{"product_id":"hands-across-the-sea-william-curtis-1826-the-2026-lord-of-the-may-silk-thread-kit","title":"Hands Across the Sea - William Curtis 1826 ~The 2026 Lord of the May ~ Silk Thread Kit","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ePre Order Available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWilliam Curtis 1826 ~The 2026 Lord of the May is a beautiful \u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e sampler from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eHands Across the Sea.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eChoice of purchasing thread kit only or as full kit with linen. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cb style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFull Kit options:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes linen of choice +  Soie d'Alger or Soie 1003 threads + Chart (+\u003cem\u003eFree Shipping). \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLinen Choices:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30 ct Fat Half - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hoopandframe.com\/collections\/linen\/products\/legacy-linen-30-ct-victoria-sponge-cake\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVictoria Sponge Cake \u003c\/a\u003e-35\" x 36\" ~ \u003cem\u003eRecommended for Soie d'Alger Threads only  \u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e37 ct Fat \u003cspan\u003eHalf\u003c\/span\u003e \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/hoopandframe.com\/collections\/linen\/products\/legacy-linen-37-ct-corn-tassel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCorn Tassel\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan\u003e- 35\" x 36\" ~ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRecommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e37 ct Fat \u003cspan\u003eHalf\u003c\/span\u003e Russian Tea Cake \u003cspan\u003e- 35\" x 36\" ~ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRecommended for both Soie d'Alger and Soie 1003 threads\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e45 ct Fat\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEighth\u003c\/span\u003e -\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hoopandframe.com\/collections\/linen\/products\/legacy-linen-45-ct-foxtail-millet\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFoxtail Millet\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- 17.5\" x 18\" \u003c\/span\u003e~ \u003cem\u003eRecommended for Soie 1003 Threads \u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e48 ct Fat\u003cspan\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eEighth\u003c\/span\u003e - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hoopandframe.com\/collections\/linen\/products\/legacy-linen-48-ct-bridecake\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBride Cake\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan\u003e-17.5\" x 18\" \u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e~\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cem\u003eRecommended for Soie 1003 Threads \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThread Options:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAu Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 37 ct version includes 14 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 38 ct or lower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAu Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger - 30 ct version includes 15 skeins. Recommended linen for this thread is 30 ct or lower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAu Ver a Soie®, Soie 1003 includes 14 spools. \u003cspan\u003eRecommended linen for this thread is 37 ct or higher.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoie 1003 Colors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSMS\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e061\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 080\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 289\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 354 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 376 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 486 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 493\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 562 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 601 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 620 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 621 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 624 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 656 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"p1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eSMS 723\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoie d'Alger Colors Include:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  115  -  Wedgwood blue\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  204  -  Aquamarine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 236  - Forest green\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 1343  -   Blueberry\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 1436  -  Pewter grey\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  1714   - Antique blue\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 1836   -  Pistachio green (2 skeins for 30 ct)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 2644  -  Alizarin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 4533  -  Mocha brown\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  2756  -  Grey green\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  4536   - Micha brown (dk)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 4643  -  Antique mauve (lt)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF 4645  -  Antique mauve (dk)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSDF  F17 -   Ecru \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Sampler from the Designer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eIn England, May Day celebrations marked the arrival of spring, a time of renewal, growth, and community gathering. Central to these festivities was the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1032\" data-start=\"1012\"\u003eQueen of the May\u003c\/strong\u003e, a young girl chosen to represent beauty, youth, and the promise of the season. She was crowned with flowers and presided over the celebrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1509\" data-start=\"1179\"\u003eLess often remembered, but equally present in historical accounts, was her counterpart — the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1291\" data-start=\"1272\"\u003eLord of the May\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1763\" data-start=\"1511\"\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2126\" data-start=\"1797\"\u003eWilliam’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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2427\" data-start=\"2128\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2618\" data-start=\"2429\"\u003eThe sampler is signed as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"2475\" data-start=\"2465\"\u003ehis work\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3045\" data-start=\"2653\"\u003eSamplers 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3273\" data-start=\"3047\"\u003eAlthough 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.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hands Across the Sea","offers":[{"title":"Soie 1003 Thread Kit","offer_id":48827840659706,"sku":null,"price":87.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Soie d'Alger Thread Kit - 37 ct","offer_id":48827840692474,"sku":null,"price":108.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Soie d'Alger Thread Kit - 30 ct","offer_id":48827840725242,"sku":null,"price":116.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Chart Only","offer_id":48864384450810,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0145\/2090\/9881\/files\/HATS_WilliamCurtis-LOTM2026.jpg?v=1777773892","url":"https:\/\/hoopandframe.com\/en-ca\/products\/hands-across-the-sea-william-curtis-1826-the-2026-lord-of-the-may-silk-thread-kit","provider":"Hoop and Frame","version":"1.0","type":"link"}