Marthe Bouquière
CROSS STITCH REPRODUCTION SAMPLER PATTERN, READY TO DOWNLOAD, BY Couleur Tourterelle

The main feature of this sampler is a very elaborate altar, exquisitely detailed and surrounded with flower bouquets. This is a remarquable exemple of the classic French style of the early 19th century, where many samplers were devoted to catholic church themes. Motifs are depicted in intricate detail, using specialty stitches when needed such as the crown of thorns (bullion stitch) or the cock's feathers (chain stitch). 

Marthe Bouquière worked her sampler in silk thread, on 46ct linen fabric. Though the colors are very much faded, you can see the beautiful original thread colors on the wrong side of the piece, as well as the original color of the fabric, a light salmon pink.  

Marthe only stitched her name and age (12), making a slight error (« ace » instead of «âgée»). She doesn’t indicate the year, nor her location. But the presence of a large central altar hints at the south of France, and the color of the canvas as well as the shape of certain motifs could point to the Toulouse region, where many Toulouse samplers where stitched on pink fabric.

The designer takes great pain to stay as close as possible to the original sampler. To achieve the lovely faded pink effect, she starts from a light pink from the Zweigart linen range, and dyes it using tea. A range of silk threads is used, as close as possible to the unfaded colors seen on the back of the sampler. 

Two options are provided for stitching. You can work the full sampler in cross stitch following the chart, or you can work all the specialty stitches that are depicted in detail in the instructions page.

Note: given the large number of pages, only the color chart is included in the pdf. If you wish to receive a Black and White chart in addition to your order, please contact us.

A cross stitch pattern by Couleur Tourterelle.

>> see more Reproduction Sampler patterns by Couleur Tourterelle
 

Chart info & Needlework supplies for the pattern:
Marthe Bouquière (Reproduction Sampler)

Chart size in stitches: 273x268 (wide x high)
Needlework fabric: 40 ct Zweigart linen (4081 base, tea-dyed; or 3009/309) (13 1/2 x 13 inch - 34 x 33,5 cm)
>> View size in my choice of fabric (fabric calculator)
Stitches: cross stitch, chain stitch, long stitch, bullion stitch
Chart: Color, includes overview for Digital stitching - B&W chart upon request
Threads: Soie d'Alger from Ver à soie (1 strand) or DMC (1 strand)
Number of colors: 13
Other Supplies: chain stitch, long stitch, bullion stitch

Themes: French, 19th century
 

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