Members of the Mathews County Woman’s Club were told about different types of samplers and stitchery at its meeting Monday at the clubhouse.
Presenter Cheryl Dale of Mathews, told members that she has been fascinated by needlework since she was six years old. She studied at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court in England as well as at Deerfield, Massachusetts. She has taught needlework to groups and also to museums in England and in the United States. She is a member of the Bay Quilters and the Mathews County Woman’s Club.
Dale brought several examples of very old samplers as did a few members of the MCWC. She spoke about the evolution of needlework, the care of such delicate pieces of art, and how girls and women practiced the various different types of stitches. Contrary to popular belief, samplers were not used to teach reading, but rather to recognize the shapes of the letters so that initials could be embroidered onto the clothing of a family. Designs and Bible verses w...