A Short History of Embroidery Stitch Samplers | Stitched Stories Embroidery Kits

Blog post title card: A Short History of Embroidery Stitch Samplers

While embroidery is a craft going back thousands of years, the history of Embroidery Stitch Samplers starts in Europe during the Renaissance.

The word “sampler” derives from the Latin exemplum via the French essamplaire –meaning “example.” These samplers functioned as practice pieces–a way for stitchers to learn stitches–and, once completed, as reference guide for future projects.

In the sampler below, there’s a square of letters and geometrics and then several motifs. It served as a record of patterns and elements the original stitcher learned or copied–and can now restitch in new pieces.

early example of embroidery stitch sampler — *Source: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

The Spot Sampler

Spot samplers are filled with randomly placed motifs as on this piece with its assorted geometric and floral motifs.

early example of embroidery spot sampler — *Source: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

The Band Sampler

In a band sampler, the embroidery is done in rows of different stitches and motifs. Each row (or band) gives the stitcher a spot to experiment with a variety of techniques–from basic to complex.

early example of embroidery band sampler — *Source: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

The sampler above is a 19th century band sampler on natural linen stitched in three sections or bands. The first is filled with alphabets. Alphabets were practiced by a stitcher often for the marking of linens to be returned from washing.

The next section has geometric patterns around a squirrel. The bottom section has several motifs including houses, vases, flowers, crosses, the bible and an anchor.

The Band Sampler Evolves

In the 18th century, English sampler formats evolved to be something for display rather than pieces to be rolled up and kept for reference.

Alphabets and repeating patterns were still included with verses added along with favorite themes of house and garden.

early example of framed embroidery stitch sampler — *Source: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*

Stitched Stories Traditional Sampler Patterns and Kits

I’ve created several traditional embroidery stitch sampler patterns and kits for the Stitched Stories shop.

The Honeybee Traditional Embroidery Stitch Sampler in our shop (see: PATTERN | FULL KIT) substitutes sayings for alphabets, with “Kind words are like honey” combing from the bible. Bands of repeating patterns are worked around honeycomb and sunflower motifs.

framed embroidery stitch sampler with honeybee theme

I’ve relied on the evolved band structure as I designed these patterns. This is both a nod to vintage embroidery samplers and a practical way to give you a whole bunch of fun-to-embroider motifs rendered in differing stitch combinations.

The Home Traditional Embroidery Stitch Sampler in our shop (see: PATTERN | FULL KIT) is themed around home and houses with each of three bands featuring a differently styled house. There’s a small alphabet, classic saying, folk-art flowers, and rows of fun stitched borders.

framed embroidery stitch sampler with home theme

Embroidery Sampler Materials

Early embroidery stitch samplers were often worked on a canvas or linen ground, and our Stitched Stories include a heavy linen cotton canvas. We print the design in color to this canvas and also include full skeins of DMC floss with our kits.

embroidery stitch sampler kit with embroidery floss and pattern printed to heavy linen cotton

By the 19th century the sampler in England became mostly worked in cross stitch. Today, you can find hundreds of sampler-styled embroidery patterns and kits in cross stitch, but it’s more difficult to find these traditional designs in a freestyle embroidery–which is what you’ll work with a Stitched Stories pattern and kit.

So that you know exactly how to stitch your sampler, we include a detailed stitching guide with every sampler. Diagrams show you suggested stitches and colors for the pattern, and every stitch called for is illustrated.

Stitched Stories embroidery stitch sampler stitching diagram and illustrated guide

Connect to Tradition and Relax with Embroidery Samplers

It’s satisfying to work an embroidery format–the traditional stitch sampler–that began in a more practical way while embracing your crafty side.

Our samplers aim to motivate you to start stitching and keep you happy throughout the process. Color and motif along with fresh stitch combinations are my key tool for achieving that as I design.

Experience this connection to the past and immersion into creativity with Fall Squirrel Sampler (see: PATTERN | KIT).

You’ll embroider squirrels filled with curving lines and flourishes, a line of acorns and oak leaves, sharp pumpkins apple trees and fall poetry by Emily Bronte.

Framed embroidery stitch sampler with fall theme featuring squirrels and acorns.

The sturdy canvas, richly colored floss, and motifs that mix playful with tradition are your invitation to stitch a fall sampler.

Fall embroidery stitch sampler kit with embroidery floss, printed guide and pattern printed to heavy linen cotton

Style our Samplers to Fit Your Home

All of our traditional embroidery samplers are sized to fit into a standard 11”x14” mat or frame. Choose a framing style to fit your personal style.

Here’s our Honeybee Sampler with rustic styling.

framed honeybee embroidery sampler with rustic styling

And here’s that same sampler in a modern nursery.

Framed honeybee embroidery sampler displayed in a nursery.

Here are two other sampler designs and include Christmas Pines and Peacocks.

Choose a Traditional Embroidery Stitch Sampler to Stitch

Click here to choose a Stitched Stories pattern or kit that will have you exploring the craft of sampler embroidery.