Simply Samplers: Sampler Links Around the World

Stitching samplers has always had a universal appeal, and this is reflected in this international list of sampler sites; for sampler resources and stitching supplies look at my Sampler Resources page.

American Schoolgirl Needlework
Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition, discusses American Schoolgirl Samplers.

A Brief History of Embroidery Samplers
Sharon Boggan presents a history of samplers.

Elizabethan Blackwork
The blackwork embroidery archives contain charts for many blackwork designs, and instructions for working double running stitch.

Examplar's Stitching Page
Ellen Chester's web pages, with a marvellous gallery of all the samplers she has stitched!

History Lessons
Nine Chapters of stitchery history, together with illustrated stitch directions from 2 Busy Stitching.

Madelena Antiques
An excellent stock of antique and some modern samplers and also other antiques, which can be purchased on line. Some items are aslo available via auction on eBay.

Medieval/Renaissance Embroidery

The New Conservation Centre
NMGM's award-winning Conservation Centre is the first national conservation centre in the UK, and the only one of its kind open to the public. Amongst other things you can discover how their world class conservators preserve and restore everything from fine art and sculpture to space suits and ancient archaeological treasures, and even get an expert's opinion on looking after your own heirlooms!

Newfoundland Museum
A long, informative piece on the history of Newfoundland samplers.

Peabody Essex Museum
Painted with Thread: The Art of American Embroidery details of the exhibition include information about the samplers worked by Anne Gower who brought her sampler from England to the USA during the Great Migration of the seventeenth century, and Mary Holingworth accused of witchcraft in 1692.

Exemplum Samplers:
Rob Firth has information about the history of samplers featuring the Emily Shelton sampler,and the Elizabeth Brandis sampler - this one comes with a surprise! He also sells antique samplers.

The Sampler Site
Carla Fisch is a keen sampler researcher, and her pages have a lot of useful and interesting information, including schoolgirl samplers and family record samplers. [This iste is no longer accessible; last checked 18th November 2002]

Samplers in the Blackwell Museum
Discusses history of samplers and includes a list of all the samplers in their collection.

Shakespeare's Peddler,
Theresa Venette's web site, has some answers to questions about antique samplers.

Sotheby's Collector's Eye: A Needlework Sampler
Information about a sampler collection sold at Sothebys. [Please note that this article is no longer on the Sotheby's website, but is is available courtesy of the Internet Archive "Wayback Machine".]

Textiles Through Time
A discussion of the history of textiles, which includes useful museum and history links.

Victoriana Library: Southern Decorative Needlework
The story of the samplers of the American South; in three parts.
Their Reflections of the Past
is a marvellous collection of eight samplers done by one little girl between 1879 and 1882, shows the beginning of her attempts at needlework (including a button hole sampler) up until her final large masterpiece.

Witney Antiques
Have the best collection of antique samplers and needlework for sale in Europe, and have an annual sampler exhibition which is well worth a visit.

Counted Cross Stitch, Needlework, and Stitchery Page
Kathy Dyer's needlework 'bible': a vital addition, even though it is not specific to samplers!