"The fascinating thing about samplers is that they are more than just antiques. They not only have a nostalgic value but also a living practical one. They were made to be copied. And as samplers do not become outdated by time like technical instructions, we can and should use them today as they were then. Samplers which cannot be copied lose their liveliness. And that would be a pity indeed." Eva Maria Leszner, quoted according to Angelika Walter: Alte Mustertücher zum Nachsticken, Amberg 2000, page 36.)

Dorothee Kandzi offers some beautiful charts, which I would like to introduce to you. On one hand, *there are true reproductions of antique samplers, like these two danish samplers dating back to 1825 and 1853.

On the other hand, she designs samplers in the traditional style using motifs from old model (pattern) books, which you can find here: According to old motifs

The choice of fabrics and threads was the most difficult job for Dorothee Kandzi. Dorothee has tried to use fabrics, threads and colours which are as close as possible to those of antique samplers. Some of the samplers you see above are stitched on 200 year old linen, like Denmark 1825 and Johann Sibmacher Sampler 1601. That requires lots of practice and patience, because the linen is woven irregularly. A good choice for todays stitchers is the very fine 40-counted linen produced by Permin of Copenhagen. Antique samplers are nearly always stitched with silk on fine linen. Au vers a soie, a Parisien company, offers silk threads of very high quality in more than 400 different colours. That allows the reproduction samplers to have the warm and delicate shades of the antique samplers.

The kits always come with the finest Danish 40-counted linen and silk threads from Au vers a soie.