17th Century Sampler Goldwork Course

Join us to explore a design inspired by a 17th-century English sampler. Based on a traditional band sampler motif, this piece features a rose growing from stylised vines alongside pansies, acorns and a blue pinwheel-shaped flower, thought to represent a cornflower. Throughout the class, you will learn a range of traditional embroidery techniques including cut work, flat cut work, chipping, pearl purl application, soft string padding, flat padding, couching in a circle, plate application, bricking, Elizabethan twist, basketweave and plunging. Working through these techniques, you will build a deeper understanding of historic embroidery methods while creating your own stitched interpretation of this sampler design. In 17th-century England, young girls often stitched long, narrow band samplers to practise and record their needlework skills. These samplers combined decorative motifs, geometric patterns, figures and text, with individual bands showcasing different techniques and designs. This class offers the opportunity to explore that tradition through a design inspired by an original historic example.