A Bluestocking Knits

It is Sampler September 2023, which seems to be not a stitch-along or even anything really official, but just is, as a time to celebrate cross- and counted-stitch samplers. In honor of this, and in thanks to those before me who have posted free charts of samplers, here is one that I have charted from a book that I came across somewhat randomly, Samplers and Stitches by Grace Christie.  It is essentially an early stitch dictionary, with descriptions and instructions and diagrams, and includes as plates (mostly black-and-white, it was 1921 after all) a number of little samplers that Mrs. Christie worked to demonstrate the stitches, and a few larger pictorial pieces, including one called "A Persian Flower Garden," a riot of colorful, though now faded, flowers and birds and insects, many of which she adapted into this smaller piece, with a springtime quotation from "Love's Labour's Lost" —

Download Mrs. Christie's "When Daisies Pied"

The sampler was surprisingly challenging to chart in some places, as although the illustration looks pretty straightforward, the "columns" and "rows" don't always line up from one motif to another — and of course I had to adapt the colors of a hundred-year-old embroidery which I've not seen in person into modern threads.  I tried to strike a pleasing balance between the lovely faded colors of the front of the "Persian Garden" and the brighter, more original ones on the back.  Choices were made, obviously, and another stitcher should feel free to change them as desired. 

I have not stitched this yet! though it is certainly on my list.  If anyone does, I would be delighted to see it worked!