Stitches

Old Embroidery stitches sheet - proper name?

Hi i have an old embroidery sheet with lots of different stitch patterns in a row, does anyone know what this is called? I think it has a proper name. picture here - http://taras-rats-fundraising.piczo.com/?g=37356577&cr=3

Public Comments

1. Is it a 'sampler'? These were stitched to show off a multitude of stitches and to demonstrate skills.
2. It is a sampler. You will find that most samplers were more ornate and decorative, with pictures, alphabets, and motto statements.
3. I believe this is called a Sampler.
4. It is commonly called a 'band sampler' because the different stitches or motifs are stitched in bands across the width. Your photo is of one which shows one stitch repeated across the width, but many band samplers have more complex designs repeated. They were used as a teaching tool to learn needlework. "A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This style was popular in the seventeenth century, and many beautiful band samplers were stitched in this period. A variety of different techniques were used, such as cut and drawn work, needle lace and lacis, all of which were worked with white linen threads. In addition, bands of cross stitch in all its varieties (long-armed, montenegrin, etc) were worked in brightly coloured silks. Today this style of sampler has become popular again, and many designers create both traditional and modern versions of band samplers to be worked." Here's a more scholarly description: http://inaminuteago.com/articles/samplerhist.html Here's a blog detailing info on an ongoing one used as it was originally meant to - as a teaching tool (her band sampler is 44 ft long and still growing!) http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2008/12/31/for-the-love-of-stitching-band-sampler-back-story.html Here's a whole selection of different types: http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/abcSearch/search.cgi Here are examples of two very ornate ones: https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/showimage.cgi?JanHoutman0JH14RainbowBorders2500 https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/showimage.cgi?JanHoutman0JH11LeNoirEtRouge2500 These are examples of blackwork band samplers: http://www.aion-needlecrafts.co.uk/designs/cat/blk_quartet.htm