A few years ago my husband bought me an Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler by Rebecca Ringquist. I love this kind of pre-printed panel and the Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler features 14 stitches to try. Earlier this year I made a list of all my unfinished wips and it has really helped me finish projects. This week I finished my Dropcloth Sampler.

Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler

You can purchase the Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler from Rebecca’s Etsy shop along with lots of her other pre-printed panels. I opted for the Original one as I liked the idea of trying some new embroidery stitches and thought this was a fun way to teach myself.

The sampler arrives pre-printed on cotton quilting fabric, ready to stitch and includes very basic instructions. You need to provide your own embroidery threads, embroidery needle and embroidery hoop. The Original Sampler measures approximately 10″ x 12″.

I chose a palette of embroidery threads which I thought complimented each other, placed the sampler inside an embroidery hoop and started.

I did the stitches I knew first – running stitch, back stitch, chain stitch and French knots. Then I needed to start looking up the stitches I didn’t know. This is where the sampler got put to one side, when I lacked the time or enthusiasm to teach myself!

A few weeks ago I had a little push to finish it. I looked up the remaining stitches and taught myself something new! I tried buttonhole stitch, coral knots, coral zigzag, feather stitch and chain stitch.

My Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler was filling up fast. A quick look at the hashtag on Instagram and you will see how everyone has stitched their sampler in their own unique way. You can add and embellish and really make it your own.

The only stitch I really struggle with was the bullion knots. For some reason I just couldn’t get them to work, got frustrated and unpicked the ones I had done. I made my own stitch up instead, just wanting to get it finished.

I’ve pressed the finished Original Dropcloth Embroidery Sampler a few times but can’t get the central crease out. I’m ticking it off as finished for now although I might come back to it at some point and embellish it with my name.