something from my stash. I have been pretty good about not buying anything new this year (only a few things--a few for myself and a few to be added to gifts for exchanges).
So to my stash I finally went. I know I could look through my charts, and no doubt I have other samplers kitted up that I could choose from as well. But here are the majority of what I have. Now to choose one that jumps out at me. I need something to keep my interest! I'd like something not too large and not too complicated.
Top Row (left to right):
- Manvela Peres (Mexican Sampler) by Threads of Gold (this calls for white linen, which you dye with walnuts when you are finished stitching--I have never tried that--do you dye after stitching or before?)
- Spanish Wine by Wild-Hearts Designs (great idea LauraB--this is gorgeous and tempting, it also looks sort of complicated--there are so many eyelets!)
- Dames Boarding School by Examplar Dames Design (I am leaning heavily towards this one. I have the called for uneven weave linen--I wonder if it is hard to stitch on?)
- Jane Turner (1668) by The Essamplaire (this one is recommended for Very Advanced Stitchers--I wonder if I could do it? Maybe to complicated right off the bat--it calls for double running, satin, seed, trellis, spiral trellis, bouillion, detached buttonhole, couching, chain, montenegrin and marking cross)
- The Fishing Lady by The Scarlet Letter (a design adapted from 18th-century American samplers)
Bottom Row (left to right):
- Spanish Sampler by Threads of Gold (I don't have the right linen for this, but I do have silks! It calls for church linen,which I understand is no longer made. I need to look for a substitution)
- Spanish Geometrical Sampler by The Needles Content (this is a UFO--I have a tiny start on it. I'm sort of not in the mood to stitch this color scheme at the moment, though, as it is similar to the needleroll I just did. Lovely colors, but I am in the mood for something different)
- The Amanda Lavealliere Sampler by The Essamplaire (not too large, easy to stitch, but again that lavender color scheme)
- Elizabeth Tice (1810) by The Essamplaire (this is another fishing lady sampler--lots and lots of words to stitch)
- Ann Kirby Sampler (1790) by The Scarlet Letter (shepherd and shepherdess, and lots and lots more words)
- Maria Ignacia Olivera (Mexican Sampler circa 1850) by The Scarlet Letter (yes, I am very fond of Spanish Samplers!)
So, which to choose. This is always the hardest part. I guess I need to pull out the charts and see which one really hits me. Has anyone stitched any of these yet?