ANZEG  |  ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND EMBROIDERERS' GUILDS INC

Mystery Stitchery Project

Fundraising for Conference 2026

 

Welcome to the 2025 Mystery Sampler, this time we will be stitching a spot sampler that will feature a trip through the centuries with a collection of various stitches. And just what is a spot sampler? 

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It is believed that spot samplers were stitched as a personal stitch reference for the maker so they tend to be a seemingly random collection of motifs scattered across the linen. Often the motifs were only partially stitched and they are never really signed or dated. So, taking this idea on board as you are on this journey, if you aren’t enjoying a spot, don’t finish it! If you’d like to get an idea of what a spot sampler might like look, try Googling it – there are some amazing examples out there!

A note on materials...
The piece will need to be stitched on linen or evenweave and uses stranded cotton and some metallic thread. For ease of availability I used a reel of DMC diamante grande – a size four or six passing thread would be easier to work with but is harder to come by.
And in response to comments about previous projects, I have attempted to help with the ‘what will I do with it?’ question... you can just make a random spot sampler as a reference piece – or you could live really dangerously and not follow the placement guides and just stitch pieces as you want! – or follow the placement guides for either a square or rectangle which could then be hemmed as a mat, framed as a wall piece or made into a cushion. For something different a project bag layout will also be included and, on completion of the sampler, making-up notes for this and a cushion will be included (if you opt to do this additional finishing materials will be required). 

Each of these layouts will have a different tacking guide and I have designed this for 28 count – if you opt for a smaller count, the gaps between motifs will be larger and later in the months some additional small designs will be included that can be used to fill in some of the gaps if desired. If you opt for a larger count you might need to edit some of the designs in order for everything to fit. Also a couple of the months will have options of motifs for you to choose between.

I have used 14 stranded cottons in my sampler, made up of four sets of three shades and a dark and a light – my dark was 3799 and my light 3865 (DMC). When choosing sets of three shades make sure there is a clear jump between shades as if it is too subtle the contrast is lost. Some colour ideas are included below for you to look at and make some choices. There is an animal or two included in the design and if you want a ‘natural’ coloured animal you might want to add a couple of appropriate shades – I went with fantasy colours on mine.

The tacking will just be the outer edge guide and each motif will be placed via measurements as exact counting isn’t really required and a few threads out won’t matter.
As previous years, this project will run over 10 months and once registered, you will receive a section on the first day of each month (starting March 1, 2025). The cost will be $35.

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Registration open now! Click the link to be taken
to the registration system.

Maree Burnnand  |  Mystery Stitchery 2025 designer​