About the object

Jane and Mary Lowe's samplers

These needlework samplers were made by Jane Lowe and Mary Lowe at Hillmont Public School in 1896. As the samplers are almost identical, the girls were probably sisters,  maybe twins. 

Based on the syllabus extract below, Jane and Mary Lowe's samplers are probably 3rd Class work. 

They are called 'samplers' as they include a sample of a variety of embroidery stitches and sewing techniques. They include:

• top stitch along outer edges

• a variety of embroidery stitches around border 

• embroidery stitches in yellow

• button holes

• eyelets

• darning stitch

• loops. 

In order to create straight lines and uniform heights of stitches a thread was pulled out. This is called counted and drawn thread work.

In the late 1800s girls were taught needlework for four hours a week. 

Significance

This needlework sampler is one of several late 1800s samplers in our collection. It provides evidence of:

• the needlework girls learnt at school and an example of the standard of work

• the darning patch reflects the ‘fix it’ culture of the time when clothing was mended and objects repaired for continued use

• consistency in learning across NSW as our samplers, from different students and schools, all show the same stitches and techniques.

Object details

Date – 1896

Creator – Jane Lowe and Mary Lowe, 3rd Class

Place – Hillmont Public School, NSW

Materials – cotton fabric, embroidery cotton

Dimensions – 19.5cm x 20cm

See

• Which parts of the sampler do you like?

• How many different types of stitches does Jane demonstrate?

• Which stitches are for decoration and which are for practical reasons?

Think

• What tools were used to create the sampler? 

• Why do you think girls were taught needlework and not boys? 

• What do you think the boys were taught while the girls did their needlework?

• What can you learn from examining the sampler?

Wonder

• What do you wonder about the sampler?

• What else would you like to know about the object?

Lizzie Davis's sampler, 1893

Lizzie Davis's needlework sampler contains many similar elements to Jane and Mary Lowe's samplers above. Lizzie attended Liverpool Public School and did this sampler in 1893. She was probably in 3rd Class.

The sampler is made of cotton and embroidery thread. It is 11cm x 12.5cm.

Lizzie has done a large and very neat darning patch. The use of the pink and blue thread shows the weave she has done. 

• Can you see the four eyelets around the darning square? These are embroidered holes.

• Can you see the three buttonholes and eight loops in the bottom left square? Blanket stitch was used to make those.