Sewing and stitching was first used so that people could make better clothes. They used stitches to join animal skins together. This developed into ways of strengthening, decorating and repairing their clothes.
Most early embroideries that have survived to the present day are church decorations, some dating back as early as the ninth century. The survival of these decorations is due to the careful preservation they have received in the treasuries of the churches for which they were originally made.
Cross stitch is one of the oldest embroidery stitches and beautiful examples can be found throughout with world.
SAMPLERS
The most common form of cross stitch to most people is the sampler. The sampler is a very traditional art form dating back at least 500 years. The earliest mention of samplers occurs in 1502 in the account book of Elizabeth of York where it says that she bought 'lynnyn cloth for a sampler'.
The word is derived from the Old French world 'essamplaire' meaning a pattern which could be copied. Historically samplers were used to learn embroidery techniques and designs. These samplers would then be stored and used over and over again as a reference. The designs could be passed from person to person so a lot of the samplers have similar elements cropping over and over.
The earliest samplers where generally very long and thin (known as Band Samplers) and were merely bits of cloth with various types of stitches. Later samplers are more complex, with stitchers putting alphabets and numbers, together with symbols and motifs. During the 18th and 19th centuries samplers became more sophisticated, with the addition of more complex stitches, biblical verses and pictures.
During the nineteenth century making samplers was a part of general school education. Girls usually competed one complete sampler each year. It was hoped that this would improve the girls spelling and needlework and prepare them for their future roles as wives and mothers.
Early samplers used crossed stitches including ordinary cross stitch and long-armed cross stitch as well as tent stitch and satin stitch. According to legend some of the stitches that were used, such as the double-running or Holbein stitch, were brought to England by Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII.
