Hi Jean I was always under the impression that during a certain period of time, girls did samplers to practice their stitching and to show that they had learned their ABCs and numbers. The Victoria and Albert Museum has a history of samplers, which you may find interesting. See http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/a-history-of-samplers/ I also found this: http://www.needleworksamplers.com/Simply_Samplers/sampler_history.shtml and on the dreaded Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampler_%28needlework%29 Kind regards, Lynne Jean Flanagan <jeancflanagan@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote: > >Hi Listers, > >I'm hoping there is someone with knowledge regarding Samplers, and they can help me some guidelines on e.g. Doing things like Samplers etc, was it something that would only be available for people with a privileged back ground? > >My friend has a Sampler which is very nice done, on the Sampler there is a verse followed by, Rose Vose 1806. This is the same Rose Vose from my previous posting, who was the mother of Ellen Vose born 1817. > >Would appreciate any information or thoughts regarding Sampler. > >Best Regards. >Jean Flanagan. Liverpool.