Betty Sumner 1822 - Reproduction Sampler Chart by Red Barn Samplers

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “gratitude,” is “the quality of being thankful; feeling grateful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”

Betty Sumner signs her sampler, “Betty Sumner aged 10 1882” and her following line includes “Lathom School,” a clue to the origin of her sampler. Her last line, a final word in all capital letters is, “GRATITUDE.” 

What better way to remind all of us that gratitude is an every day experience?

Little did Betty know when she stitched her four-colored sampler at the age of 10, that the word, “GRATITUDE,” would connect to needleworkers 200 years later as a word of thankfulness and appreciation.

It is as appropriate now as it was then.

This sweet sampler measures 107W X 139H stitches and uses only four colors; two shades of rich blue-green and two shades of warm, mustard-gold. All of the words, except for the word "GRATITUDE" are over one. The remaining stitches are done over two threads.