It’s funny that even though most of the cross stitch designers I’ve been profiling lately came to me from a list I’m picking from at random, quite a few of them have been designers who focus on samplers (see, for example, Scattered Seed Samplers, Elegant Thread, Fox and Rabbit Designs, to name a few).
This week I’m taking a peek at another sampler company, this time it’s UK-based Historical Sampler Company. Joanne and Suzanne started out creating cross stitch patterns based on historical sampler designs, then branched out to include birth and wedding samplers with a traditional feel, as well as more modern designs.
They have a range of Christmas samplers, which include trees, birdhouses, patchwork designs that look a bit like quilts and a couple of sampler designs that look like advent calendars. I love the Ho Ho Ho cross stitch design because of the black fabric and the fun, colorful graphics. Each little design looks like a postage stamp!
The anniversary samplers (some of which would also work for weddings) are really sweet and would make a great gift to celebrate long-lasting love.
Their patterns are available as PDFs or printed and shipped paper patterns. If you’re in the UK or willing to wait for shipping, you can also purchase kits or deluxe boxes from them. The regular kit includes the required fabric and pre-sorted thread, a copy of the pattern, a gold-plated needle and a red gift bag. The gift box includes all that and large and small project bags, a needle minder and thread organizer and other treats (food, tea and otherwise) that vary with the seasons.
Historical Sampler Company also does a Christmas stitchalong and advent calendar, which can be purchased as a PDF (with clues sent in email as the stitchalong goes on), as a kit or in an advent calendar style with 24 little gifts for you to open.
Check out all their designs at Historical Sampler Company.
[Photo: Historical Sampler Company]
