The Needlework of Oscar Topsfield~ Reproduction Sampler Pattern by Hands Across the Sea Samplers

Nicola has generously made this gorgeous pattern available for download now via our store.  The PDF will be emailed to you within 24 hours or you can choose a printed booklet to be posted

Oscar stitched his sampler in 1904, when he was 12 years old whilst attending HM Greenwich School. Greenwich Hospital was founded by Royal Charter for the relief and support of seamen serving aboard the ships belonging to the Royal Navy who for reasons of age, wounds, or other disabilities were unable to maintain themselves. It also provided for the widows and the maintenance and education of the children of seamen that had been killed or disabled. Sailors often used their off-duty hours aboard ship to do handcrafts such as carving, knotting, and needlework. We believe that it was a tradition at the naval school for boys to cross stitch a sampler to send home to their parents. We know of the existence of other similar samplers.

Thread Legend:

At first glance, Oscar’s sampler appears to have been stitched with variegated thread; however, this young boy worked using solid colours while diligently carrying his thread. The model was reproduced using a palette of nine silks from Au Ver à Soie’s range of Soie 100.3. We have included below conversions for Soie d’Alger and DMC. Only one spool or skein of each colour is required.

Soie 100.3 / SDA / DMC ~ Colour Description

029 / 2757 / 926 ~ Grey green

152 / 2214 / 732 ~ Olive green

240 / 3814 / 729~ Old gold

284 / 2633 / 758 ~ Terracotta

493 / 2645 / 22 ~ Alizarin

519 / 4216 / 801 ~ Coffee brown

542 / 4226 / 782 ~ Topaz

557 / 5114 / 3041 ~ Antique violet

755 / 1736 / 3750 ~ Antique blue

The pin cushions can be stitched using colours of your choice. We have listed below the shade numbers of the Soie 100.3 we used together with conversions for Soie d’Alger (SDA) and DMC.

Thread Legend ~ When This You See

Soie 100.3 / SDA / DMC

080 / 3431 / 3033 ~ Cream
755 /1746 /930 ~ Blue

Thread Legend ~ To You All

Soie 100.3 / SDA / DMC

109 / 2936 / 815 ~ Garnet
209 / 1826 / 890 ~ Green

Linen Sizes

Oscar executed his sampler on perforated paper with cross stitches laid over the equivalent of two threads of linen. The sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities.

The design area is 142 stitches (w) x 158 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3″ margin for finishing and framing. The model was stitched on Bees Knees, an overdyed linen from Tabbycat Linen.

28ct linen: Design: 10.14″ x 11.29″ Fabric: 16.14″ x 17.29″

32ct linen: Design: 8.88″ x 9.88″ Fabric: 14.88″ x 15.88″

36ct linen: Design: 7.89″ x 8.78″ Fabric: 13.89″ x 14.78″

40ct linen: Design: 7.10″ x 7.90″ Fabric: 13.10″ x 13.90″

46ct linen: Design: 6.17″ x 6.87″ Fabric: 12.17″ x 12.87″

56ct linen: Design: 5.07″ x 5.64″ Fabric: 11.07″ x 11.64″

When This You See was worked on Aztec Red linen from Weeks Dyeworks. Stitch count 97 (w) x 61 (h).

To You All was worked on Rivergum linen from Fox and Rabbit. Stitch count 91 (w) x 79 (h).