Hands Across the Sea Kit

Lilly Thirza Edwards 1887, is another sweet sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Lilly is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities.

**Please note, Sampler Thread Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 5 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Eighth of Pecan Shortbread - 17.5" x 18"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth of Corn Tassel - 17.5" x 18"
  

5 skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

• SDF 524  ~ Golden olive
• SDF 1746 ~ Grey green ~ very dark
• SDF 3735 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark
• SDF 4624 ~ Christmas red ~ dark 
• SDF F22  ~ Yellow beige ~ light

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"From family history records we know that Lilly was born to Henry, a railway guard, and his wife Eliza. On September 29, 1878 she was baptised in the town of Bromsgrove in the county of Worcestershire. By the 1881 census return the family can be found living at 21 New Market Terrace, London in the parish of St Pancras.

We know that Lilly stitched her sampler in the year 1887 when she was nearing her eighth birthday.

On June 3, 1905 Lilly married James Henry Thomas at St Paul’s Church in St Pancras. Lilly lived a long life, dying aged 80 on September 16, 1959. We hope that when the 1921 census is released in the forthcoming year that we may be able to add to Lilly’s story."

Mary Ann Diaper, 1826 is a sampler from Hands Across the Sea - at only at only eight years of age, finished her sampler in the year 1826. Mary Ann’s sampler has been rated as suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 28 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Victoria Sponge Cake - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel -35" x 36"
  

28 skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes: 

• SDF 934  ~ Christmas red ~ light
• SDF 1713  ~ Antique blue ~ light
• SDF 2623 ~ Orange spice ~ light
• SDF 2626 ~ Red copper ~ dark
• SDF 2756 ~ Grey green ~ light
• SDF 2922 ~ Christmas red
• SDF 3022 ~ Dusty rose
• SDF 3025 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra very dark
• SDF 3222 ~ Pewter ~ very light
• SDF 3414 ~ Shell grey ~ dark
• SDF 3744 ~ Golden olive ~ very dark
• SDF 3831 ~ Drab brown ~ very light
• SDF 3833 ~ Drab brown ~ light
• SDF 3834 x 3  ~ Drab brown
• SDF 3835  ~ Brown grey ~ dark
• SDF 3836  ~ Brown grey ~ very dark
• SDF 4241 ~ Tawny ~ light
• SDF 4513  ~ Tan
• SDF 4525 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ dark
• SDF 4624 ~ Garnet
• SDF 4631 ~ Mauve ~ light
• SDF F05 ~ Tan ~ultra very light
• SDF F09 ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light
• SDF Noir  x 2 ~ Black
• SDF Optique ~ Winter white

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

“The longest road out is the shortest road home”

Who can resist a red house sampler? Jane’s colourful sampler glows with good cheer. Contained within a stylised red carnation border is a delightful scene of a sturdy redbrick house surrounded by urns of fruit, four birds and auriculas. The parkland abounds with deer, two small dogs and an aristocratic cat with tail held high. The three chimneys, with smoke billowing, create a feeling of “home is where the hearth is” and adds to the overall feeling of warmth the sampler conveys.

Jane stitched the number four in 1840 backwards. Writing numbers backwards (mirror-writing) is not unusual for young children, it is how their brain processes what they see.

Pre Order Available.

William Curtis 1826 ~The 2026 Lord of the May is a beautiful English sampler from Hands Across the Sea.

The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of abilities but it should be noted that the sampler is not suitable for working on Aida.

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

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice +  Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads + Chart (+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
• 37 ct Fat Half Russian Tea Cake - 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 
• 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 15 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 30 ct or lower.

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

Soie 1003 Colors:

• SMS 061
• SMS 080
• SMS 289
• SMS 354 
• SMS 376 
• SMS 486 
• SMS 493
• SMS 562 
• SMS 601 
• SMS 620 
• SMS 621 
• SMS 624 
• SMS 656 
• SMS 723

Soie d'Alger Colors Include:

• SDF  115  -  Wedgwood blue
  
• SDF  204  -  Aquamarine
  
• SDF 236  - Forest green
  
• SDF 1343  -   Blueberry
  
• SDF 1436  -  Pewter grey
  
• SDF  1714   - Antique blue
  
• SDF 1836   -  Pistachio green (2 skeins for 30 ct)
  
• SDF 2644  -  Alizarin
  
• SDF 4533  -  Mocha brown
  
• SDF  2756  -  Grey green
  
• SDF  4536   - Micha brown (dk)
  
• SDF 4643  -  Antique mauve (lt)
  
• SDF 4645  -  Antique mauve (dk)
  
• SDF  F17 -   Ecru 

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

About the Sampler from the Designer

"In England, May Day celebrations marked the arrival of spring, a time of renewal, growth, and community gathering. Central to these festivities was the Queen of the May, a young girl chosen to represent beauty, youth, and the promise of the season. She was crowned with flowers and presided over the celebrations.

Less often remembered, but equally present in historical accounts, was her counterpart — the Lord of the May. In some communities, a boy was chosen to stand alongside the May Queen, sharing in the ceremony and embodying balance within the festivities. Together, they represented youth, continuity, and the turning of the year.

It is in this spirit that we present William Curtis. His sampler, worked with such care and intention, stands as a fitting companion to the tradition of the May Queen — a rare and compelling example of a boy’s voice expressed through needle and thread.

William’s sampler is a study in learning and progression. Beginning with cross stitch over two threads of linen, he moves through four-sided stitch and eyelets, before working his verse in cross stitch over a single thread. Satin stitches complete the sequence, demonstrating a confident command of technique at such a young age.

The composition is structured and disciplined, with repeating motifs and a carefully controlled colour palette that brings clarity and balance to the design. His verse, stitched in his own hand, speaks directly to the viewer with humility and aspiration — a voice preserved exactly as it was formed.

The sampler is signed as his work, leaving no ambiguity as to authorship. This is not a name recorded on behalf of a child, but a declaration of effort, learning, and identity.

Samplers worked by boys are not unknown, but they are not common. Needlework was most often associated with the education of girls, while boys were directed towards literacy and numeracy. William’s sampler therefore stands apart, offering a rare insight into the breadth of early nineteenth-century childhood education and the values of discipline, obedience, and perseverance that shaped it.

Although many boys named William Curtis were born in 1817, it has not been possible to securely identify the maker within surviving records. What remains is his work — a lasting record of a young boy’s skill and determination."

Barbery Butcher 1802 is a beautiful Norfolk sampler from Hands Across the Sea.

The sampler is worked with cross stitches laid over two threads of linen, with seven cross stitches laid over one thread of linen.

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

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice +  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
• 37 ct Fat Half Russian Tea Cake - 35" x 36" ~ Recommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads
  
• 45 ct Fat Half -Foxtail Millet - 35" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads 
• 48 ct Fat Quarter - Bride Cake - 18" x 36" ~ Recommended for Soie 1003 Threads  

Thread Options:

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 37 ct version includes 9 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 7 spools. Recommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.

Soie 1003 Colors:
SMS 029
SMS 224
SMS 274
SMS 376
SMS 523
SMS 654
SMS 752

Soie d'Alger Colors Include:
SDF 1845 x 2 (3 skeins for 30 ct)
SDF 2522 (3 skeins for 30 ct)
SDF 2757
SDF 2916
SDF 3734 x 2 (4 skeins for 30 ct)
SDF 4534 (2 skeins for 30 ct)
SDF 4645 (2 skeins for 30 ct)

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

About the Sampler from the Designer

"We are delighted to present this exquisite reproduction of a Norfolk sampler, originally completed on 14 December 1802 by Barbery Butcher, when she was just nine years old.

Worked with remarkable diligence and charm, the original sampler is filled with a rich array of motifs contained within a meandering floral border, heavily laden with blooms. Throughout the sampler there are many thoughtful details that speaks to the young maker’s creativity and skill.

Barbery Butcher was baptised on 8 November 1793 in the parish of Gressenhall, Norfolk, England, during the Georgian era, a period marked by profound social, political, and cultural change. This was the age of the early Industrial Revolution, the rise of Romanticism in art and literature, and the expanding influence of the British Empire. Her parents were Robert Butcher and Frances (née Cliffen), who married on 1 August 1785 at Hoe, Norfolk. Parish records show that Robert was literate, signing his name with confidence, while Frances made her mark with an “X,” a poignant reminder of the educational divide of the time.

Barbery was one of four children—three girls and one boy—and was noted in the baptismal register as being “privately baptised.” Such baptisms were performed at home when an infant was thought unlikely to survive, underscoring the fragility of early life in the late 18th century.

In 1820, Barbery married William Backlog, an agricultural labourer, in Honningham, Norfolk. Backlog is an unusually rare surname, with census records showing only 21 individuals bearing the name in 1881, most of them in Norfolk. Barbery and William had two children, a son and a daughter. Following William’s death in 1848, Barbery lived as a widow in Folly Lane, Gressenhall, where she appears in the 1851, 1861, and 1871 census returns, residing with her son Henry and his family. Like his father, Henry worked as an agricultural labourer."

Amelia Bachelor 1863 is another delightful small sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

This sampler has been worked with cross stitch over 2 strands of linen.

The project is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

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

Full Kit options: Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 8 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Quarter  - Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 35" 
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Russian Tea Cake - 18" x 17.5"

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Includes:

• SDF 524 ~ Golden olive ~ light
  
• SDF 2126 ~ Avocado green ~ medium
  
• SDF 2144 ~ Moss green
• SDF 2646 ~ Terracotta ~ very dark
  
• SDF 2757 ~ Shell grey ~ medium
  
• SDF 2925 ~ Garnet
  
• SDF 3414 ~ Shell grey ~ dark
  
• SDF 4126 ~ Black brown

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Amelia has left us some clues in her sampler which she completed in 1863. She attended Berkswell School. The village of Berkswell is situated 7 miles West of Coventry City centre.

Amelia’s birth was registered in the first quarter of the year 1852. We cannot find her baptismal records, only the entry in the civil registration of births. Amelia appears in the 1861 census living at Cornets End Lane, Meriden, Berkswell. Her father, Thomas Batchelor, had died in 1860. Her mother, Ann (née Bond), is noted as a widow and the occupier of two acres of land. Amelia’s brother William, aged 11 years, was working as a ploughboy. Ann died in 1873.

Amelia stitched her sampler between 10 to 11 years of age, almost certainly under the guidance of her teacher at Berkswell School. Amelia probably had to leave school shortly after this to help contribute to the family income."

Elizabeth Atkinson, 1829 is another beautiful sampler from Hands Across the Sea. 

The sampler has been rated as suitable for needleworkers of all abilities. The stitches used are cross stitch over one and two threads and Algerian eyelets.

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice + 15 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads, Printed Chart Booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice + 20 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads, Printed Chart Booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 28 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Victoria Sponge Cake - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel - 35" x 36"
  

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger kit Includes:

• SDF 525 x 1 Golden olive (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 945 x 1 Salmon ~ very dark
• SDF 1735 x 1 Antique blue ~medium (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 1843 x 1 Fern green
• SDF 2625 x 1 Orange spice ~ dark
• SDF 2757 x 1 Grey green ~ medium (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 2915 x 1 Salmon ~ medium
• SDF 2936 x 1 Garnet ~ medium
• SDF 3046 x 1 Mauve ~ dark
• SDF 3724 x 1 Green grey ~ dark (2 skeins for 30 ct version) ~ maybe substituted with 3723
• SDF 3726 x 1 Fern green ~ dark
• SDF 3744 x 1 Golden olive ~ very dark (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3842 x 1 Brown grey ~ very light
• SDF 4523 x 1 Desert sand
• SDF F20 x 1 Beige brown ~ ultra light

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"“Make much of precious time” Elizabeth most certainly did in the year 1829 when she finished this delightful sampler. Stitched with a cheerful palette of 15 colours including a mouth-watering orange which sits so well against the glowing reds, pretty pinks, restful blues, rich greens and golden olives. Her colours caught our eye together with her sweet motifs.

Emma and Martin Noah Hubbard 1869 ~ 1870 is another small adorable sampler set by a brother and sister from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

The design is worked in cross stitch over two threads of linen. 

Options : 

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

Full Kit options:

Includes linen + 2 spools of Soie 1003  thread, Printed Chart Booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles + Free Shipping  (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"
  
• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Foxtail Millet - 18" x 17.5"
• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

2 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• SMS 325 ~ Moss green

• SMS 348 ~ Lavender ~ dark

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"We were so pleased to find a pair of samplers stitched by a brother and sister. The icing on the cake was the additional discovery of the Hubbards’ family history and that the samplers came from Norfolk.

The dates on the two samplers are the date of birth for Emma and Martin; Emma having been born on July 26, 1869 and Martin on October 16, 1870. The samplers were stitched in the year 1880 when Emma was 11 years and Martin 10 years old.

Emma and Martin’s parents were Noah Eli Hubbard, a master mariner, and his wife Emma Christiana (née Callow). The family lived in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk."

Martha Guthrie, 1880 is a Scottish sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

The project is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen + 5 spools of Soie 1003  thread, Printed Chart Booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles + Free Shipping (Gift with Purchase)

Note, if full kit (thread+linen+chart) is purchased and shipping is charged. We will refund the difference. We have a limitation on our website. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Russian Tea Cake - 18" 17.5"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"
• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Foxtail Millet - 18" x 17.5"
• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

5 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• SMS 109 ~ Salmon ~ very dark
• SMS 134 ~ Coral ~ light
• SMS 325 ~ Avocado green ~ light
• SMS 486 ~ Antique blue ~ medium
• SMS 712 ~ Grey green ~ very light

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Martha Guthrie is such a pretty Scottish sampler! We were drawn to the “freshness” of the palette she chose to stitch her schoolgirl sampler with. Martha recorded that she finished her sampler on December 20, 1880, which was a Monday. She tells us that she attended Lady Anne Speirs’ school and in the tradition of Scottish samplers notes her parents’ and siblings’ initials.

Martha was born on May 15, 1868 at Bridgeton, Lanarkshire to Gilbert Guthrie (GG) and Catherine née Knox (CK). She was the second of four children born to her parents. Gilbert (GG) was the eldest; then Agnes (AG) and Robert (RG) were born after Martha. Her father was recorded as having various occupations; throughout the decades, he worked as a carter, boilermaker, and rivetter. The family moved from Bridgeton to Renfrew, Glasgow, sometime between 1868 and 1871 when they are recorded as living on the High Street at number 88 and in 1881 at number 112."

Martha Guthrie, 1880 is a Scottish sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

The project is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only or as full kit with linen.

Full Kit Options:

Includes linen of choice + 5 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads, Printed Chart booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Quarter  - Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 35"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Russian Tea Cake - 18" x 17.5"

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Includes:

SDF 1026 ~ Salmon ~ very dark
SDF 1741 ~ Grey green ~ very light
SDF 2144 ~ Avocado green ~ light
SDF 2912 ~ Coral ~ light
SDF 5384 ~ Antique blue ~ medium

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Martha Guthrie is such a pretty Scottish sampler! We were drawn to the “freshness” of the palette she chose to stitch her schoolgirl sampler with. Martha recorded that she finished her sampler on December 20, 1880, which was a Monday. She tells us that she attended Lady Anne Speirs’ school and in the tradition of Scottish samplers notes her parents’ and siblings’ initials.

Martha was born on May 15, 1868 at Bridgeton, Lanarkshire to Gilbert Guthrie (GG) and Catherine née Knox (CK). She was the second of four children born to her parents. Gilbert (GG) was the eldest; then Agnes (AG) and Robert (RG) were born after Martha. Her father was recorded as having various occupations; throughout the decades, he worked as a carter, boilermaker, and rivetter. The family moved from Bridgeton to Renfrew, Glasgow, sometime between 1868 and 1871 when they are recorded as living on the High Street at number 88 and in 1881 at number 112."

Eliza Nisbet is Scottish sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

The project has been stitched using cross stitch over two threads and is rated as suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

 Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen + 2 spools of Soie 1003  thread and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles + Chart (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Foxtail Millet - 18" x 17.5"
• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

2 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• SMS 378 ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

• SMS 681 ~ Christmas red

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"We have failed to find an Eliza Nisbet in the baptismal records of Scotland, which made us to wonder if her given name was Elizabeth. We have found an Elizabeth being born and living in Edinburgh who was 7 years old when the sampler was completed. Unfortunately, we do not know with any certainty if this is the young maker of this vibrant sampler."

Lilly Thirza Edwards 1887, is another sweet sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Lilly is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities.

**Please note, Sampler Thread Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen + 5 spools of Soie 1003  thread and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"
  
• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

5 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• SMS 109  ~ Christmas red ~ dark

  SMS 142  ~ Yellow beige ~ light

  SMS 303 ~ Golden olive

  SMS 378  ~ Avocado green ~ very dark

  SMS 710 ~ Grey green ~ very dark

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"From family history records we know that Lilly was born to Henry, a railway guard, and his wife Eliza. On September 29, 1878 she was baptised in the town of Bromsgrove in the county of Worcestershire. By the 1881 census return the family can be found living at 21 New Market Terrace, London in the parish of St Pancras.

We know that Lilly stitched her sampler in the year 1887 when she was nearing her eighth birthday.

On June 3, 1905 Lilly married James Henry Thomas at St Paul’s Church in St Pancras. Lilly lived a long life, dying aged 80 on September 16, 1959. We hope that when the 1921 census is released in the forthcoming year that we may be able to add to Lilly’s story."

Ann Castle is a lovely sampler from Hands Across the Sea. The design is suitable for intermediate and advanced needleworkers but is not beyond a determined beginner. 

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice + 26 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice + 36 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Pecan Shortbread - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel - 35" x 36"

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes: 

• SDF 1814 - Blue green ~ light 
  
• SDF 2242 x 2 - Yellow Beige ~ medium (3 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 2633 - Terracotta ~ light
• SDF 2644 x 2 - Salmon ~ very dark (4 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 2756 - Grey green ~ light
• SDF 3424 - Brown grey ~ medium (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3425 - Blue green ~ dark
• SDF 3426 - Blue green ~ very dark
• SDF 3714 x 2 - Green grey (4 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3716 - Green grey ~ dark (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3745 - Golden olive ~ dark
• SDF 3746 - Mocha brown ~ dark
• SDF 3814 - Old gold ~ medium (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3834 - Beige grey ~ dark
• SDF 4245 - Old gold ~ very dark
• SDF 4525 x 2 - Hazelnut brown ~ dark (3 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 4541 - Mahogany ~ ultra very light
• SDF 5384 - Grey green ~ medium
• SDF F10 - Tan – ultra very light (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF F22 x 2 - Yellow Beige ~ light (3 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SMS 517 - Hazelnut -brown dark - Included in 37 ct version for verse

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

“A 19th century needlework Sampler by Ann Castle, dated 1811, 45cm x 32cm, (the owners grandparents believe the image of the house in the sampler is that of Holly Cottage, 18 High Street, Wargrave, Berkshire. Ann Castle lived in the cottage which formed part of the estate of the local manor house, the (owners) grandparents lived in the house as both were in service at the local manor house, one as a chauffeur and the other as a housemaid. They continued to live at Holly Cottage after their retirement and it is possible that the sampler was in Holly Cottage while they lived there and was subsequently gifted to them at some point. While the sampler shows three upstairs windows you can see from the photo with the sampler that the middle window was bricked up during the Georgian period to avoid the window tax”.

Emma Lavinia Crocker 1825 is another little gem sampler from Hands Across the Sea. This sampler is the Reproduction version of the samplers.  The sampler has been rated as suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice + 18 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice + 26 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

 Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Victoria Sponge Cake - 35" x 36"
  
• 30 ct Fat Half of Pecan Shortbread - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel -35" x 36"
• 38 ct Fat Half of Russian Tea Cake- 35" x 36"

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes: 

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

“Emma recorded that she finished her sampler on July 16, 1825. The 16th was a Saturday, and this has given us reason to consider that the sampler was wrought under the guidance of her mother rather than a school or Sunday school teacher.

Emma’s sampler is an amazing achievement for a girl of barely 9 years of age."

M E Metcalfe ~ A Little Gem  is the 7th in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. This sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and would make an ideal “starter” project for those wishing to explore samplers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 10 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Legacy Linen Corn Tassel - 17.5" x 18"
  
• 30 ct Fat Eighth - Legacy Linen Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 17.5"

10 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

• SDF 136 ~ Turquoise ~ very dark
• SDF 543 ~ Straw
• SDF 616 ~ Copper ~ medium
• SDF 1315 ~ Violet ~ dark
• SDF 2614 ~ Golden brown ~ medium
• SDF 2926 ~ Garnet ~ very dark
• SDF 2935 ~ Rose ~ very deep
• SDF 4645 ~ Antique mauve ~ dark
• SDF 5024 ~ Blue green ~ dark
• SDF 5384 ~ Turquoise ~ light

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Where flowers bloom so does beauty”

 Is this sweetest of Little Gems a Mary or a Mabel? Unfortunately, we will never know as the young needleworker never recorded their full name. They may even be a Matthew or Martin!"

Ann Matthews~ A Little Gem  is the 6th in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 19 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Legacy Linen Corn Tassel - 17.5" x 18"
• 30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Pecan Shortbread - 17" x 35"
• 30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 35"

19 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

• SDF 165 – Navy blue ~ very dark
• SDF 523 – Golden olive ~ light
• SDF 622 – Straw ~ light
• SDF 1753 – Straw ~ dark
• SDF 1836 – Hunter green ~ very dark
• 2 Skeins of SDF 2135 – Parrot green ~ very dark
• SDF 2625 – Burnt orange ~ dark
• SDF 2915 – Salmon ~ dark
• 2 Skeins of SDF 2923 – Christmas red
• SDF 3334 – Antique violet ~ light
• SDF 3343 – Beaver grey ~ light
• SDF 3715 – Khaki green ~ medium
• SDF 4112 – Desert sand ~ very light
• SDF 4132 – Coffee brown ~ ultra dark
• SDF 4545 – Brown ~ light
• SDF 5381 – Sky blue ~ very light
• SDF F09 – Hazelnut brown ~ light

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Ann is a beautiful little Welsh sampler worked with a palette of bright colours that pop out from the linen. The sampler is framed by a simple but very effective border using sumptuous red and duck egg blue silks, and she continues to use some very vibrant colour combinations.

Ann lived in Glamorgan, South Wales and was born in 1849 in Aberavon near Port Talbot, which is just a few miles from Margam Church which she depicts. She tells us that she was 10 years old when she stitched her sampler in 1859. The earliest reference to Ann is from the census taken in 1851, where she is living near Margam with her father David, her brothers Morgan and John, and her sister Margaret. Her father is a widower, and his parents are living with the family, presumably to help look after the children, of which Ann at 2 years old is the youngest. Her father’s occupation is a collier (miner), and the area she lives in is dominated by coal and copper mining. 

There is no record of Ann’s mother or when and how she died. The living conditions in the towns and villages were very hard, and diseases such as cholera and typhus were commonplace."

Eliz Fitch, 1787 is an pretty historical sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Elizabeth executed her sampler predominantly with cross stitches laid over two threads of linen; only the verse has been worked in cross stitch over one thread of linen.

The project is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

Kit Options : 

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

Full Kit options:

Includes linen + 8 spools of Soie 1003  thread and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles + Free Shipping  (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Russian Tea Cake - 17.5" x 18"
• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Jersey Cream- 17.5" x 18"
  

8 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• SMS 025  ~Blue green

• SMS 147  ~  Old gold

• SMS 199 ~ Olive green 

• SMS 252 ~ Dusty rose

• SMS 274 ~ Khaki green 

• SMS 621 ~ Grey green 

• SMS 634 ~ Hazelnut brown 

• SMS 743 ~ Beige brown

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"What a pretty sampler Elizabeth stitched when she was just ten years old. The young child finished her sampler on Wednesday, October 4, 1797 – some 226 years ago. It was such a long time ago.

At first glance, one might think that Elizabeth’s sampler was stitched in Norfolk due to the beautiful floral outer border and the lozenge-shaped inner border. Even the chosen verse was very popular on Norfolk samplers. Elizabeth’s sampler was actually stitched in the county of Essex, which is separated from Norfolk by the county of Suffolk. Elizabeth Fitch was born in 1787 at Helions Bumpstead in Essex. This small village is located near Haverhill, and it is where the Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire borders meet. What we are seeing in her sampler are whispers of Norfolk and Suffolk samplers."

The Needlework of Dorcie Sampson is a lovely 3 sampler project from Hands Across the Sea. 

The sampler has been rated as suitable for needleworkers of all abilities.

The samplers are worked with cross stitch over two threads of linen and some Algerian eyelets. 

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options: Includes linen of choice + 12 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads, Printed Chart Booklet and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Victoria Sponge Cake - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel - 35" x 36"
  

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger kit Includes:

• The 1906 Sampler:                                             

• SDF 0544  ~ Yellow
  SDF 1433  ~ Steel grey
  SDF 2125  ~ Avocado green
  SDF 2136   ~ Hunter green  
  SDF 2143 ~ Moss green
  SDF 2914 ~ Raspberry
  SDF 2936  ~ Garnet
  SDF 3312  ~ Antique mauve

   
  The 1905 Sampler:
  
  

  SDF 1026 x 2  ~ Christmas Red                                              
  SDF 1716 x 2  ~ Navy Blue

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Dorcie Elizabeth Sampson was born in 1892 in Kintbury, Berkshire. She was the eldest of five children born to George John Sampson, a carpenter and joiner, and his wife Sarah, née Norris.

There were two fee-paying boarding schools in the village together with Anglican and Wesleyan Methodist Sunday schools. Dorcie recorded on her 1905 sampler that she attended St Mary’s School which was a daily school founded 1831.

A friend who is a needleworker was born in the village of Kintbury and lived there until she married in 1963. She wrote to me to tell me “… the name Sampson was quite common in the village, and I was (unsuccessfully) given piano lessons by a Mrs Sampson in the 50s; her family were farriers with a smithy in the nearby village of Elcot and another in the village of Hamstead Marshall. Her son Geoff was farrier for Royalty and had a Royal Warrant from the late Queen Mother, as he shod her racehorses.”

Dorcie married Albert Jubilee Beavis in 1916. In the 1911 census return, Albert can be found boarding with the Sampson family in Church Street, Kintbury. Albert’s occupation was recorded as a farrier and Dorcie’s as a draper’s assistant."

Mary Ann Ragg, 1826 is another delightful antique sampler from Hands Across the Sea.

Mary Ann stitched her sampler mainly with cross stitch over two threads of linen. The verse and dedication have been worked with cross stitch over one thread of linen. The sampler has been rated as suitable for all levels of ability.

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, printed chart only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 18 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 28 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Victoria Sponge Cake - 35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel - 35" x 36"
  

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger kit Includes:

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Mary Ann Ragg recorded that she was 12 years old in 1826 when she finished her sampler. However, this is not the only clue to her identity that she left behind. The pastoral scene, red building, mature cedar trees, birds, and cartouche are characteristic to samplers stitched in the city of Sheffield.

Several years ago, Hands Across the Sea Samplers reproduced another sampler that was stitched in Sheffield, Elizabeth Furniss. Whilst researching this sampler, we discovered five girls who stitched very similar samplers. They all lived within 1 square mile of each other; in the ensuing years we found several more.

Many of these girls were baptised in the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. We believe that the girls shared the same needlework teacher, and all probably attended Darnall School (assuming that the teacher taught in the same school between 1816 and 1844)."

Ann Morley is another lovely sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Eleanor's sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities. The stitches used are cross stitch over two threads.

**Please note, Sampler Thread Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice + 18 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice + 19 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Eighth  - Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 17.5"
• 37 ct Fat Eighth - Corn Tassel - 18" x 17.5"

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Includes:

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Ann worked her delightful sampler when she was just 8 years old. We suspect that Ann’s parents were not affluent, as her sampler was worked on a stiff, coarse linen. It is possible that Ann’s mother wove the linen using a handloom. Ann stitched her sampler with wool using a bright array of colours. She chose a distinctive palette which adds to the overall charm of her sampler."

Minnie Standlake, 1897 is little gem sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Minnie's sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities. The stitches used are cross stitch over two threads.

**Please note, Sampler Thread Kit does not include chart.Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit option:

Includes linen + 2 spools of Soie 1003  thread and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 45 ct Fat Eighth - Foxtail Millet - 18" x 17.5"
  
• 53/63 ct Fat Eighth Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

2 Spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 Includes:

• 107 Christmas red

• 703 Antique blue ~ dark

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Minnie’s sweet sampler certainly stood out for us as an example of a child’s needlework. Using only two colours, the twelve-year-old child recorded her alphabet in the upper and lower case, her numbers through 1 to 10, and a verse taken from Exodus 20:12.

 “Honour thy father and mother that thy days may belong upon the land and which the Lord thy God giveth thee”.

Ruth Bates 1823, is sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

This sampler is suitable for intermediate and advanced needleworkers but is not beyond a confident beginner. The stitches used are cross stitch over 1 and 2 threads and satin stitch.

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only, chart only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

• 37 ct option for 1 strand: Includes linen of choice, Chart + 26 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)
• 30 ct option for 2 strands : Includes linen of choice, Chart + 34 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Half of Pecan Shortbread -35" x 36"
• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel - 35" x 36"
  

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

• SDF 1745 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 2543
• SDF 2757
• SDF 2911
• SDF 3195
• SDF 3424 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3446 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3724 x 2 (3 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3725 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3733
• SDF 3734 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 3745
• SDF 3823
• SDF 3835
• SDF 4245
• SDF 4246
• SDF 4523
• SDF 4524
• SDF 4534
• SDF 4624 (2 skeins for 30 ct version)
• SDF 4625
• SDF 5025
• SDF F09
• SDF F11 x 2 (3 skeins for 30 ct version)

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Ruth’s sampler had so many similarities to Isabella’s that there had to be a connection. We were able to make contact with one of Ruth’s descendants, a medieval archivist who had some information on the family’s history. Ruth was born in Plaistow, London, on August 16, 1815 to Joseph Bates and Esther Bates, née Cartwright."

Jane Surtees, 1811 is a lovely sampler from Hands Across the Sea.

Kit Options : 

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

Full Kit Options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 10 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Quarter of Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 35"
• 37 ct Fat Quarter of Russian Tea Cake - 17.5" by 35"

10 skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes: 

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"In the family history records there are several possible Janes all from the great northern counties of England. The North of England or “Up North”, as anyone south of the Midlands calls it, has a distinct feel from “Down South”; it is an area that inspires. It has a stunning landscape filled with ancient castles, unspoilt beaches, rolling hills, attractive dales, rugged moorland, peatlands, tumbling upland rivers, and a cultural heritage all of its own. 

Jane was born when Great Britain was ruled by the Hanoverians. By 1811, George III had reigned for some 51 years. The verse Jane chose to painstakingly stitch on her sampler seems so apt for George’s life."

Mary Ann Diaper, 1826 is a sampler from Hands Across the Sea - at only at only eight years of age, finished her sampler in the year 1826. Mary Ann’s sampler has been rated as suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options : 

Choice of purchasing thread only OR as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 27 spools of Soie 1003 threads and 2 Tapestry Size 10 Beading Needles (Gift with Purchase)

 Linen Choices:

• 37 ct Fat Half of Corn Tassel -35" x 36"
  
• 45 ct Fat Half of Foxtail Millet - 35" x 36"
• 53/63 ct Fat Eight of Sycamore Seed Pod - 18" x 29"

27 spools of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie 100/3 Kit Includes: 

• SMS 071 ~ Pewter ~ very light
• SMS 080 ~ Tan ~ultra very light
• SMS 131 ~ Mauve ~ light
• SMS 156  ~ Tan
• SMS 211 ~ Tawny ~ light
• SMS 224  ~ Autumn gold ~ light - ** SMS 147 may be substituted**
• SMS 252 ~ Dusty rose ~ ultra very dark
• SMS 264 ~ Dusty rose
• SMS 425  ~ Hazelnut brown ~ light
• SMS 427  ~ Antique blue ~ light
• SMS 455  ~ Golden olive ~ very dark
• SMS 492  ~ Hazelnut brown ~ dark
• SMS 562 ~ Drab brown ~ very light
• SMS 576  ~ Brown grey ~ dark
• SMS 580 ~ Drab brown ~ light
• SMS 499 ~ Garnet
• SMS 603 x 2 ~ Drab brown
• SMS 624  ~ Brown grey ~ very dark
• SMS 665 ~ Orange spice ~ light
• SMS 666 ~ Shell grey ~ dark
• SMS 681 ~ Christmas red
• SMS 684 ~ Christmas red ~ light
• SMS 686 ~ Red copper ~ dark
• SMS 712  ~ Grey green ~ light
• SMS Blanc ~ Winter white
• SMS Noir  ~ Black

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

“Mary Ann, at only eight years of age, finished her sampler in the year 1826. An amazing achievement for one so young!

The sampler has been mainly executed in cross stitch over two linen threads with a small amount of cross stitch over one linen thread for the verse and dedication. There is a small amount of satin stitch. Mary Ann’s sampler has been rated as suitable for confident beginners through to advanced needleworkers."

Eliz Fitch, 1787 is an pretty historical sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. 

Elizabeth executed her sampler predominantly with cross stitches laid over two threads of linen; only the verse has been worked in cross stitch over one thread of linen.

The project is suitable for needleworkers of all levels of ability. 

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

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice, Printed Chart Booklet + 8 skeins of Soie d'Alger threads and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase + Free Shipping)

Linen Choices:

• 30 ct Fat Quarter  - Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" x 35"
• 37 ct Fat Quarter - Russian Tea Cake - 17.5" x 18"

 Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Includes:

• SDF 2224 ~ Olive green 

• SDF 2542 ~  Old gold

• SDF 2756 ~ Grey green

• SDF 3024 ~ Dusty rose

• SDF 3434 ~ Beige brown  

• SDF 3734 ~ Khaki green  

• SDF 5024 ~Blue green

• SDF F09 ~ Hazelnut brown

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

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman: