Lili on a pink cushion Reproduction Sampler
CROSS STITCHREPRODUCTION SAMPLER PATTERN, READY TO DOWNLOAD, BY Couleur Tourterelle

This little kitten recently joined Meriem Chauvet's collection of antique samplers, and she lost no time in stitching it, restoring it to its former beauty. Now the reproduction charts is yours to stitch.

Why Lili? 

Because this work is neither dated nor signed, so Meriem decided to name it after her cat Lili. 

This kind of motif based on a pattern is known as Berlin work, and would have been a little more difficult to stitch than a straightforward cross stitch pratice sampler with letters and numbers. One can imagine it was worked by a young stitcher who was already familiar with needlework and stitched the decorative motifs for her own pleasure or to offer as a gift.

Meriem Chauvet did some research and was able to locate the original kitten pattern which turned out to be from Maison Sajou, a popular needlework pattern publishing house in France in the 19th century. Compared with this model, there are, in the original work, a number of variations in the colors used for the cat, and the shading of the cushion. Our young stitcher may not have had the original pattern before her eyes, but possibly copied the work from another stitched work using the original design (or itself again a copy).

As for all Couleur Tourterelle charts, the reproduction strictly follows every stitch (including 2 small errors in the border) and matches every color of the original work (featured in last picture, with its original frame). Apart from the pink and red which have remained very vivid, the colors had been very damaged by time and light, and have been restored. Stitching this little cat in silk threads will bring it back to life.

Reproduction Sampler stitched using Soie d'Alger silk from Au Ver à soie (AVAS) or DMC, worked on 40ct linen. Size 5 x 5 inch (13 x 13 cm).
As the design only features full cross stitches, you can stitch it on any fabric of your choice, including over 1 fabric thread, or on Aida fabric.

A cross stitch pattern by Couleur Tourterelle.

>> see more Reproduction Sampler patterns by Couleur Tourterelle
 

Chart info & Needlework supplies for the pattern:
Lili on a pink cushion Reproduction Sampler

Chart size in stitches: 101 x 105 (wide x high)
Needlework fabric: 40ct Newcastle linen from Zweigart ,in color 309"
Stitched size: 5 x 5 inch (13 x 13 cm)
Stitches: cross stitch over 2 threads, cross stitch over 6 threads, long stitch
Chart: Color and B&W, includes one-page chart for Digital stitching
Threads: Soie d'Alger silk from Au Ver à soie (AVAS) or DMC
Number of colors: 14

Themes: France, late 19th or early 20th century, cat on a cushion, Berlin work
 

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>> see all patterns with Cats (all designers)
 

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