E Loir
CROSS STITCH REPRODUCTION SAMPLER PATTERN, READY TO DOWNLOAD, BY Couleur Tourterelle

While the stitcher only signed her work with a initial and her family name : « FAIT PAR E. LOIR » (Made by E. Loir) - no first name, no date, no location - several elements help date the it back to early French 19th century, around 1830.

Indeed the sampler features a classical religious motif featuring a catholic church altar, with a discreet border. The letters of the single alphabet are the characters from the « Linen maid’s alphabet»  reproduced in Diderot & d’Alembert’s Encyclopaedia and featured on all pieces of household linen, with the initials of the owner and an item number identifying each piece. 

There is no monumental altar, as featured in many South of France samplers of the time. Instead, the altar is simply suggested by the position of the central monstrance and two church candles and flower bouquets on either side. Below is a large cross. The sampler could therefore have come from northern France and possibly Normandy where the name is most frequently found.

You will notice the alphabet includes the Ampersand character « & », considered up to the 19th century to be the last letter of the alphabet, just after letter “Z”. There is no letter “W” however as this letter was only introduced officially in the French alphabet much later in 1936.

Finally the « Croix de par Dieu » cross is another feature of French Samplers. Placed just before letter A, it was a reminder for children to cross themselves before reciting the alphabet. 

The original sampler (last photo) is square  (10 x 10 inch - 25 cm x 25 cm). As the charted design (181 x 201 stitches) is slightly rectangular, the reproduction sampler was stitched on unevenweave linen in order for the sampler to be square, like the original. You can however stitch on regular (evenweave) linen and the stitched piece will be slightly rectangular (9 x 10 inch - 22,6 cm x 25 cm).

A cross stitch pattern by Couleur Tourterelle.

>> see more Reproduction Sampler patterns by Couleur Tourterelle
 

Chart info & Needlework supplies for the pattern:
E Loir (Reproduction Sampler)

Chart size in stitches: 181x201 (wide x high)
Needlework fabric: approx. 40ct unevenweave linen (Sajou)(10 x 10 inch - 25 x 25 cm) or 40ct Zweigart linen (309) (9 x 10 inch - 22,6 x 25 cm)
>> View size in my choice of fabric (fabric calculator)
Stitches: cross stitch,
Chart: Color and B&W, includes overview for Digital stitching
Threads: Soie d'Alger from Ver à soie
Number of colors: 13

Themes: French, 19th century
 

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>> see all patterns featuring the Linenmaid's alphabet (all designers)

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