I took the last two pages of my stitch sampler with me on my walk last week, well I knew I would need something to do in the evenings when we collapsed in a heap. So as we walked from Melrose in Scotland, to Lindisfarne just off the Northumberland coast at the top of England, I stitched the front page and the back page of my sampler book.
I stitched the back page first, I decided to ‘write’ a bit about the book, a few statistics, after all, it is a well traveled book. It’s been in my handbag for most of the last 18 months, I’ve stitched it in cafes, hotels, train stations, on trains, airplanes. I would have included how many different DMC threads I used if I had the book with me at the time to count! (Eighteen if you’re wondering) I’m still not sure about the spelling for ‘travelled’,the computer says it’s wrong but one ‘l’ just doesn’t look right to me, may be it’s an American spelling? The two l’s are staying anyway!
On the front page I decided to keep it fairly simple with a title, date and initials. I didn’t want it completely plain though and rather than trying to work out embroidery patterns I chose to write the names of some of the places I stitched in but which didn’t get a mention on the stitch pages. I used a variegated cream thread so it can be read (if you look carefully) but the main title stands out first. They add a bit of texture!
I’ve stitched the front and back page on to the main book pages, so all I need to do now is to make a cover, I think I’ve sussed out how I’m going to do it so hopefully it won’t take too long. I’m planning to include a pocket in the back for a notebook which will list all the stitches, so when I find a stitch I want to use I can check which one it is and remind myself how to do it.
Fingers crossed I’ll be doing a happy dance soon 🙂
thecraftycreek 
I love this!
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Ooh I’m now off to Lindisfarne…. hope my stitching will be as good as yours
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This is lovely 😍💕
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Oh wow that looks gorgeous! I have been thinking about making a stitch book, but so far it has just been a thought.
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It’s a great way to learn new stitches, it’s one of those things you just have to make a start and stop when you’ve had enough 🙂
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A very nice personal touch. I might have to make one of these some time. It’s a great idea and also, just think about the future. Your descendants may find it two hundred years from now and say “wow!”
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Travelled is British English, Traveled is US English spelling. I’m glad you stuck with what looks right to your eye! The book is looking marvellous, and will also be extremely useful in the future. I hope it survives well into the future and becomes an interesting insight into how traditional handcrafts survive despite how well-travelled people were in our era!
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Oh this is just wonderful!!! I’ve been dying to see how you would put it all together. Congratulations, Margaret for another stunning project.
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I’m a little sad to see this coming to an end, I have really enjoyed these posts. On the bright side, I can’t wait to see what you decide to do next!
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I would have to have put ‘travelled’ too but then I’m also a Brit and the alternative just doesn’t look right to me. Your book is wonderful and will serve as both a memento and a stitching guide.
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I’m American, but have lived in England for the past decade. As a result, spelling is hopeless for me! All words that vary between countries look ‘wrong’ to me, no matter which way I spell them, because I have too much experience with them both ways!
Your sampler is gorgeous. I want to practice embroidery, but I love machine sewing so much, I’m not sure I’ll ever put the time in. If only there were more hours in the day!
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What a fantastic sampler book! So many stitches, and I’m sure lots of stories to go with it. A lot of thought has gone into how you’ve finished this, and it’s really come together beautifully.
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Looks fantastic regardless of the spelling – but I would have plumped for double ‘l’ too!
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I like all your projects but this one is my favorite because it has acted as a journal and has prompted so many interesting decisions and choices along the way, in addition to being beautifully crafted! I’ll be sorry to see it finished!
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Hello Margaret, this little sampler book is stunning, how did you put the pages together, I really would like to make one, what a lovely legacy. It’s really wonderful that you’ve travelled and stitched in so many different places. Regards Mandy xx
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Hi Mandy, I stitched a backstitch outline around each double page (If I did it again I would look at making them double size (over 4 threads) and then I whip-stitched the pages together through the back-stitches.
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Oh my goodness! How beautiful!!! I never seen anything like this before.
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I have really enjoyed watching the progress on this project. It is lovely and can’t wait to see what you do for the covers.
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This looks like a well travelled book. How fabulous you stitch as you wander through the countryside. It is lovely with such pretty stitching. Here in Australia, we too spell travelled, just like you. =)
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