This World War I sampler is brought to you as part of a series of “Little Gems” that are available only as a .pdf download by Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

The original sampler is in the Nicola’s collection and has been reproduced as a result of requests from needleworkers wishing to stitch a remembrance sampler to honour relatives who have served in the military. A model has not been stitched and the image shown is a computer mock-up.

Nicola tells us: "Arthur Hillyard served in the British army from 1914 to Valentine’s Day 1919. He first served as a trooper with the 1^st Warwickshire Yeomanry. The volunteer yeomanry cavalry units were originally formed in the 1790s as a response to the invasion threat from Revolutionary France. However, they were also used to support the civil authorities in putting down political and social disturbances. This continued until the mid-19th century when police forces took over this role. The yeomanry then concentrated on local defence. The Forces War Records have very little personal information about Arthur. However, a search of the 1911 census revealed that there was only one Arthur Hillyard living in the county of Warwickshire. Curiously, when Arthur Hillyard stitched his sampler in 1919, he recorded his rank as Trooper#2918 and WKY for the Warwickshire Yeomanry. However, in 1919 he was officially private #170091 in the Machine Gun Corps. Old loyalties die hard – one senses that at the heart of the sampler he stitched lies a feeling of service, comradeship, and regimental pride!"

The two graphs included in the download include: Graph One - A twelve-page colour symbol graph, Graph 2 - A twelve-page black and white symbol graph.

Stitch count is 210 W x 211 H.

This sampler has been produced with a palette of 4 colours (with Black having only 3 stitches). We have provided conversions for Soie d’Alger and DMC. Only one spool or skein of each colour is required.

Tropper Arthur stitched his sampler with cross stitch over 2 strands of linen.

The background of the original sampler is filled with cross stitch in shades 537/3736/3362. We have suggested an alternative to stitching the background would be to stitch your sampler on fabric which matches this shade of green or an appropriate Military Unit colour. We have suggested as close to a Military Green as we have available to substitute for stitching the background!

The project has been rated as suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and can be stitched on Aida or Linen.

We have also provided a picture of the detailed Thread and Linen listing provided by Hands Across the Sea Samplers for your quick reference if you wish to stitch an alternate fabric or thread choice!

Please check the boxes above to have the supplies added to your order.