Miss Mary Ann Bournes 1791~ Reproduction Sampler Pattern by Hands Across the Sea Samplers

An unusual and charming English Sampler stitched during the reign of George III, depicting a large central motif of a bee skep surrounded by flowers, bees, butterflies and two large doves set within leafy arbours together with a cottage in a pastoral scene. All are contained within a stunning border with several varieties of flowers including roses and carnations.

The original sampler was stitched with silks on uneven linen of approximately  40(w)/46(h) ct.  The  model  has been  stitched  with  Au  Ver  De  Soie  silks  on 40ct Lakeside Linen Sand Dune. Our design has been based on the mellowed colours of today.

Besides some small areas of satin stitch and a handful of eyelets the sampler is worked in cross stitch over 2 threads with Mary Ann’s name in cross stitch over 1 thread. The sampler has been graded at intermediate stitcher due to the number of stitches, however, it is not beyond an enthusiastic beginner. The bee after all denotes industry.

Stitched area on 36ct linen measures 18½” x 21½” and on 40ct linen measures 16¾” x 19¼”

Thread Legend

AVAS           DMC           COLOUR GUIDE

1415 x 1         336 x 1         Navy blue
3735 x 2       935 x 2       Avocado green – dk
3726 x 2       934 x 3      Black avocado green
3815 x 2       833 x 2      Golden olive – lt
525 x 2         831 x 3       Golden olive – md
3745 x 3       830 x 4     Golden Olive – dk
4245 x 2      420 x 3      Hazel nut brown – dk
4244 x 1       680 x 2     Old gold – dk
2644 x 1       3777 x 1    Terracotta – vy dk
4524 x 2      437 x 2      Tan –lt
2236 x 1       434 x 1      Brown – lt
3816 x 2       433 x 2      Brown – md
3435 x 1       938 x 1       Coffee brown – ul dk
3436 x 1       3371 x 1      Black brown
3835 x 1       640 x 1       Beige grey – vy dk

LINEN SIZES

The model was stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen in Sand Dune. The design area is 333 stitches (w) x 386 stitches (h)
Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing

30ct – 28 ½“ x 32”
32ct – 27” x 30”
36ct – 25” x 27”
40ct – 23” x 25”