A Flamestitch Sampler by The Scarlet Letter

This sampler is designed after a mid-18th century piece, unsigned and undated, but perhaps made in northern England or in the Scottish borders. The solidly stitched lower half suggests it might have been worked as a rehearsal for a more advanced project, such as a pocketbook, upholstered cushion, chair back, or drapery. The counted thread flame-stitched section is quite simple to execute: it consists of continuously overlapping vertical straight stitches, each one overlapping four threads of linen and overlapping two.