Jubilee Book Offer * Save $100 Until Monday 4 June 2012

It's our Queen's Jubilee celebrations this weekend - somebody tell the weather quick! To celebrate we have created our own Jubilee Book Offer. Until 4 June 2012 only you can buy all the Needleprint Books and 3 Ackworth Charts normally costing $290 for a single price of $190 - and we'll include airmail to your door. The Offer includes 1 copy each of The Goodhart Samplers; The Micheál and Elizabeth Needlework Collection Volume I; Tokens of Love - Quaker Pinballs; The Judith Hayle Samplers; Mary Peacock Ackworth Medallion Sampler; Rebecca Blake Ackworth Medallion Sampler; Hannah Westcombe Ackworth Text Sampler.
Just click on the flying angel below to request your book offer.

Described by readers as probably the best book of samplers, the Goodhart Samplers describe and detail all the samplers in the collection at Montacute House. Don't forget to look inside the book jacket where you will find a full charted sampler to stitch.






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Erica Uten's book of Quaker Pinballs which has 24 charted pattern for you to knit or stitch. Comes with pictures showing full making up instructions.


Limited stock. Authored by leading textile expert Edwina Ehrman of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London this exceptionally well-researched book brings to life the 17th century needlework teacher Judith Hayle and her students. Price includes postage.


Limited edition printed chart with 10 additonal mystery medallion projects and images of Mary's other known samplers. Price includes postage.



One of the earliest text samplers at Ackworth School. Limited edition printed chart comes with 5 mini text sampler projects and background history. Price includes postage.



Rebecca's sampler is in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, so it has travelled far from Ackworth. Limited edition printed chart includes history of Philadelphia connections. Price includes postage.

A Hannah Gilpin Nears Completion

Teresa in California is just about to put the finishing stitches in her Hannah Gilpin sampler - she will probably finish this weekend. Teresa says: I'm finally in the last stretch, stitching the last of this wonderful sampler.  It's taken me a long time to make it to this point because I only stitched it over weekends when I could use my magnifier lamp.  The rest of the week, I'm on the road for my job and hotel lighting isn't the best for stitching.  My eyes aren't what they used to be!  And now I'm stitching the last bit - Hannah's personalization in the center. You have made a beautiful sampler, Teresa, and I hope you are very proud of your efforts. Many Congratulations. Let's put the flags out! (Oh, we already have.... look for a special Jubilee Offer tomorrow as we celebrate our Queen's 60th Jubilee.)

The Hannah Gilpin chart is available as a download. It comes with a free 18 page colour book of Hannah's and her sister Ann's Ackworth samplers with new research and descriptions for you to print or enjoy on your computer screen. And a bonus editable jgg file for our users of Jane Greenoff Cross Stitch Designer. There is also a SAL for you to join. Just click here to browse or buy.

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Digital Renaissance for Henry VIII Tapestries at Hampton Court

The textile conservationists at the Historic Royal Palaces have been working on a project with the University of Manchester for 7 years which has resulted in the virtual colour reconstruction of one of Henry VIII's tapestries at Hampton Court Palace. In order to do that some idea of the amount of fading of the original had to be calculated. To some extent this was achieved by reference to the unfaded reverse. The back has not been exposed to light in the same direct way for 500 years that has brought about the loss of colour to the front. Also the bright golds and silvers of the metallic threads woven in the tapestry have tarnished and blackened over time, further reducing the brilliance of the original. Now using digital technology the original colours are projected back on to the tapestry, so reconstructing how the tapestries would have appeared all those centuries ago. Funding for the project was provided by the Clothworkers' Foundation. To read more and for a pdf download of the project, just click here.