The whimsical sampler stitched by Martha Smith features a tall, thin man with a top hat and walking stick, a small, light-colored dog, two flower urns, a moth, a bird, and a rose. It is believed to have been stitched between 1865-1880. Is it possible that Martha stitched a sampler to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln? The tall man in the distinctive black top hat with a walking stick could be a nod to President Lincoln. In some instances the moth motif represents mourning, and birds have been known to be revered as harbingers of death. Were these two motifs also clues Martha left revealing her deep sadness for President Lincoln’s passing? What we do know is that this quaint sampler offers a glimpse into the creative needlework abilities of a young girl who crafted a work of beauty that lives on more than 150+ years later. Finished sampler measures 147W X 139H stitches. Model stitched using DMC on 38 count Fuller’s Teazel Linen by Access Commodities. It is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and contains no speciality stitches. CORRECTION - Please accept my sincere apology for the error that appears in the Thread Legend on the back page of the chart. "Ivy," by Weeks Dye Works, is not intentionally used in the chart.
