Our Stitch-along project

Thursday, May 1, 2014


Gather your needles and thread and stitch a sampler with us! If you are like me, there is plenty of weeding and planting to do...but this easy piece is the perfect size to accomplish in a short time. I recently found the sampler pictured above on e-bay. It arrived in Kansas recently, along with 6 other pieces Barb and I purchased from a dealer in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. I must confess the colors attracted my attention! The pink, gold and gray combination is bright and sweet, and felt just right for a fresh summer look. Love the small row of flowers too!


     This certainly was a great learning piece for some young schoolgirl. Not only did she learn to cross stitch over one and two linen threads, the four-sided stitch and the eyelet stitch had to be mastered too. I'm not too sure about the date....unless it's the date of her birth. This doesn't look like a sampler stitched in 1796 to me. I would have guessed it would be dated about 1810 - 1860. But, I'm certainly no expert when it comes to dating samplers. If you can date this piece more accurately please let me know! Unfortunately the name of the young girl who completed this piece was removed or damaged. 


     We have a couple examples of colorways to show you today. The one above is stitched on 28ct. Sand by Picture This Plus and silk floss from Classic Colorworks. I had a row of letters done, but noticed I used the wrong color. (Late night stitching made it hard for me to see the colors correctly. Still have to take out the first border before I can progress further.)


     This one is being stitched on 36ct. Pecan Butter by Lakeside Linens. It's going to be petite and too cute for words. The floss is cotton by Gentle Arts Sampler Threads. (The picot border really shows up here.) I must admit the four-sided stitch isn't my favorite....but I'm determined to master it. It's the first time I've even tried it.

     I'm going to experiment stitching another example of the sampler with wool floss and another linen. I will show those results too. (I've contacted Gentle Arts to see if they can send the wool colors I need. They should have the floss to me soon.)


     Just like every button in the dish above is different, we would love for you to take the pattern we will provide and make it have meaning for you and your family. Barb plans to bridge the generations with hers. She wants her mom to stitch a row of letters and then pass it to her niece so she and her young daughter can stitch a row. Barb will finish the piece so it will have the stitching of four generations.

     I'm not sure how I will change mine....I might do a reproduction and then another one with some other motifs added. I will be attending a family reunion the end of May. I'm thinking of asking my daughter and nieces to work on this project with me, using Barb's idea. I'm still in the brain storming process. Feel free to take motifs from some of our other patterns and add them to this project if you wish. You could even stitch a small portion or fragment of the piece and make it into a pincushion....
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     We would love for you to send us pictures of your progress. I will set up an Instagram site and also post pictures here for those who don't do Instagram. We will post progress one day a week for 2 months .... more if needed. I will post a link for the pattern here on the blog site over the weekend. I have to finish up a couple more details. What do you think? Are you in?

Until later,
Alma





176 comments

  1. I'm in! You are right! This is a perfect Summer stitch and I love the colors! Thanks for taking the time to arrange this and also thank you for including us "old fashioned" bloggers! ;-)

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  2. O yes I'm in I love stitching samplers and this one is so beautifull.

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  3. This sounds like so much fun! I'd love to stitch along!

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  4. You girls are so much fun....I would love to play along on this SAL. And how adorable is this little sampler. Count me in! Smiles, Nan

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  5. Very sweet sampler! I am definitely in!! Laura

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  6. sounds exciting. And love the sampler and colours!

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  7. Count me in!!! Love the colors and the overall design.
    Pam

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  8. I am in - lovely alphabet/floral sampler. Thank you so much for hosting + providing the pattern

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  9. Oh this will be a fun little stitch --can't wait to start!

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  10. I am in. This looks so pretty,

    Kathy

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  11. I love it! I can't wait to start. Thank you for hosting.

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  12. I love it Alma! It is beautiful!

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  13. I would love to stitch along! So pretty and fun!

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  14. count me in too.. this will be so much fun!! Thanks.

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  15. I'm definitely in!! What a sweet piece and how great to have all generations stitch on the piece. I'm definitely going to do that with the women in my family. Can't wait to get started.. Margaret K in Iowa

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  16. So pretty, would love to stitch along! Thank you for the design and the hosting of this SAL!

    Hugs,

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  17. Definitely!! Would love this!

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  18. What a sweet little sampler - I want to play, too! Looking forward to seeing the chart and the GAST colors you've selected.

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  19. Count me in - it looks beautiful, and stitching along with others will motivate me to finish.

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  20. I'd love to join too! I want to be a part of the fun!!

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  21. I'm drawn to those beautiful colors! Thank you!

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  22. Nice sampler. Nice colors. I'd love to stitch this one. Thanks!!

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  23. I can't wait to play with my colors!!!!!!!! I am definitely in :-).

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  24. Alma, I'm in. I can't wait. Now if you can get the pattern up before Saturday at 4 PM. I can run to my LNS to pick up my supplies. No pressure.

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  25. Can't wait to start this one, thank you for doing this!

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  26. Very, very beautiful!!! I would like to say I am in. But I haven't cross stitched in...oh, about 28 years!!! I learned a little bit as a little girl, but never continued. Now that I've been following your blog, I want to learn! :)

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    1. The nice thing about this sampler is the letters are really easy to stitch. Take a look at this link.
      https://www.thecrossstitchguild.com/Cross_Stitch_Basics/Stitch_Basics/Stitching_on_Linen.aspx
      Also, you might "google" how to cross stitch. You might find a great video demonstrating the stitch.

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    2. Hey Alma, thank you for the personal reply and guidance! :) I will take a look at the link and look on Youtube to see if there are videos. I really, really want to learn to cross stitch! Never ever thought I'd quilt, and now I know how to quilt and sew fairly well. Thanks again!

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    3. Sounds fun. Thank you so much for doing this.

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    4. I am in!
      Looking forward to it!

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  27. I am in!!! Can't wait to start! :)

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  28. I am definitely in! Thanks so much, this is so sweet! There are no other stitchers in my family so I'll being doing this on my own.
    Maureen
    mgw070 at shaw dot ca

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    1. Hi Maureen,

      No problem. We'd love to see one with your name and initials!

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  29. I can't wait to follow the progress on Instagram. Please post the link when you have it.

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    1. I will post the link. I have to have someone help me set it up....but once it's done will be sure to let you know where to find us. We will post on the blog too.

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  30. Sounds like fun - can't wait to get started!

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  31. Estimated Alma, hello from Italy. I'm not an expert, but a lucky sampler collector. Linen most of the times, if properly stored, it may look not so much antiqued. So, i'm also think can be the sampler of his grandmother, in memory of her. But maybe an expert can tell you more. That sampler looks great. Could I join? If not is ok, thanks so much! I love your works i'm doing one o them. Hugs from Italy.

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    1. We would love to have you stitch along with us! Everyone is welcome to the party!

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    2. Thank you so much! I can't wait for start!! ^_^

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  32. Will enjoy this! Can't wait to hear more!

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  33. What a great idear! Just love to join!

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  34. Oooh, love the colors and the idea of changing bits around could be fun!

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  35. I'm in I love stitching samplers and this one is very beautifull.

    thanks!

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  36. oooo looks lovely :) count me in too .. looks like a lot of fun :) love mouse xxxxx

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  37. Count me in. My last samplers were in black so this will be something realy different. It's beautiful.

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  38. I'm in too. Thanks for doing this. These are always so fun.

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  39. Sound fun, count me in!
    The sampler is lovely

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  40. Ooh those colours are gorgeous! I love the idea of involving the family I might rope my twin girls in on this too.

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  41. Lovely! You can count me in! To me, the date seems to match perfectly the style of this small sampler.

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  42. Nice Sampler! Count me in too!! Thanks you very much, Alma!

    Nuria - La Casina Roja

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  43. So sweet and colorful! Would love to join in too!! Thank you!

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  44. It might take me a little longer than everyone else, but I think I'm in too. What a great sampler. :-)

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    1. Not to worry....we will wait for you! This is a no one left behind kind of thing!

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  45. Looks like fun! I am in. Love your antique treasures. P

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  46. Looks beautiful... as always. Sweet, sweet sampler. Thank you!

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  47. I'm in! What a perfect little summer stitch! Thanks so much!

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  48. Lovely! I'm in! Thanks for the summer sampler project!

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  49. This is too tempting to pass up! Count me in! :D

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  50. I haven't cross stitched forever, but you sure do make it tempting! Love these colors.

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  51. I'm in! I love the picot border too. I don't know the four sided stitch, but will look it up. Do you wash your fabric before you stitch? I'm going to try to get my Daughter to put in a stitch. She is a knitter only:) It's for her and will have her initials and mine in it.
    Thanks Alma.

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    1. We don't wash our fabric before we stitch or after we are done. I love the idea of your daughter helping. I'm sure she could stitch her initials...or even one of the dividing bands.

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  52. Sweet sampler and I'd love to stitch it (even though I'm horrible at SALs). Count me in!

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    1. Hi Dona,
      I've seen your wonderful "Jane Pattison"...you can't be that bad at a SAL!!!!!

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  53. I'd love to stitch this one too! I love the colors.

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  54. Me too! Love the idea of generational stitchers. I have one young grand daughter that will stitch and a couple DIL's. I will visit with them and see if I can get them interested. Maybe do a round robin! Looking forward to getting the pattern! Thanks so much for the inspiration.

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  55. Love it!! I'm in :). I have a crazy time at work BUT I don't want to miss this one!!. One more thing in my plate is not gonna make me crazy. LOL.

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  56. I would love to stitch with you. I love samplers. Count with me!!.
    Hugs

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  57. Sounds fun! I would love to try this sampler. Can't wait to start.

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  58. Can't wait to start. I'm a repro. sampler addict, so I'll stitch as charted, at least for the first one.

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  59. I'm in too. Learning a new stitch would do me good.
    blessings, jill

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  60. Lovely little sampler. Count me in !

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  61. Count me in - may be able to persuade my daughter to do a learn-a-long

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  62. Maybe this is just the ticket to get me motivated to finish something I start. Count me in!

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  63. Thanks so much for this SAL. I love samplers, so count me in on this one.

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  64. Love the colors - I'm in!
    Lori

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  65. Oh I am definitely in!!! Thank you for the SAL!

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  66. Love the idea of having different generations doing the stitching. I would like to do that with my mother and my daughter.

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  67. This is amazing! I would love to be a part of the SAL!! Even though I already have two samplers on the go... I can make time for this!!

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  68. Count me in:) I love that sampler.
    love Annette

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  69. Such lovely colors, count me in.

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  70. This sampler is really cute ! Count me in ;)

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  71. I love stitching and samplers, so how can I not be part of this stitch-along? Count me in.

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  72. Count me in. I love this sampler

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  73. I love it, but just don't have the time to commit now : (

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  74. Lovely colors and nice sampler. I would love to stitch it.
    Many thanks for this SAL

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  75. My favorite colors ... how can I resist ;-) getting excited now!

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  76. Love it ... I am in too, but I am a bit pokey so I will be tagging along with the slow ones.
    Thanks so much for this lovely challenge,
    Peace and Blessing to all,.Barb

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  77. Oh I am in! I love samplers and it has been awhile since I did one. I am already thinking what I can add to mine!

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  78. Count me in, this sampler is so beautiful !
    Thank you for the sal

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  79. Count me in, I have never done a SAL. Not sure how it works. Sounds like a good way to get something finished!

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  80. The sampler looks beautiful and I love the colours. I would love to join the stitch-along.

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  81. Please count me in. Thanks, it is a beauty!!!!

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  82. What's your instagram name Alma? I can't find you or Blackbird designs.

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  83. I would love to stitch this with you!

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  84. Hi. Lovely! Another SAL. Am on holiday in Cyprus this week but will get started as soon as I'm back home. My inspiration has been waning for a while but I feel my enthusiasm bubbling up over this one. Thanks

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  85. You can count me in?? Its a nice sampler ¡ beautiful¡¡
    Thanks you very much ¡
    Nora

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  86. Please count me in, I love it :-)

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  87. Count me in!!! It looks like a great stitch!!!!

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  88. It's beautiful and so fresh!
    Yup count me in
    Darlene N

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  89. I would love to join, too - the colors are so perfect! Thank you.

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  90. I would like to join the stitch along too.

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  91. I would love to give this a shot and see how it turns out. I've never done a SAL, but love all kinds of embroidery. deanie dot dreams at gmail dot com

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  92. What fun!!!! I would love to participate. I have been thinking about small samplers to commemorate special dates in my family's lives......this will inspire me!

    Dianne

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  93. Good Morning Barb and Alma,

    I would like to join the Stitch a long too!

    Greetings,

    A.L.
    The Netherlands

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  94. That's sound great ! I'm in !

    Thank you

    Annick

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  95. I like to join this SAL. It's so beautifull.
    Greetings, Joke

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  96. Please count me in. Thanks, it is so beautyful!
    Françoise

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  97. What time will you start with this project?

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  98. What a fun project. I want to do it.

    Anja

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  99. Je participerai avec plaisir à ce SAL Chantal.

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  100. Hi Barb and Alma, I would really like to join the Sal. She is so beautiful! Greetings, Ina Netherlands.

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  101. I would love to stitch along! I adore that sweet scallop border!!

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  102. Pat Gates
    Count me in - I'm going to have my granddaughters and grandson each stitch a line....will be a great summer project for us!

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  103. I think I am in. I already have three projects going but what is one more.

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  104. Ik meld me bij deze ook aan.
    Suzette

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  105. I'm in of course! Thanks a lot!

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  106. Of course I'm in! I really got bogged down in samplers bigger than I can properly handle last year. This year most of my attention is going back to smaller, more doable projects.

    Some confusion around the web...is this going to be a chart that we purchase at our LNS, or is this going to be published here somewhere?

    Thanks, Alma.

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  107. This sounds interesting. would love to try if I have the time.. :)

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  108. Lovely. Please count me in. Thanks Alma.

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  109. This sampler is gorgeous. I would love to join you. Please count me in. Thanks a lot, Alma.

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  110. Great idea and beautiful sampler. Count with me. Love from Spain. :)

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  111. Of course! I'm looking forward to next week :-)

    Maria (from the Netherlands)

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  112. I am REALLY all in...just ordered my threads!

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  113. I'd love to join too!
    Ria
    (Netherlands)

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  114. I would love to join and hope I can keep up...

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  115. So cute! I'm totally in!!

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  116. Count me in, too! This will be my first SAL. Can't wait to get started!

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  117. How will we receive the pattern? This is my first SAL. Not familiar with how it works. Thanks.

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  118. Please count me in too! It's so beautifull!
    I'm Anto

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  119. I just got my linen and thread! Looking forward to getting started! I love these sweet samplers. It looks lovely. I have done some others you have had on your blog and they got me going in cross stitch. I had done a very little in the past and it was fun to start it again.

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  120. I would like to join this lovely SAL. Thank you!:)

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  121. I love samplers!
    I would like to join the group.
    Thank you
    Teresa

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  122. How do I join ...? I wish to have the
    pattern, but may opt for different colors if that is
    acceptable...please let me know how to proceed.

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  123. I don't have a phone or tablet to get instagram. Can you post pics the old fashioned way from instagram?

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  124. I would lire to join you. Is it too late?

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  125. I'm in ! It's my summervacationproject and I start yesterday. Look at www.kreaneeltje.blogspot.com. I think you can't read it because I am blogging in Dutch........

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  126. Love to join your community. I am a blogger from UK, My website web design bath

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  127. Hello!
    I saw a gorgeous quilt online. Its your Midnight Silhouette pattern. I've been looking for the pattern and all sites show it as out of stock. I wrote an email to one of the shops and was informed its out of print. Will you be reprinting this pattern? Your work is amazing.
    Thank You! Pamela

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  128. This is a really good read for me. Must agree that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw. Thanks for posting this informative article.

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  129. I love it! Is this sampler still available?

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  130. Thanks for share this information with us, I always come across this amazing post.

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