Embroidered sampler

In the pictureInside a border of red flowers are two panels side by side, each embroidered with two verses of a hymn, four verses in all. Above the panels are flower baskets, white sheep and birds, and below them spreads a landscape with trees, a flock of sheep, a dog and a seated person. At the very bottom are the maker's name and age.

BackgroundThe hymn on the blessing of Abraham was widely sung in 18th-century England, and stitching hymn texts on samplers was a custom that combined needlework with religious education. Because Rebecca Gallyon embroidered even her age, we know this work was made by a young girl. The orderly lettering above and the free landscape below, sharing one cloth, are the charm of samplers from this period.

Puzzle tipAs a puzzle it divides into the lettered panels above, the landscape below and the outer border. Lay the red flower pieces of the border around the edge first, place the green trees and white sheep of the landscape at the bottom, then position the lettering pieces by the line spacing of the two panels. 100 pieces works well.