Samplers are increasingly valued for their decorative effect but they are also true period pieces which tell us something about the person, often children, who made them.
As the Victoria & Albert Museum point out samplers were originally a practical aid to remembering particular stitches, techniques and effects. While some boys were taught to sew, and professional embroiderers were often men, the ability to sew was traditionally considered essential for girls and women of all social classes. This was particularly emphasised in female education and training: sewing was sometimes taught before writing, and several samplers might be made to show growing proficiency. By the late 18th century the sampler had ceased to be this ‘exemplar’ of stitches, and though still an exercise in skill, was more likely to be significant for its moral and pictorial content. There are loads of companies today offering modern designs in this nostalgic craft, especially to celebrate a wedding or birth. Have a look at the V&A website.
