When Samplers Were a CV: The Secret History of 19th-Century Needlework
Quote: "In every stitched letter and border, a young girl told the story of her skill, her discipline, and her dreams, one cross-stitch at a time." – Anonymous
When Samplers Were a CV: The Secret History of 19th-Century Needlework
If you’ve ever stitched a sampler “just for fun”, you might be surprised to learn that, in the 19th century, this humble piece of embroidery carried far more weight than simple decorative practice. In fact, samplers often acted as a young woman’s first CV, a stitched résumé designed to prove her skills, her discipline, and even her character.
A Stitching Education
In the 1800s, needlework was considered an essential skill for girls. From a very young age, they learned to sew, mend, and embroider, not as a hobby, but as practical preparation for adulthood. A girl’s sampler showed that she could follow instructions, produce tidy work, and master essential household stitches.
Every neat cross, straight border, and carefully placed alphabet said something about her reliability.
A Stitched Résumé
For many girls, especially those from modest backgrounds, needlework wasn’t simply a pastime, it was a path to employment. When applying for work as a maid, seamstress, or governess, she would present her sampler to the household as proof of her abilities.
A beautifully worked sampler demonstrated:
precision
patience and perseverance
attention to detail
clean, consistent stitching
literacy, through alphabets and Bible verses
In an age without formal CVs, this piece of cloth did the talking.
A Glimpse Into Her World
Samplers also reveal much about the life and personality of the stitcher. Many include names, dates, and places, offering us rare insight into women and girls whose histories were often unrecorded. These small works of art endure as quiet, powerful voices from the past.
From CV to Collectible
Today, antique samplers are treasured by collectors, museums, and stitchers who recognise their beauty, and the stories woven into every thread. What once secured a young woman a job now allows us a glimpse into the social history of embroidery, education, and women’s lives.
The next time you stitch a sampler, imagine it being used to determine your future employer.
Quite a thought, isn’t it?
Happy Stitching!
