Spend the weekend immersed in the wonderful world of samplers! This all-inclusive opportunity provides two days of sampler exploration. The two featured teachers are well-known designers, each bringing an exclusive project to Sampler U.

On Saturday, Sylvia Stecker of Running with Needles & Scissors will present a beautiful reproduction sampler, entitled “Iesabella Kettlewell 1818.” Stitched in luxurious silk threads by Vicki Clayton on a choice of linen counts, participants also will work on designing a series of smalls based on the motifs in the sampler.

Sunday brings a day with Becky Noland of Lucy Beam for a fun Sampler Sewing Roll project. The kits for the sampler will be mailed to participants for pre-stitching as the class will concentrate on assembling the sewing roll. A small strawberry also will be constructed for the roll. The finishing kit will include lovely Liberty of London fabrics, along with a Liberty-covered 4” hoop and the finishing threads wrapped around an antique wooden spool. This class even includes a project bag made from a variety of William Morris prints.

In addition to covering the two days of class and the two kits, the registration fee ($650 for EGA members, $725 for nonmembers) includes the nonrefundable deposit, two lunches, a Saturday night stitch-in, and fabulous, bespoke swag! Participants also have access to the EGA exhibits and shopping opportunities at no additional cost.

Sampler U attendees are invited to stay at the Hilton Anatole Hotel for the weekend (but a hotel stay is not required). Follow this link to book a room at the 2025 Seminar rate. Please note that parking at the hotel is not included in the registration fee.

Non-EGA member sampler lovers are welcome to attend! Please see the registration form for information on member and nonmember pricing.

Register Here
Back to Seminar Central 2025 | Seminar 2025 Classes

See the Classes

  • SU1 Iesabella Kettlewell 1818 Sampler and Smalls

    Taught by Sylvia Stecker (view bio)

    Sylvia Stecker is a new voice in the world of Cross Stitch. Having picked up a needle during college, she has remained passionate about needle arts. She is self-taught , and gave up on perfectionism long ago. She is passionate about saving and preserving the work of young stitchers from days gone by, and enjoys dabbling in original creation.

    November 15, 2025
    Dallas, TX

    This class will not only focus on this delightful sampler, stitched by 12-year-old Iesabella in 1818, but we will also plan various smalls as companions to this sampler. Students will learn about the stitcher and the sampler during the first half of the class. During the second half, participants will decide what type of smalls to stitch and work on motif selection, charts, and layouts. Iesabella Kettlewell was originally stitched with wool on approximately 28 count ground fabric and measures 292 by 266 stitches. The reproduction was stitched on 46 count Straw linen by Weeks Dye Works™ with Vikki Clayton silks. The kit will include a fat half of your choice of32, 36, 40 or 46 count linen and 19 colors of silk. Note: 32 count kit requires a $15 upcharge to cover the extra silk floss needed. The sampler uses predominantly cross stitch and some eyelet stitches. Instructions, practice, and alternative stitches to the eyelet stitches will be provided. For more information on Sylvia, visit her website at https://www.runningwithneedlesandscissors.com/

    Design Area: 12” x 13.75”

     

  •

    SU1 Sampler Sewing Roll

    Taught by Becky Noland (view bio)

    Rebecca Noland was taught embroidery by her grandmother as a very young girl and has been designing cross stitch and teaching at guilds, shops and private groups all across the country since 2015. She has been published in national magazines and is working on her first book.

    November 16, 2025
    Dallas, TX

    The focus of the class will be making a Sampler Sewing Roll. The alphabet is done in the Smyrna stitch, which is the only specialty stitch in the piece. The class will also be making a small strawberry to put in the roll. The finishing fabrics will be a coordinated variety of Liberty of London fabrics on a cream polka dot base for the inside of the roll. An antique button will be provided in the finishing kits to sew on the lovely closure ribbon. The class participants will be receiving a project bag as well, offered in a variety of William Morris prints. In the stitching kit will be a 4” hoop covered in a Liberty of London print. The finishing threads will be wrapped around an antique wooden spool. I have lots of fun and vintage things going on in this class! Since this class will focus on the finishing of the Sampler Sewing Roll, pre-stitching kits for the sampler will be mailed to the participants in advance. For more information on Becky, visit her website at https://www.lucybeam.com/

    Design Area: 11.5” x 6 ¼”
    Technique: Cross stitch, counted thread, hand finishing
    Proficiency: All (experience reading counted thread charts a plus)
    Kit Cost: Included in registration fee
    Student Provides: Usual stitching supplies for working on linen.