Sampler designs, especially alphabets, remain popular in many forms of design. Often they are not exact enough for stitching, but with a bit of work they can be charted and used for stitching.
If you do this often you will have to add to your chart letters that were missing from the original design, as I did here. In older designs newer letters such as J, V, or W are missing. In newer designs letters at the end of the alphabet are left off. If you pay attention to sizes and elements in the existing letters, you can create the missing letters.
These two alphabets and set of numbers were adapted from a Ralph Lauren pillowcase I have in my collection. There are two alphabets, one plain, one fancy, and a set of numbers.
Remember to click on any of the charts to see it full-size.
The plain alphabet, below, is a good size to be used for signing pieces or for sampler style saying. It has a few quirks, such as the Q, but it’s pretty straightforward. As is typical of sampler alphabets, it is upper case only.
The second alphabet, charted below in two parts, is both larger and fancier. These letters would best be used as single letters or as capitals with another, smaller, alphabet. They will not play well together because of all the curliques. If you do use these as capital letters, they will look better with script for the smaller letters.
Last we have a set of numerals, below. They are about the size of the smaller alphabet. Often charted fonts do not include numbers. As a result, often one set of numbers will need to work with several alphabets. If this is the case for you, pick numbers the same size or slightly smaller than your alphabet.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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