These samplers were worked by Carlisle girls between the years of 1786 and 1838. The girls ranged in age from 10 to 19 years old. They are representative of needlework done by young girls attending finishing schools, or academies. The samplers were often framed as elaborate showpieces to demonstrate a daughter's proficiency, and the fact that her family had sent her to a "good" school.
All girls needed to learn "plain sewing" - the task of making, hemming, and repairing clothes, and marking linens. Some samplers served as practice pieces for these duties.
The samplers in the exhibit however, are representative of needlework done by young girls in "finishing schools". These were displayed on walls of the family home to show off their daughters' needlework skills. The samplers are all worked on linen with hemstitched borders, and all appear to be worked with silk thread. A variety of stitches are represented, including cross, eyelet, satin, and stem stitches.
