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Elizabeth Catton 1775 is the first in a series of reproduction samplers that are part of a collaboration between the Embroiderers Guild, The Sampler Guild and Korry’s Little Shop.

Elizabeth Catton 1775 is one of the many samplers that the Embroider’s Guild have in their possession. It is approximately 6 inches wide and 5 inches high (168w x 138h stitches). The reproduction is in kit form at £39.00, and chart only at £16.00 stitched on 48 count linen using 7 colours that are a mix of NPI’s and Soie d’Alger. This is only available through Korry’s Little Shop (korrylittleshop.co.uk) - https://korrylittleshop.co.uk/shop/ols/products/elizabeth-catten-1775---reproduction-sampler?srsltid=AfmBOoq9K582t-yeKN-_nuOjTmAfAwUWSTD1O6G207sC1nvwkmPX9-kX.

The Embroiderer’s Guild are currently in the process of digitising their collection. The Board of Trustees have given The Sampler Guild and Korry’s Little Shop permission to reproduce a small number of these samplers. Part of the profits from these sales will be set aside to maintain the Embroiderers Guild sampler collection.

When reproducing these samplers, the aim is to make them as similar as possible. This means embracing the imperfections of the girls that originally stitched them whilst making sure that they are a pleasure for the modern stitcher to stitch. So, for example if a girl added an extra stitch where there shouldn’t be then that would be maintained. However, if she stitched over three threads instead of two then that would be rectified.

Enjoy stitching her and keep an eye out for other samplers that will be released later this year.

The Needle and Thread Journey is a collaboration between Linda Hadden of The Sampler Guild and Loetitia Gibier of Korry’s Little Shop. Both have a very deep knowledge and understanding of the history and stitching techniques of a wide variety of needlework and wish to share that with others who share their passion.

Through the retreats and workshops that they have organised; they came to realise that there was a need for good supportive teaching in a relaxed environment that was not judgemental. Out of this recognition came the idea for The Needle and Thread Journey.

The Needle and Thread Journey aims to take stitchers on their own journey through needlework at their own pace giving them the skills and confidence to take their stitching forward. Whilst sharing knowledge and skills to ensure that they are there for future generations.

This journey is in its infancy and is being guided by the needs of stitchers that they have met. Currently they have run two retreats. The first being the Dorcas Haynes retreat enabling stitchers to start this large band sampler with advice on fabric and thread conversions, teaching the stitches required to enable those who love the sampler to have the confidence to continue with it on their own. The second retreat was focused on colour and how as individuals we interpret colour and how this knowledge can be transferred to our stitching.

As part of this Linda and Loetitia have created a series of worksheets to support the delegates on retreats and a special workshop binder to put them in. The idea is to help you build your journey. You do not have to attend every retreat and the hope is that in the future they will also have videos uploaded to YouTube (link) and Instagram (link) on a wide variety of topics. Their hope for these teaching videos is to have minimal editing but maximum information by creating content that is short, sharp and to the point whilst they are just being themselves.

Ideas in the pipeline for the Needle and Thread Journey are a Dorcas Part 2 retreat, a retreat focused on finishing and The Norfolk Symposium.

The sampler Guild has spent another weekend at the delightful Bowden Hall Hotel in Gloucestershire for its second retreat of the year.

The retreat was part of the Needle and Thread Journey, and the aim of the long weekend was to focus on colour and how it impacts on our stitching.
This was done through a series of talks, firstly explaining how our brain interprets colour, the science of colour and guiding us on how we perceive colour.
There were also practical exercises such as looking at the impact of the same threads on different coloured linen and converting colours from one thread brand to another.

Delegates started to stitch their own colour swatches using the rainbow colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and indigo) in bright, warm and grey variants to help us develop our understanding of the colour wheel.

Loetitia when not teaching us, was again on hand to give practical advice on thread conversions, whether it be just swapping one colour out or changing the whole set as well as stitching techniques. She also brought part of her shop to the event. Linda had plenty of gorgeous linen for sale. A great opportunity for us to add to our stash! It was a wonderful time of just being with like-minded people who were so willing to generously share their knowledge, tips, ideas and their stitching.
Another amazing weekend, with many participants already signed up for the Just Chill retreat (10th -13th September 2026) and the Halloween Party retreat (30th October – 1st November 2026).

The Sampler Guild has just completed its first retreat of 2026. Fourteen members gathered at the delightful Bowden Hall Hotel just outside of Gloucester for a weekend of learning and stitching.

The focus was on reproducing the Dorcas Haynes band sampler. Delegates had been keen to work on this sampler, but some just needed a little support and guidance to get started. The first decision was which colour wave to choose, whether to follow the colours from the front or the back. Stitched examples of both were available for the stitchers to see and Loetitia (Korry’s Little Shop) had thread packs available in the colours of their choice if required, as well as many other delightful goodies!

Throughout the two days Linda and Loetitia were on hand to demonstrate the various stitches required to get the delegates to the halfway point including learning satin stitch, four sided stitch with a diagonal pass on the back, marking stitch, queen stitch and a special session on needle lacing to complete the caps on the acorns.

Much progress was made over the weekend with the intention that attendees could confidently complete the first half of sampler.

A wonderful first event of many this year for The Sampler Guild. Part 2 of Dorcas Haynes is already booked for next year.
To find out more about this and other planned events contact Linda by email at linda@thesamplerguild.co.uk

A massive well done to the pop-up Etsy store “We are Threads of Unity”, which comprised of a number of Sampler Guild members.
The store ran from October to December 31^st, 2025. They sold 600 charts which they had designed and donated themselves.
After Etsy fees were removed, they raised an amazing £3368.47 for Cancer Research!

Linda Hadden
The Sampler Guild
4 Courtfield Drive
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 6JG