Hands Across the Sea - The Old Scot c. 1740-60

The Old Scot has been brought to you in collaboration with Sigrid and Torsten Eckel who reproduced the sampler. The model has been lovingly stitched by Sigrid.

Whilst the sampler was acquired by us in England it can be nothing other than a Scottish sampler from the mid 1700’s. This was a fascinating and turbulent time in Scottish history and will, forever, be linked with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the doomed Jacobite Cause.

A stylised thistle border surrounds this beautiful Scottish sampler that was stitched circa 1740-1760 on 36ct linen with fine wool. The un-named sampler features two reversed flower bands and two elaborate upper-case alphabets of solid cross stitched centres surrounded by back stitched curlicues.

Five sets of initials are recorded on the sampler but none feature the same last initial so it is possible that these may not be the initials of family members but of friends.  The three storey building with many windows, three pointed gables and a man with a staff in the doorway is of great interest to us.

Whilst no mention is made of the man’s identity or the building in reference books about Scottish samplers we wonder if he could be James Francis Edward Stuart, The Old Pretender or his son Bonnie Prince Charlie and the building Linlithgow Palace through the eyes of a child. If you would like to read more about our theory please click on the TABS above.

The 20 page chart is in a booklet format and has been printed in full colour throughout. The chart comes with a comprehensive stitching guide and stitch diagrams together with extensive historical information about the period the sampler was stitched in. 

Thread Legend

The sampler has been reproduced with Au Ver à Soie d’Alger silks and the skein quantities calculated based on 1 strand on 36ct fabric. We have provided a DMC conversion based on 2 strands on 36ct fabric. The model was stitched on 36ct Lakeside Linen Vintage Meadow Rue.

Soie d’Alger / DMC / Gentle Art Simply Wool

4622 x 1 / 223 x 1 / 0340 ~ Shell pink – light

925 x 1 / 349 x 1  / 0390 ~  Coral – dark

4245 x 1 / 420 x 2 / 7088 ~  Hazel nut brown – dark

3833 x 1 / 612 x 1 / 7000~ Drab brown – light

3831 x 1 / 644 x 1 / 7027 ~ Beige grey – medium

943 x 1 / 817 x 1 / 7052 ~ Coral red – very dark

2145 x 2 / 3011 x 2  / 0110 ~ Khaki green – dark

2915 x 1 / 3328 x 1 / 0520 ~ Salmon – dark

4635 x 1 / 3726 x 1 / 7030 ~ Antique mauve – dark

1723 x 1 / 3810 x 1 / 7037 ~ Turquoise – dark

622 x 1 / 3821 x 1 / 0420 ~ Straw

The original sampler was stitched with fine wool and we have provided a courtesy conversion for Gentle Art Simply Wool. The range of colours available is not as extensive as AVAS silks and DMC cotton.  7037 is not ideal but was the best option within the range.

LINEN SIZES

The design area is 240 stitches (w) x 271 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3” margin for finishing and framing.

28ct – Design: 17.14″ x 19.36″ Fabric: 23.14″ x 25.36″

32ct – Design: 15″ x 16.94″ Fabric: 21″ x 22.94″

36ct – Design: 13.33″ x 15.06″ Fabric: 19.33″ x 21.06″

40ct – Design: 12″ x 13.55″ Fabric: 18″ x 19.55″