Description
Stitch Count 266 x 301
From the Hands Across the Sea Website:
“Anna was most probably born on June 7th 1808 to George and Ann (nee Linford) Tench and was baptised, with her two sisters Elizabeth and Emma (were these the young girls Anna featured in her sampler?), on August 29th, 1814 at St Martins, Birmingham. The three girls’ baptism took place shortly after the birth of Emma. The baptismal records note that George was a carter and that the family lived in Brasshouse Yard. The Brasshouse was built in 1781 by the Birmingham Metal Company alongside the Birmingham Canal.
Anna possibly married Thomas Avis on October 11th, 1829 and can be found in Brighton in the 1841 census and living at 15 Sussex Street Brighton in the 1851 census with her husband and four children. Thomas’ occupation is recorded as a nail porter. Maybe they met in Birmingham through his work.
In the 1861 census Anna, now working as a monthly nurse, can be found living in North Lane Brighton with Thomas and one daughter Eliza, who was listed as a needle woman. By the 1871 census, Anna is a widow living in Old Broad Street London as a housekeeper. In 1881, the last census before her death Anna is living in Hatcham Road London with one of her sons, William an engine fitter, and his family. Anna died in 1888 aged 79 having lived a long life for the times.
Anns’s sampler has been painstakingly charted and lovingly stitched by Sandra Moffitt for her beloved granddaughters Sophia and Isla. This reproduction is dedicated to them.
Anna’s endearing 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 conversions for DMC based on 2 strands on 36ct linen.
The sampler is stitched mainly in cross stitch over 2 linen threads with a small amount of cross stitch over 1 linen thread. The sampler is suitable for needle workers of all levels of ability.”
Soie d’Alger/DMC ~Colour Description
516 x 1 / 937 x 1 ~ Avocado green medium
526 x 1 / 829 x 1 ~ Golden olive very dark
622 x 1 / 744 x 1 ~ Yellow pale
922 x 1 / 352 x 1 ~ Coral light
1712 x 1 / 3752 x 1 ~ Antique blue very light
1713 x 1 / 931 x 1 ~ Antique blue medium
2145 x 1 / 730 x 1 ~ Olive green very dark
2756 x 1 / 927 x 1 ~ Grey green light
2911 x 1 / 948 x 1 ~ Peach very light
2913 x 2 / 353 x 2 ~ Peach
2921 x 1 / 3801 x 1 ~ Christmas red light
3011 x 1 / 3716 x 1 ~ Dusty rose very light
3221 x 1 / 762 x 1 ~ Pearl grey very light
3441 x 2 / 415 x 2 ~ Pearl grey
3442 x 2 / 318 x 2 ~ Steel grey light
3444 x 1 / 414 x 1 ~ Steel grey dark
3714 x 1 / 3364 x 1 ~ Pine green
3833 x 2 / 371 x 2 ~ Mustard
3842 x 1 / 644 x 1 ~ Beige grey medium
4096 x 1 / 5200 x 1 ~ Snow white
4098 x 1 3865 x 1 ~ Winter white
4113 x 1 / 841 x 1 ~ Beige brown light
4141 x 1 / 3772 x 1 ~ Desert sand very dark
4213 x 1 / 3826 x 1 ~ Golden brown
4541 x 1 / 950 x 1 ~ Desert sand light
4516 x 1 / 433 x 1 ~ Brown medium
4526 x 1 / 801 x 1 ~ Coffee brown dark
4632 x 1 / 3727 x 1 ~ Antique mauve light
4633 x 1 / 316 x 1 ~ Antique mauve medium
Noir x 1 / 310 x 1 ~ Black
