We're currently on holiday and not taking orders. We'll be back soon!
Sold out

Hampton Court Sampler Embroidery Kit

£195.00
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Out of stock

Why are our kits so often sold out? 

Our kits are in demand and take many hours to make. We make in small batches and keep a waiting list for each kit. To join the list, please complete the 'Email me when available' below. We will then email you with a link to purchase when the next batch of kits is ready. 

If you require a kit urgently, please CONTACT ME and we will do our best to help. 

This is a design very close to my heart since I viewed this building every day on my way to work for over 10 years, so I know its intricacies very well indeed! The panel is inspired by the  narrative scenes of 17th century raised work which invariably included images of contemporary buildings, with plants, flowers, and gardens, and often with a giant fish leaping from a formal pond!

I love these whimsical scenes which seem to come straight from a child’s story book. Hampton Court certainly has many a fascinating to tale to tell and makes a superb subject for stitch!

The piece is designed as a sampler to teach a broad range of raised embroidery stitch techniques which are excellent for depicting formal buildings and gardens. Many are taken from 17th century embroidery but are juxtaposed next to those of my own invention.

The building itself combines Queen Stitch, used to depict the diamond brick patterns commonly seen in this period of building, with burden stitch, needlelace over felt padding and raised stem stitch, further embellished with tubular metallic purls and a tiny hand cut wooden door! The pond is worked by colouring the ground fabric using pencil crayons before overlaying with metallic organza and adding thefish using spangles and a wired 3D tail.

 The gardens combine use of metallic mesh ribbons, silk chenille and couched silk gimps and silk wrapped purls (made specially for Jenny), worked over padding to create a sense of depth. The border includes the quote: ‘Isn’t it true, what small can do, with a thread, a thought & a stitch or 2?’ which is taken from the folk song ‘A Stitch in Time’ by Mike Waterson.

It speaks of a horrid husband who is very mean to his wife and yet gets his comeuppance when, rather inebriated, he falls deeply asleep and his wife strikes upon the notion to sew him to the bed with blanket stitch! He awakes to find her ready with the frying pan to teach him a good lesson!

On completion, you may like to purchase a wooden casket made specially with an oval aperture in the lid to house the project and including internal lift out tray and hand-made lock and key. Alternatively, you may purchase a frame to fit the finished design with an oval window mount.  

Ask a question

The fields marked * are required.

  • 5 stars: 2 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
W
Wendy Holt

Hampton Court - wow!! I have just completed this lovely project. The kit and its' presentation are fabulous - beautifully put together, so I could just start stitching! The instructions were the best ever - very well organized, beautifully illustrated and so easy to follow. I enjoyed every stitch!
I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be quietly (and expertly) challenged to get out of their comfort box and work on something wonderful!

S
Sandra Jones

I have just completed this exquisite Hampton Court sampler! It was such a pleasure to stitch. Guided by Jenny's clear and detailed instructions, each section was a wonderful exploration of technique and design. I can thoroughly recommend it to lover's of embroidery looking for something truly special to stitch and treasure.