Anna Funk, 1874

150 years ago, in September of 1874, Anna Funk and her family arrived in New York as part of a large and organized immigration of Mennonites from what is now Ukraine to the central plains of the United States. Prior to leaving she asked her friends to share a motif which she might stitch into a sampler as a token of their friendship and the sampler made the same journey with all of those immigrants. The larger story also includes some personal connections to my own family; additional details of Anna’s story are included in the chartpak.

All proceeds go to the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas where the original sampler now resides after passing through the generations. Many thanks to the museum staff for their cooperation and assistance.

Bonus charts are included to compile a booklet of motif patterns similar to those her friends might have referenced when choosing motifs.

Sampler

Optional Smalls

Motif Booklet

Stitch count:

165 x 125

Fabric:

Access Commodities: 38 count Fuller's Teazel
(Parchment by Weeks Dye Works is a good option as are fabrics similar to DMC 612)

Threads:

Classic Colorworks: Colonial Copper, Grape Pie, Holly Berry, Misty Mauve, Old Money, Pansy Purple, Queen Bee, Wagon Wheel
Weeks Dye Works: Blue Bonnet, Cayenne, Grasshopper, Holly, Light Khaki, Pepperoncini, Roasted Figs, Sockeye, Tatanka

The two smalls shown are worked on 'stash-dive' linens in a neutral color. A more muted color palette is listed in the chartpak should you prefer those colors (also CCW and WDW with suggested DMC alternates).

Anna and her friends might have used small little pattern booklets to select motifs for her sampler. Separate charts are included in the chartpak which are printed so you may compile your own little book of motifs. The cover as shown in the photo gallery is available via a PDF link noted in the chartpak or here: Motif book cover

Print the cover on your choice of paper and cut the chart pages as noted in the chartpak. You may need to trim everything a bit to fit as you like, but it is your book! I used double-stick tape along the left edge to 'bind' the book together.