Brenda Keyes' Traditional Samplers [Hardcover]

Brenda Keyes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999

Reproduce a wealth of historic, antique samplers. Reach back in time to when schoolroom motifs, intricate band samplers, and personalized handwork commemorated every occasion. Embroider samplers with alphabets and homey sayings. Stitch a Little Girls' Birth Sampler in pink-and-white or an Edwardian Boy's Birth Sampler. Give others at weddings, housewarmings, christenings, and anniversaries. Or make a colorful, springlike work with flora, birds, and other fauna. Bonus projects include pillows, bookmarks, and bags. Every one is a classic!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brenda Keyes runs her own highly successful design business, The Sampler Company, whose range of historically-based designs sell widely throughout Europe and the USA. This was her fifth title published by David & Charles, following Alphabets & Samplers; Cross Stitch Country Christmas; The Sampler Motif Book; and Exquisite Miniatures. Brenda Keyes is married with two children and lives in Prestwich, Manchester. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715305700
• ISBN-13: 978-0715305706
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,587,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming cross stitch designs, April 8, 2000

By 

R. Haldeman "ruth" (Lemont, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brenda Keyes' Traditional Samplers (Hardcover)

This is Brenda Keyes 5th book and as motivating as the other 2 I have. Twenty samplers are featured, with many smaller samplers, inspired by a wide range of antique motifs. There is a sharp color photo of each sampler, many in room settings. They are stitched beautifully on linen and Aida, in bright complementary colors, suited for beginning to advanced stitchers. Samplers are well displayed, framed and matted using inspirational methods and materials. Charts are in color, and black and white, and are very easy to follow. There is an added assortment of 10 alphabets for personalizing samplers with initials and dates. Framing methods are suggested, cleaning stretching, use of acid-free materials and charting your own designs are explained. I look forward to stitching my own samplers from this collection inspired by antiques that our ancestors put great effort in creating.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, May 8, 2009

By 

Wendy (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traditional Samplers (Crafts) (Paperback)

Although I liked the book and the fact that it contains patterns for the samplers, the first 2 samplers I worked on had some glaring mistakes in the pattern that should have been fixed by either the author or her copy editor.

The first sampler I did was the Engagement Sampler (pgs 66-69). The sampler called for DMC 3021 thread which was identified in the pattern in the book as mid-green and was mid-green in the picture of the finished product. However DMC 3021 is not mid-green in fact it is a dark brown color. I ended up using DMC 3051 for the color which was a green color.

The second sampler I worked on was the Edwardian Style Birth Sampler (pgs 118-121). The first typo was in the Alphabet border (they list A-Z twice around the border) the letter "G" on the left side is different from the letter "G" at the top. They should both be the same and the left "G" should be like the top "G". The other typo is the omission of a warm brown border (DMC 434) around the basket of the hot-air balloon. The warm brown border appears in the picture of the finished product but is not in the pattern.

As I really liked having the patterns in the book, I would have loved to give this book a 5-star review but with mistakes like these in the 2 samplers I completed I felt as though the author or copy editor didn't really pay enough attention to the details. I haven't worked on any of the other samplers so I don't know if there are any other pattern typos.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing.............., June 16, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brenda Keyes' Traditional Samplers (Hardcover)

I thought this book paled in comparison to Brenda Keye's other book, The Sampler Motif Book.....I ended up giving it away....