Mary Lea 1793 ~ Reproduction Sampler Pattern by Hands Across the Sea Samplers

“with praise on all thy works I look”

A beautiful border of lilies and carnations surrounds Mary’s sampler. Within is a large manor house framed on both sides by poplar and pine trees. Honey-coloured stone buildings are commonly seen in England in counties such as Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. A smug cat and an inquisitive dog stand guard along with two footmen holding candles. The sampler includes other lovely motifs, such as squirrels, butterflies and birds, such as owls, peacocks, ducks, as well as two apple trees, roses and lilies. Two angels who represent the Voice of God are contained along with the verse in a meandering rose bud cartouche.

Mary Lea finished her beautiful sampler when she was 11 years of age in 1793.

Mary Lea 1793 has been brought to you by Hands Across the Sea Samplers in collaboration with Jacqueline Morris who lovingly stitched the model. At the very core of Hands Across the Sea Samplers is a team of needleworkers who are passionate about antique samplers and being able to share those samplers with you.

Thread Legend

Mary’s sampler has been reproduced with Au Ver à Soie d’Alger silks and the skein quantities calculated based on 1 strand on 36ct fabric. We have provided a DMC conversion based on 2 strands on 36ct fabric. The original sampler was stitched on linen closest in colour to DMC shade 613.

Soie d’Alger / 100.3 / DMC ~ Colour Description

F018 x 2  / 425 x 2 / 422 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown – light
Noir x 1  / Noir x 1 / 310 x 1 ~ Black
1731 x 1  / 712 x 1 / 3756 x 1 ~ Antique blue – ultra very light
1736 x 1 / 755 x 1 / 930 x 1 ~ Antique blue – dark
1742 x 1 / 309 x 1 / 3753 x 1 ~ Antique blue – ultra very
1744 x 1 / 072 x 1 / 597 x 1 ~ Turquoise
1846 x 1/  210 x 1 / 500 x 1 ~ Blue green – very dark
2212 x 1 / 405 x 1 / 734 x 1 ~ Olive green – light
2213 x 1 / 022  x 1 / 733 x 1 ~ Olive green – medium
2236 x 2 / 542  x 2 / 420 x 2 ~ Hazelnut brown – dark
2542 x 1 / 142 x 1 / 677 x 1 ~ Old gold – very light
3346 x 2 / 597  x 2 / 3787 x 2 ~ Brown grey – dark
3724 x 2 / 707 x 1 / 3052 x 2 ~ Green grey – medium
3745 x 2 / 455 x 2 / 829 x 2 ~ Golden olive – very dark
3815 x 2 / 303 x 1 / 832 x 2 ~ Golden olive
4534 x 1 / 050 x 1 / 611 x 1 ~ Drab brown
4623 x 1 / 523  x 1 / 3831 x 1 ~ Raspberry – dark
4624 x 1 / 499 x 1 / 816 x 1 ~ Garnet

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 373 stitches (w) x 445 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

30ct – Design: 24.87″ x 29.67″ Fabric: 30.87″ x 35.67″
32ct – Design: 23.31″ x 27.81″ Fabric: 29.31″ x 33.81″
36ct – Design: 20.72″ x 24.72″ Fabric: 26.72″ x 30.72″
40ct – Design: 18.65″ x 22.25″ Fabric: 24.65″ x 28.25″
46ct – Design: 16.22″ x 19.35″ Fabric: 22.22″ x 25.35″