A "Plain Sewing Sampler" or "Darning Sampler" was intended to showcase the wide range of sewing techniques and skills a girl or woman had. These skills might include hand sewing techniques such as darning, patching, hemming, mending, structural sewing (making pleats, inserting gussets, joining fabric with seams) making buttonholes and embroidery. Samplers could also be intended for practicing a particular technique. There were several articles printed in Australian newspapers around 1889 referring to the "Plain Sewing Movement". In 1889 a Melbourne branch of the "London Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework" was formed by a group of ladies led by Lady Loch and Lady Clarke with the purpose of teaching "plain needlework' to women and girls. "Plain Sewing" included fundamental stitches and techniques that were essential for practical clothing construction and maintenance. Several years later in 1891, another meeting was held at Clivedon (the residence of Lady Clarke) to look into the possibility of improving the teaching of sewing in the state schools. This meeting was attended by several school inspectors and the committee of "the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework". This "Plain Sewing Sampler" was donated from the estate of Susan Henry nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. It has not been possible to identify the lady (with the initials L. L.) who made this item in 1897 but it was thought to possibly be a female relation in her maternal (or possibly, paternal) grandmother's family. It has many of the same elements and techniques that were taught by the "Plain Sewing Movement" that originated in England at the end of the nineteenth century.This item is a rare example of the handcraft skills needed by women and girls in the late 1890's to construct and maintain practical clothing for their families.A cream flannel sampler made from three smaller rectangular shapes, displaying a wide variety of plain sewing techniques including hand stitched seams (french, bound and herringboned), darned patches, inserted patches, pleats, buttonholes, buttons, a gusset, pintucks, a placket, cross stitch initials and date (L L and 1897) and decorative embroidery.L.L. / ?? Yr 1897flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, warrnambool, sewing, plain sewing, sewing sampler, plain sewing sampler, darning sampler, hand sewing, textiles, susan henry oam, vedmore foundation, sewing techniques

A "Plain Sewing Sampler" or "Darning Sampler" was intended to showcase the wide range of sewing techniques and skills a girl or woman had. These skills might include hand sewing techniques such as darning, patching, hemming, mending, structural sewing (making pleats, inserting gussets, joining fabric with seams) making buttonholes and embroidery. Samplers could also be intended for practicing a particular technique. There were several articles printed in Australian newspapers around 1889 referring to the "Plain Sewing Movement". In 1889 a Melbourne branch of the "London Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework" was formed by a group of ladies led by Lady Loch and Lady Clarke with the purpose of teaching "plain needlework' to women and girls. "Plain Sewing" included fundamental stitches and techniques that were essential for practical clothing construction and maintenance. Several years later in 1891, another meeting was held at Clivedon (the residence of Lady Clarke) to look into the possibility of improving the teaching of sewing in the state schools. This meeting was attended by several school inspectors and the committee of "the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework". This "Plain Sewing Sampler" was donated from the estate of Susan Henry OAM nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. It has not been possible to identify the lady (with the initials L. L.) who made this item in 1897 but it was thought to possibly be a female relation in her maternal (or possibly, paternal) grandmother's family. It has many of the same elements and techniques that were taught by the "Plain Sewing Movement" that originated in England at the end of the nineteenth century.This item is a rare example of the handcraft skills learnt by women and girls in the late 1890's to construct and maintain practical clothing for their families.A cream cotton sampler made from three smaller rectangular shapes, displaying a wide variety of plain sewing techniques including hand stitched seams (french, bound and herringboned), inserted patch, buttonhole, button, gathering, a gusset, frills, pintucks, a placket, cross stitch initials and date (L L and 1897) and decorative embroidery.L L/1897flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, needlework, textiles, plain sewing sampler, darning sampler, handwork, sewing, great ocean road, susan henry oam, vedmore trust, hand sewing, sewing techniques

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and late trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs top with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sample child's top knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

This apron was done by a small girl in order to learn different needlework techniques and shows hemming, buttonhole edgings, bars, eyelets, darning, drawn thread and feather stitch. Made by the donor's mother Mrs J.B. Rentoul (nee Floretta Thomas) late of St. Georges Manse, Geelong and St. Andrews, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. It was worked when she was six, for the Sydney Exhibition and was highly commended.Tiny dolls apron in white cotton with pale blue stitching.embroidery, samplers, dolls clothes, late 19th century, australia, plain sewing

School sampler worked by student of Trelowarren Public School, in 1894 (?NSW or Cornwall UK)School sampler embroidery in pale pink, yellow and green on cream cotton fabric. Demonstrates various embroidery stitchesFrances A(?) Sturgess Jan 19th 1894 Trelowarren Public Schoolsampler, hand sewing

School sampler worked by student of Trelowarren Public School (?NSW or Cornwall UK). Set of three samplers dating from 1893-4School sampler embroidery in pale pink, yellow and green on cream cotton fabric. Demonstrates various embroidery stitchesTrelowarren

School sampler embroidery in pale pink, yellow and green on cream cotton fabric. Demonstrates various embroidery stitchesJane C Sturgess Dec 4th 1893 Trelowarren Public School

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, on cambric.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler displaying hems, pleats.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler displaying hems, pleats, attachments.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, embroidery in yellows and green on open weave fabric.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

From Estate of Jenny LangSewing sampler. Beige background with blue and red embroidery with different stitches.handcrafts, embroidery

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, darning. Includes Mrs Robertson's Prize Certificate for floral darning repair.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

Brought from England by Lady Hamilton Fairley.Pink cotton with fine white double strip. Embroidered in white. Hem and bib faced in white. Simple design of fish and seaweed.? sewing sampler.embroidery, garments, 1940-60, england

Four material sewing samplers made by Molly Burns, Form 2D, at Williamstown High School, possibly in the 1940s. Samples are of: french seam, patching and darning.williamstown high school, 1940s, needlework, molly burns, sewing

This woolen sampler was of the type created by learners practicing their stitches, in this case Phoebe Lowell, a schoolgirl who made this in 1918 at St Michael's, St Kilda where she won the Form V Needlework Prize in that year. It was purchased in the late 1990s by the donor who later moved to Emerald but, at the time, had a 2nd hand decoration shop in Camberwell when she purchased this as part of a group of garments which included bloomers, lace collars and cuffs, camisoles etc - all of which have been donated to the Museum. The donor was advised at the time of her purchase that the garments were over 100 years old although that would not have been the case for this sampler.This sampler is a reminder of the tuition which schoolgirls routinely received in sewing and embroidery as these were considered essential skills for a future housewife.Piece of cream-colored woolen fabric hemmed with herringbone stitching. A circle and a square have been cut out and a larger circle and square have been sewn with herringbone stitches as a backing.On small cardboard piece sewn to sampler: 'Phoebe Lewell / Form 5 R / Age 16'female, lynne findlay collection, sampler, phoebe lowell, 1918, st michael's

A school sampler from the 1930's, demonstrating a mastery of numerable sewing skills: Buttonholes- both bound;6 bound buttonholes. Button loop fastening 17 rouleau loops. Seams: Plain flat seam, machine stitched-part neatened by hand, and part neatened by machine. An overlapped flat seam-machine stitched. Fasteners: Press-studs (3) Buttons (4) shanked and f;flat. Metal hook-and-eyes (3), one eye hand stitched, all attached in buttonhole stitch. Pockets: (2) Machine stitched. Collar: (1) Rounded ''Peter Pan"" collar, with bound placket opening, one pearl button, and hand stitched loop. Facings (3). One square, one round, one Vshaped. Pintucks: 4 machine stitched pintucks.textiles, domestic, school needlework sampler 1930's

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Swedish Huck weaving sampler in green , red and brown threads.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Embroidery sampler - egg shell blue embroidery and darning examples.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain Sewing certificates 1905 - Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework - Annual examination for scholar's certificate. Elsie Naples 100%embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

Mrs Brent Clark (probably)Fine natural linen child's smock open at the back with a drawstring at the neck. The whole is done in the most exquisite plain sewing (as a needlework exercise).embroidery, samplers, garments, plain sewing, 1900-20

This piece is a sampler for a major work "Frog in a whirlpool". Annemieke Mein OAM - designer/maker. Completed June 1994.Small framed panel, depicting a frog in a whirlpool. Hand painted silk organza - 'Dual Everfast Fabric Paint' diluted to watercolour consistency with reducer and water. Machine embroidery including free sewing. Underlying fabric a) fluoro organza and synthetic Lurex fibres under the frog's jaw, right arm and leg. b) cotton canvas backing behind painted silk organza. Quilting and padding with dacron filler behind the throat and body of the frog. Shades of blue and green. Blue grey wooden frame and mount.AM (bottom right - design maker's signature)machine embroidery, creative embroidery, panel, 1980-2000, australia

A. Cream flannel showing many different bindings and seams, button holes, patches, darning and edges.Paper naming on each feature.embroidery, hand sewing, dressmaking, samplers, 1900-20, australia

B. Light brown linen - several varieties of tapes, tucks and buttons.Paper naming on each feature.embroidery, hand sewing, dressmaking, samplers, 1900-20, australia