CHART PACK:
Antique Rose Alphabet
REPRODUCTION SAMPLER CHARTED BY MURIEL BERCEVILLE - COUNTED CROSS STITCH
This monogram alphabet was used as a guide for stitching initials on household linen. Young girls, at the beginning of the 20th century, would learn to stitch at school. They would reproduce series of letters and numbers on small canvases, using red thread. Red was not only a symbol of life, if was also a colorfast color that would best resist heavy laundering. These canvases were used as samples and would be transmitted from one generation to another.
The original piece was stitched on canvas with red cotton thread. This color was the original “Turkish red” also called “Andrinople red” and corresponds to DMC 321.
Together with this alphabet design is an extra "rose wreath pattern", a modern pattern created by the designer to accomodate the initials. You can use one of the monograms and stitch it in the center of the wreath or alternatively stitch a tiny rose. The wreath is stitched over two threads. However the inner part (monogram or rose) is stitched over one thread which created a very refined effect.
Note letter "I" and "W" are missing. This was current with early samplers where letters “I” and “J” were often merged (as were letters “V” and “W”).
A faithful reproduction of an antique alphabet, charted by Muriel Berceville.
Number of stitches: 246 x 176 (wide x high)
Stitches: Cross stitch (no fractional stitches)
Chart: Black and White
Threads: DMC embroidery floss
Number of colors: 1
Themes: Antique sampler, Antiques, Reproduction, Monogram, initials, household linen, rose
