Darning Sampler

Darning samplers hold special appeal to collectors and needleworkers today due to their strong graphic quality and the impressive skill that they display. Household textiles and clothing were very valuable in that period and an understanding of weave structure and the ability to use this knowledge to repair fabrics was considered an important skill. Samplermakers were taught to darn by cutting and discarding squares from the linen ground fabric. They would then learn how to replicate intricate patterns to fill in the squares. 

We are pleased to have acquired this excellent Dutch darning sampler, dated 1802 and initialed MDR; that information was very carefully stitched in the eyelet stitch. 

The size of the darned squares on this particular sampler is very unusual. All fifteen squares measure between 2½” and 3" square, which means, of course, that the needleworker was very highly skilled. The squares on most darning samplers are substantially smaller. 

Worked in silk on linen, this darning sampler remains in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted in fine figured maple frame.
 

photo of reverse