Samplers were mostly used as a notebook of ideas and stitches in the 16th century. Young girls would sew alphabets and numbers with colored floss onto even-weave fabric so they would have patterns to follow later. They also sewed little pictures of trees, flowers and vines. Needlework, such as stitching a cross-stitch sampler, was taught in most early American schools for girls, along with spinning, knitting, straw-works, embroidery, openwork, and tambour. There were no books or printed sampler patterns until the 17th century.
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