Christmas in Williamsburg

Morning Classes

A Young Girl's Workbox
By Merry Cox

Imagine a very young girl being at school in the 1800's and receiving her first sewing workbox. As the instructress issues each painted workbox, she informs the schoolgirls that they will be perfecting their sewing and stitching skills with examples to fill the compartments within this special workbox.

Eileen Bennett
With Her Faire Hand, a 17th-century style band sampler

White work techniques dominate this traditional-styled 17th-century band sampler. In addition, using a soft color palette, the top section is crowded with "scattered motifs," all holding symbolic meaning known to the embroiderer of long ago. Following are softly colored "rowed bands" reflecting popular clothing embellishment of the period. These band designs are worked with a profusion of stitches adding depth, dimension, and "eye candy" to the project. An amazing letter "A" will add symbolism interest.

Numerous bands of white anchor the bottom portion of the sampler incorporating mixed techniques of surface and open work. These bands will emphasize the popular monochrome and geometric designs and are recognizable inclusions on samplers of this age.

Perhaps this class will introduce new embroidery stitches worked in the manner of the period. While stitching, absorb in-depth sampler research history. Note taking will be unnecessary; printed sheets of history pertaining to the class project will be included within the kit.

Lauren Sauer
Along the River James, Williamsburg Bound

Inspired by the pocket books carried by men and women of the Colonial era, Lauren Sauer creates a single-fold pocket book for stitchers. Stitched atop 35-count linen and featuring a variety of specialty threads, the project also includes a myriad of familiar and well-loved embroidery stitches with a special focus on Florentine work.

A collage of sampler motifs creates the front, outside cover showing a late summer/ early autumn scene of a plantation at the river's edge, glimpsed through a fruited tree and tufted hillocks from the opposite bank, surrounded by intricately embroidered framework. As with the typical colonial pocket book, there will be two inside pockets, also embroidered.