New Arrivals

Our peacock themed silk thread kit blends the beautiful vibrant greens and blues of a Peacock.

Curated silk threads shade assortments for seasonal stitching.

Limited quantities available, while supplies last!

Note: This item is excluded from any sales, discounts or promotions 

This sparkly metallic thread kit is great for festive trims and ornamentation.

Check out a review of this thread by Mary Corbet

• Each kit contains 6 colors of AVAS Metallic thread 
• 10 meters / spool
• Can use in hand embroidery, needlepoint and cross stitch
• Softer than other metallic braids, easier to use
• Made in France

Recommended usage and application: 

- AVAS Metallic Braid Sizes 8 and 12 are great for all kinds of finishing 

- For Needlepoint and embroidery application, you can use Metallic Braid Sizes 4, 8 and 12. We recommend either a Size 22 or 24 Tapestry needle.

Please note, this product is excluded from any discounts or promotions

Pre Order Available. Estimated Ship Date: April 2024

Attention customers, conversion to 1003 is only provided if you purchase the thread kit. Purchase of chart only will not provide conversion to Soie 1003. 

Mary Hood, 1768 is an 18th century English Sampler from The Scarlet Letter.

Stitches used are cross over one and two threads of linen, and eyelet stitched over one and two threads of linen.

Stitch count: 269 x 236

The project is recommended for needleworkers of intermediate level.

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 18 colors of either Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+ Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 17.5" x 18"
• 38 ct Fat Eighth - Fuller's Teazel - 17.5" x 18"
• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Foxtail Millet - 17.5" x 18"

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger includes 20 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 18 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"This English sampler retained its vibrant original color when I acquired it, having been conserved and de-accessioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the ground suffered many small holes, the needlework itself was still in brilliant condition. It features bold- original!- primary colors in its four sided floral border, verses, and scene with a lovely but asymmetrical brick house with dormer windows, flanked by trees. The verses are:

Oh may once more the happy Age appear
When words were Artless and the Soul sincere
When Gold and Grander were unenvy’d things
And Crowns less coveted than Groves and Springs

Fragrant the Rose is but it fades in time. The Violet
Sweet but quickly Past the Prime White Lilies hang their
Heads and soon decay And Whiter Snow in Minutes
Melts away Such and So With’ring Are our early Joys
Which Time or Sickness speedily destroy
Mary Hood Finished This Work October the 4 1768"

Attention customers, conversion to 1003 is only provided if you purchase the thread kit

Jane Atkinson, 1780 is a beautiful English Sampler in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston from The Scarlet Letter.

Stitch count: 290 x 460
The project is recommended for needleworkers of intermediate level.

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 26 colors of either Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Corn Tassel - 18" x 35"
• 38 ct Fat Quarter - Fuller's Teazel - 18" x 35"
• 45 ct Fat Quarter - Foxtail Millet - 18" x 35"

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger includes 27 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 26 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"This needlework was designed after an English sampler in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston. The lush border flowers are similar to those on a sampler made by Sarah Brignell  from around the same period, suggesting the existence of a school or teacher whose “specialty” was opulent floral borders. The border includes elaborately stitched tulips, roses, carnations, daisies and lilies. The verse is as follows:

On 40 count linen, the sampler will measure approximately 14-1/2″ x 23″. Stitches used are cross, back, and counted satin."

Pre Order Available for Soie 1003 Kit. Estimated Ship Date - Late April/Early May

Sarah Milthorp, 1834 is a beautiful Historical Sampler from Hands Across the Sea.

The sampler is suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

The reproduction of Sarah’s sampler is predominantly worked with cross stitch laid over two threads of linen together with some Algerian eyelets. The verse is worked in cross stitch over one thread of linen. 

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Chart Booklet +  Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half  - Victoria Sponge Cake -35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only 
• 37 ct Fat Half - Corn Tassel - 35" x 36" ~ Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads

• 38 ct Fat Half - Fuller's Teazel - 35" x 36" ~ Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads

• 45 ct Fat Eighth -Foxtail Millet - 17.5" x 18" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 

• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 37 ct version includes 15 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 30 ct version includes 21 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 30 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 15 spools. 

Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"The sampler that Sarah stitched when she was 12 years of age in 1834 is most certainly decorative. The young girl showed great diligence in working the intricate border and cartouche surrounding her name. We were strongly drawn to Sarah’s sampler the moment we glimpsed her in an auction catalogue. The red house takes centre stage.

The geometric motifs flanking the verse were another focal point of interest. Although we have seen these on other samplers, they are not common place. Sarah showed great industry with her needle and filled her sampler with many beautiful motifs, she would have been hard pressed to squeeze another motif in.

On March 2, 1822 Sarah Milthorp was baptised in Darrington. This small village and civil parish is located in the heart of the industrial West Riding of Yorkshire. Sarah’s father Thomas Milthorp was an agricultural labourer. Life as an agricultural labourer was hard work. Wages were usually low and housing standards often poor as labourers worked extremely long hours to scrape a living. Thomas’ children would have been expected to work on the land from as young as six years old, particularly at harvest time when everyone lent a hand making hay or harvesting crops."

Mary Choaks is a beautiful Cornish Historical Sampler from Hands Across the Sea

The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. Mary executed her sampler predominantly with cross stitches laid over two threads of linen together with Algerian eyelets, backstitches, and rice stitches.

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Chart Booklet +  Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half  - Victoria Sponge Cake -35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only 
• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Russian Tea Cake - 18" x 35"  Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads
• 38 ct Fat Quarter - Fuller's Teazel - 18" x 35"  Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads
• 45 ct Fat Eighth -Jersey Cream - 17.5" x 18" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 
• 48 ct Fat Eighth - Bride Cake - 17.5" x 18"    ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 
  

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 37 ct version includes 14 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 30 ct version includes 16 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 30 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 13 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"Mary finished her sampler on November 22 but, alas, the last two digits of the year have been removed. This is what is known as a vanity sampler. Later in life, when a samplermaker did not want to reveal her true age, she would remove or alter the date on her needlework.

Without the decade the sampler was worked in, we thought that we would not be able to find our Mary Choak(s). However, the research gods were smiling down on us. A search of family history records for baptisms in the 1800s resulted in 17 hits. Through our knowledge of sampler styles in this century we discounted those born before 1810 and after 1880. This left us with three Marys. Two were born in Cornwall, and one was born in London to Cornish parents who returned to Cornwall where they raised their daughter.

All three girls we found were raised in or around Helston which is the town nearest to where Nicola lives. We strongly suspect that our Mary is Mary Ann Choaks who was born in 1841 in the village of Mawgan-in-Meneage, just south of Helston on the Lizard Peninsula. Within the booklet there is detauled information about Mary’s life."

Attention customers, conversion to 1003 will not be provided if threads are not purchased with chart. It is only provided if you purchase the thread kit

Margaret Reid, 1837 is a vibrant Scottish Historical Sampler from The Scarlet Letter.

Stitch count: 240 x 270

Stitches used in the sampler are cross, petit point, double running, satin, and stem.  

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 20 colors of either Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half  - Victoria Sponge Cake -35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only 
• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Russian Tea Cake - 18" x 35" Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads

• 45 ct Fat Quarter -Jersey Cream - 18" x 35" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger includes 22 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 20 spools. 

Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"Possibly Scottish, a very well-preserved sampler that was likely never framed. (There is an acquisition tag sewn to the edge but the source collection is unknown.)  An unusual, elaborate four-sided floral and leaf border surrounds a central reserve with a brief moral verse, Adam and Eve with a turquoise serpent under the tree of life, and many colorful floral, bird and animal motifs are scattered about symmetrically including roosters, rabbits, parrots, peacocks, quail, stags, dogs, and two strange three-legged flying birds over the stags.  Stitches used in the sampler are cross, petit point, double running, satin, and stem.  The illuminated initials at the top likely refer to her parents.

The inscription includes other family  initials:

MARGARET REIDS    JR

WORK AGED 13    ER  JR

FINISHED JANY THE 19  1837

AR  JM  TCID  MR  EC

THE LOSS OF GOLD IS MUCH

THE LOSS OF TIME IS MORE

BUT THE LOSS OF CHRIST IS SUCH

AS NO MAN CAN RESTORE"

Attention customers, conversion to 1003 will not be provided if threads are not purchased with chart. It is only provided if you purchase the thread kit

Note, this chart comes available with a bonus Irish Quaker chart Mary Williams, 1804 which is one of her daughters samplers. Option to add thread kit for Mary Williams with purchase here.

Dorothy Walpole, 1774 is a beautiful Irish Quaker Historical Sampler from The Scarlet Letter.

Stitch count: 181 x 477
The project is recommended for needleworkers of intermediate level.

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 25 colors of either Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half  - Mariner's Map -35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only 
• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Russian Tea Cake - 17.5" x 35"  Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads
• 45 ct Fat Quarter -Jersey Cream - 18" x 35" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger includes 25 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 25 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"Dorothy Walpole was born in New Garden in the Painestown Parish of Carlow, Ireland. On August 25th, 1794, she married Christopher Williams also of New Garden which was home to a large Quaker community. Where Dorothy worked her sampler is not known but it seems likely she attended a small private school in the locality. Certainly her family owned land in the area and enjoyed a reasonably comfortable lifestyle.

Embroidered on unbleached linen this beautiful band sampler employs Florentine, cross, petit point, queen, herringbone and counted satin stitches. It is divided into sections within a simple strawberry border comprising alphabets in a variety of stitches, a four line verse, a wide band of Florentine work and flowers on curling stems with the petals dramatically outlined. On 40 count linen the reproduction sampler will measure approximately 9″ x 24″ and most closely approximates the size of the original. It is recommended for intermediate level needleworkers. (See also the sampler by her daughter, Mary Williams.

Mary Williams, 1804 is another beautiful Irish Quaker Historical Sampler from The Scarlet Letter. This sampler chart is included with purchase of Dorothy Walpole chart.

Stitch count: 220 x 273

The project is recommended for needleworkers of any skill level. Stitches used in the sampler are cross, counted satin, eyelet and petit point. 

Choice of purchasing thread kit only, Printed Chart only or as full kit with linen. 

Note, this chart is a bonus  Irish Quaker chart packaged with Dorothy Walpole, 1774. Mary Williams sample is one of Dorothy Walpole's daughters. 

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 25 colors of either Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads (+Free Shipping). 

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half  - Mariner's Map -35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only 
• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Russian Tea Cake - 17.5" x 35"  Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads
• 45 ct Fat Quarter -Jersey Cream - 18" x 35" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 

Thread Options:

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger includes 14 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 14 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. 

About the Sampler from the Designer

"It is a rare to find family groups of samplers particularly those which span mroe than one generation. This smapler is one of a rare group of Irish samplers providing a tangible record of education recieved by Dorothy Walpole in 18th century Ireland and later her daughters Mary and Elizabeth in the early 19th century. 

This is a reproduction of one of Mary's earliest samplers clearly showing influences of Quaker deisgn in the lettering. Ligatures and the floral and bird sprays in the lower register. The first two-stanza verse come from an anonymous publication titled "Poetical Prenzy or a venture in Rhyme" and its called "Enthusiasm"

Read more information about this historical sampler: https://scarlet-letter.com/dorothy-walpole-1774/