Object Name: Book
Object ID: 1963.031.01
Creator: Lasseter, SarahDressmaker
Place of Origin: Worthing, England
Date: 1844
Description: Sewing sample book, Sarah Lasseter, Worthing, England, 1844. A portfolio-type binder with loose pages to which are attached various samples of well-practiced stitching. The samples include examples of blindingly minute back stitching on fine linen; buttonhole stitching; whipped gathering; plain-weave darning with blue threads on tan linen; fine hemming on linen; faggoted seaming; laid seaming; and darning on stocking-weight silk knits. Several samplers are also included. First, a marking sampler worked in green cotton cross stitch on loosely woven yellow linen, with upper case and lower case alphabets and numbers one through twelve; inscribed in cross stitch at center bottom: "Sarah Lasseter / 1844"; 8.25" x 7.25". Second, a small marking sampler worked in red cotton thread on fine cream wool flannel, with an alphabet of capital block letters, numbers one through thirteen, and inscription "Girls School / Sarah Lasseter / 1844," 3.5" x 3.3". Third, a small marking sampler worked in fine red thread on fine white linen, headed with the inscription "Girls School," followed by an alphabet arranged as a housewife would mark her linens, with a group of initials centered over a numThis is done in two sizes, both of which are remarkably fine stitches. Centered at bottom is the inscription, "Sarah Lasseter / 1844." 4.75" x 4". Separate from the portfolio, but part of the group are three minature garments: a shirt of white linen with a pleated and buttoned front and gathered sleeves with buttoned cuffs, marked with initials in red, "EK," 11" x 18"; a smaller shirt of white linen, with a plain front, 6" x 9.5"; and a tucker of white cotton, 7.75" x 10". The portfolio cover edges tie closed with black silk ribbon. See document file for correspondence regarding history of this piece. A sampler, now missing, transferred an image of its stitching in red to the facing page, reading [backwards] WORTHING / [wd?] GIRLS SCHOOL."
Material: Paper
Textile
Dimensions: H-11.25 W-8.75 inches
Credit Line: Gift of Martha G. Stearns