Eliza Ann Eckerson Reproduction Sampler Pattern

Eliza Ann Eckerson is a reproduction an an original antique sampler that is currently held in a private collection. Sadly Miss Eliza’s sampler was not well cared for and so the original colors have been almost completely faded. Eliza didn’t tell us when she worked her sampler, but she did tell us her birthdate: 18 August 1821. We suspect the original sampler was executed by 1830 and perhaps as early as 1826. 

Eliza executed her sampler entirely in cross stitch and mostly over two threads, though the small doodle at the bottom is worked over one thread. Eliza was not a careful stitcher (perhaps because she was quite young or perhaps she just wanted to be doing something else), and because of that, faithfully reproducing her sampler is more complicated than it looks. Therefore, this pattern includes three charts: a full color faithful representation of the original including all of her miscounts, dropped stitches, and adjustments, a full color adjusted chart that is suitable for Aida cloth where I have corrected her mistakes and adjusted over one stitches to be over two, and finally a black and white copy of the Aida-friendly chart.

Eliza’s sampler is 116 stitches wide by 112 stitches long. If stitched on 14 count Aida or a 28 count linen, the design size is about 12 ½ x 12 inches. The model was stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Mocha linen using DMC threads. The design size on 32 count fabric is 7 ¼ x 7 inches.

The Aida-friendly chart is perfect for a beginning stitcher!