Sampler Practice Piece

Period1820 - 1840

MediumPlied silk thread on linen

Dimensions8.25 × 10 in. (21 × 25.4 cm)

ClassificationsNeedlework

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934

Object number708.9

DescriptionA small rectangular panel comprised of twenty-four separate motifs worked in plied silk threads in dark green, medium green, apple green, dull red, deep salmon pink, rose, pale pink, off white, lemon yellow, sky blue, tan, and pale russet. Virtually all embroidery is done in cross stitch, with several small elements worked in Queen stitch. The linen panel retains its selvedge along the left edge, and has been hemmed along the top, right, and bottom edges. In the center of the panel is a large and bold rose spray with three buds and deep green leaves. A variety of additional elements are scattered about the linen and include several small Queen stitch strawberries, a bluebird, a large bird perched atop a set of steps, and a variety of little stylized floral blossoms. The panel's maker appears to have worked her stitches on the linen prior to hemming, as a portion of the meander and leaf border in the extreme upper left corner is folded over into the hem itself.
Curatorial RemarksThe girl responsible for this practice piece used her linen panel to try out a variety of small motifs and stitches before attempting them on a traditional sampler. Many such practice pieces survive and provide fascinating clues to the process of sampler making. In order to avoid mistakes and make sure of stitch count and placement, these practice scraps allowed girls to familiarize themselves with challenging motifs and techniques. Most girls would likely have had similar bits of linen in their sewing workbags. The unknown maker of this particular piece of embroidery apparently deemed it worthy to save, carefully hemming it when it was filled and storing it away.NotesPart of a collection of eleven needlework practice pieces donated to the Association in 1934 by Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, a pre-eminent collector of Americana. Many of them contain motifs and borders used commonly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

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