Course Description

Sign up for Victoria Sampler courses to learn the basic specialty stitches Thea uses in her exquisite sampler designs. These courses are available in the Victoria Sampler Academy.

This introductory needlework course teaches you the basics of cross stitching on linen from the beginning. You will also receive a free bonus pattern called “Bee Gentle” so you can practice your new skills.

Level

Beginner

Prerequisite

None.

Design Information

• Design area: 16 stitches wide × 30 stitches high
• Finished design size: approximately 1.3 inches wide × 2.4 inches high
• Model fabric: 25-count Lugana in White or Antique White
• Suggested cut fabric: 11 inches wide × 18 inches high for framing

Suggested Materials

• DMC Floss #745 — yellow, light pale
• DMC Floss #437 — tan, light
• DMC Floss #223 — shell pink, light
• DMC Floss #932 — antique blue, light
• DMC Floss #3042 — antique violet, light
• DMC Floss #3347 — yellow green, medium
• DMC Floss #3790 — beige grey, ultra dark
• DMC Floss #3371 — black brown
• DMC Floss #3345 — hunter green, dark
• 2 bee charms
• #24 tapestry needle
• #10 short beading needle

Why Stitch on Linen?

In a poll of more than 1,000 stitchers, over 90% said they love stitching on linen because it gives their work a smoother finish and feels more enjoyable and luxurious than stitching on Aida. We agree and hope this course helps you make the switch too.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for the Introduction to Hardanger course to learn the basic Hardanger techniques Thea uses in the included Rose Pillow PDF pattern.

Included in the Course

• 17 video lessons based on the Rose Pillow pattern
• Downloadable Rose Pillow PDF pattern
• Hardanger Basics reference with valuable hints and techniques
• Membership in a dedicated private Facebook student group

Level

Beginner Hardanger

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen. If you are new to linen or have only stitched on Aida, the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course is recommended first.

Stitches and Techniques Covered

• Kloster blocks
• Algerian eyelets
• Cutting techniques
• Cutting first aid
• Weaving bars
• Dove’s eyelets
• Square filets
• Wrapping divided bars
• Finishing the pillow

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will know the basic stitches and techniques needed to complete the Rose Pillow and approach other Hardanger projects with greater confidence.

Materials to Consider Before Registering

Review the materials list before beginning. You will need 28-count linen, flosses, and Perle cottons. Thea used an overdyed silk for the greens, but you may substitute any green floss you prefer. Your embroidery scissors should have very fine points and extremely sharp blades for cutting fabric threads.

Materials List

• Gloriana Silk #087 “Forest” — greens
• Kreinik #4 Braid #002 — metallic gold
• Needlepoint Inc. #753 — light rose
• Needlepoint Inc. #754 — medium rose
• Needlepoint Inc. #755 — dark rose
• Specialty champagne flower button
• Zweigart 25-count Dublin Linen — Antique White
• DMC #8 Perle Cotton — white
• DMC #12 Perle Cotton — white
• #24 tapestry needle
• #26 tapestry needle
• #10 short beading needle

About the Rose Pillow Design

The course contains five small Hardanger designs. The first design is a small pincushion intended to be stitched first so you can learn Kloster blocks without needing to cut fabric threads. The larger pillow contains four separate blocks, each featuring a different Hardanger heart.

In the four pillow squares, you will learn to cut and withdraw threads and then work the needle weaving step by step. The small roses are cross stitched with silk flosses, while the Hardanger is worked with two sizes of white Perle cotton. The models are stitched on both white and tea-dyed linen and include sparkling metallic threads, buttons, and silks.

Finishing Instructions

Instructions for finishing both the small pincushion and the larger pillow are included. The squares may also be adapted into box tops, greeting cards, or other projects. All stitching and finishing videos are available inside the Victoria Sampler Academy course.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level One to learn the basic specialty stitches Thea uses in her sampler designs.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch learning-kit series
• Stitching Basics reference with useful hints
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Level

Beginner

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen. If you are new to linen or have only stitched on Aida, the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course is recommended first.

Stitches Covered

• Rice stitch
• Scotch stitch
• Rhodes stitch
• Smyrna cross stitch
• Algerian eye stitch
• Herringbone stitch
• Sheaf stitch
• Ray stitch
• Montenegrin stitch
• Plait stitch

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will know every specialty stitch taught in Level One.

Included Level 1 Patterns

• The Holly and The Ivy — Rice Stitch
• Angels We Have Heard — Scotch Stitch
• Silent Night — Rhodes Stitch
• O, Christmas Tree — Smyrna Cross Stitch
• We Wish You — Algerian Eyelet Stitch
• Happy Birthday — Herringbone Stitch
• Happy Mother’s Day — Sheaf Stitch
• Thinking of You — Ray Stitch
• Friends in Stitches — Montenegrin Stitch
• Celebrate! — Plait Stitch

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a general Stitching FAQ PDF. At the beginning of each video, Thea shows the corresponding Level One pattern. You can download it and use your own materials to stitch along with the lesson.

Thea recommends working the cross stitches in each student pattern before watching the matching video lesson. This allows you to focus on the specialty stitch while stitching along with her.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level One designs may be used for quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other projects suitable for gifts or personal use.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level Two to learn specialty stitches using soft, flexible silk ribbon.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch learning-kit series
• Silk Ribbon Basics reference with valuable ribbon-handling hints
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Working with Silk Ribbon

Silk ribbon may be used in many of the same ways as regular thread, but several special techniques affect how it is handled. Read the Silk Ribbon Basics PDF carefully before beginning. The goal is a soft, dimensional, less structured appearance rather than the precise tension and counting normally used with floss.

If you prefer not to use silk ribbon or do not have it available, many Level Two stitches may be practiced with two or more strands of floss or one strand of #8 or #12 Perle cotton. The stitches are worked in the same way but with your usual thread tension.

Level

Intermediate

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to cross stitch on linen and have completed Beyond Cross Stitch Level 1. New linen stitchers should begin with the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course.

Stitches Covered

• Spider web rose with silk ribbon
• Japanese ribbon stitch
• Feather stitch
• French knots with silk ribbon
• Stem stitches
• Lazy daisy stitches with silk ribbon
• Fly stitches
• Loop stitch with silk ribbon
• Pistil stitch
• Colonial knot with silk ribbon

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce every specialty stitch taught in Level Two.

Included Level 2 Patterns

• Christmas Rose — Spider Web Rose
• Azaleas — Japanese Ribbon Stitch
• Boughs of Holly — Feather Stitch
• Mistletoe — French Knots
• Poinsettia — Stem Stitches
• Forget-me-not — Lazy Daisy Stitches
• Rosebuds — Fly Stitch
• Buttercups — Loop Stitch
• Fuchsia — Pistil Stitch
• Lilacs — Colonial Knot

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a Silk Ribbon FAQ PDF. At the start of each video, Thea shows the corresponding Level Two pattern. You can download it and stitch along using your own materials.

Classroom Assistant Donna G. has already completed the cross stitches in each pattern shown at the beginning of the videos. Thea recommends preparing each student pattern by working the cross stitches before watching the matching lesson.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level Two designs may be used for quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other decorative projects.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level Three to continue learning the specialty stitches Thea uses in her sampler designs.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch series
• Stitching Basics reference with useful hints
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Level

Intermediate

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen and have completed Beyond Cross Stitch Levels 1 and 2. New linen stitchers should begin with the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course.

Stitches and Techniques Covered

• Whipped spider web rose
• Bargello satin-stitch technique
• Rhodes heart
• Blackwork
• Waffle stitch
• Bullion stitches
• Queen stitches
• Assisi technique
• Rhodes butterfly
• Satin stitches

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce every specialty stitch taught in Level Three.

Included Level 3 Patterns

• Noel — Whipped Spider Web Rose
• Joy — Bargello and Satin-Stitch Technique
• Love — Rhodes Heart
• Peace — Blackwork Technique
• Roses — Waffle Stitch
• Blue and White Floral — Bullion Knot Stitch
• Butterflies — Queen Stitch
• Satin Hearts — Assisi Technique
• Believe — Rhodes Butterfly
• Valentine — Satin Stitch

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a downloadable Stitching Basics PDF. At the beginning of each lesson, Thea shows the corresponding Level Three pattern so you can download it and stitch along using your own materials.

Classroom Assistant Donna G. has already completed the cross stitches in each pattern shown in the lessons. Thea recommends working the cross stitches in each student pattern before watching the matching video.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level Three designs may be made into quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other decorative projects.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level Four to learn pulled-thread and hemstitching techniques used in Thea’s sampler designs.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch series
• Stitching Basics reference
• Hardanger Basics reference for learning how to cut
• An extra video showing how to correct cutting errors
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Level

Intermediate–Advanced

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen and have completed Beyond Cross Stitch Levels 1, 2, and 3. New linen stitchers should begin with the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course.

Stitches and Techniques Covered

• Four-sided pulled stitch and four-sided hemstitch
• Three-sided pulled stitch and alternate hemstitch
• Diamond eye pulled stitch and interlaced hemstitch
• Pulled satin stitch and herringbone hemstitch
• Three-sided eyelet stitch and plain hemstitch
• Pulled pins stitches and interlaced hemstitching
• Pulled Algerian eyes and hemstitching
• Pulled honeycomb stitch and hemstitching
• Pulled reverse wave and pins stitch with hemstitching
• Pulled single cross eyelet and hemstitching

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce every specialty stitch taught in Level Four.

Included Level 4 Patterns

• Tudor Rose — Four-Sided Pulled and Hemstitches
• Evergreen — Three-Sided Pulled and Hemstitches
• Holly Hearts — Diamond Eye Pulled and Interlaced Hemstitch
• Christmas Floral — Pulled Satin Stitch and Herringbone Hemstitch
• White and Gold — Three-Sided Hemstitch and Eyelet
• Summer Roses — Pins Pulled and Interlaced Hemstitch
• Pansy Chain — Algerian Eye Pulled and Hemstitch
• Periwinkle — Honeycomb Pulled and Hemstitch
• Rose Trellis — Pulled Reverse Wave and Hemstitch
• Heather — Single Cross Eyelet and Hemstitch

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a downloadable Hardanger Basics reference. At the start of each video lesson, Thea shows the matching Level Four pattern so you can download it and stitch along using your own materials.

Classroom Assistant Donna G. has already completed the cross stitches and previously learned stitches in each lesson model. Thea recommends preparing the student pattern in the same way before watching the matching video.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level Four designs may be used for quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other decorative projects.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level Five to learn the basic Hardanger stitches Thea uses in her sampler designs.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch series
• Stitching Basics reference
• Hardanger Basics reference for present and future projects
• An extra video showing how to correct cutting errors
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Level

Intermediate–Advanced

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen and have completed Beyond Cross Stitch Levels 1 through 4. New linen stitchers should begin with the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course.

Stitches and Techniques Covered

• Kloster blocks without cutting
• Cutting and weaving
• Dove’s eye and weaving
• Wrapped bars and Dove’s eye
• Divided wrapped bars
• Picots
• Square filet filling
• Modified Kloster blocks and divided bars with Dove’s eyes
• Greek cross and partial Greek cross
• Blanket stitch and spider web center

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce every specialty stitch taught in Level Five.

Included Level 5 Patterns

• Christmas Gold — Klosters
• Holly Berries — Cutting and Weaving
• Christmas Heart — Dove’s Eye and Weaving
• Hardanger Wreath — Wrapped Bars and Dove’s Eye
• Poinsettia Heart — Divided Wrapped Bars
• Floral Heart — Picots
• Lavender Summer — Square Filet Filling
• Bouquet — Modified Kloster, Divided Bars, and Dove’s Eyes
• Delft Tile — Greek Cross and Partial Greek Cross
• Rose Garden — Blanket Stitch and Spider Web Center

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a downloadable Hardanger Basics reference. At the beginning of each video lesson, you receive one Level Five pattern PDF so you can download it and stitch along using your own materials.

Classroom Assistant Donna G. has already completed the cross stitches and previously learned stitches in each lesson model. Thea recommends preparing each design in the same way before watching the matching video lesson.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level Five designs may be used for quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other decorative projects.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Register for Victoria Sampler Level Six to continue learning specialty stitches and intermediate Hardanger needle-weaving techniques.

Included in the Course

• 10 video lessons based on the Beyond Cross Stitch series
• Stitching Basics reference
• Hardanger Basics reference for learning how to cut
• An extra video showing how to correct cutting errors
• 10 downloadable PDF patterns so you can stitch along with Thea

Level

Intermediate–Advanced

Prerequisite

This course assumes you know how to work counted cross stitch on linen and have completed Beyond Cross Stitch Levels 1 through 5. New linen stitchers should begin with the Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course.

Stitches and Techniques Covered

• Diagonal twists and spider web
• Divided branches and spider web
• Struvor rosette
• Spider in lace
• Dove’s cote
• Whipped spider web
• Divided wrapped bars and web
• Curled V in a fan
• Spider web flower
• Blanket stitch flower

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will be able to produce every specialty stitch taught in Level Six.

Included Level 6 Patterns

• Cranberry Wreath — Diagonal Twists and Spider Web
• Hearts and Flowers — Divided Branches and Spider Web
• Pomegranate Wreath — Struvor Rosette
• Christmas Cheer — Spider in Lace
• Christmas Greens — Dove’s Cote
• Daisy Chain — Whipped Spider Web
• Lavender Roses — Divided Wrapped Bars and Web
• Fans and Roses — Curled V in a Fan
• Thistles — Spider Web Flower
• Spring Heart — Blanket Stitch Flower

How the Lessons Work

Inside the Academy classroom you will find a teacher’s welcome and a downloadable Hardanger Basics PDF. At the beginning of each video lesson, Thea shows the matching Level Six pattern so you can download it and stitch along using your own materials.

Classroom Assistant Donna G. has already completed the cross stitches and other stitches taught in previous levels. Thea recommends preparing each student pattern by completing the previously learned stitches before watching the matching video lesson.

Ways to Use the Patterns

The Level Six designs may be used for quilts, pillows, box tops, greeting cards, and many other decorative projects.

Course access: This course expires one year after signing up.

Course Description

Learn the basic finishing techniques Lisa uses to complete the Gingerbread Tree Etui after all of the embroidery pieces have been stitched.

Included in the Course

• Video lessons showing the details of each step in the finishing process
• Professional hints and techniques to use while finishing
• Points of perfection that help produce a polished result
• Membership in a dedicated private Facebook student group

Level

Beginner Finishing

Prerequisite

This course assumes you are familiar with basic pinning, gluing, and hand-sewing skills. A sewing machine is not required.

Skills and Techniques Covered

• Creating templates
• Using a cutting mat and rotary cutter
• Cutting fabric, interfacing, and two-ply and four-ply mat board
• Stretching and pinning fabric
• Gluing fabric cleanly and securely
• Overstitching the edges to assemble the tree etui

Learning Goal

By the end of the course, you will know how to finish the Gingerbread Tree Etui and will have a basic understanding of the finishing methods used for the Gingerbread Village.

Suggested Materials

• All stitched design pieces
• 2 additional pieces of 28-count Antique Almond Cashel Linen, each 7 × 7 inches
• 1 ball of DMC #8 Perle Cotton — white
• 1 spool of cotton sewing thread to match the backing fabric
• 1/3 yard of cotton backing fabric that matches or complements the linen
• 1/4 yard of medium-weight iron-on interfacing
• 1/3 yard of iron-on fleece Pellon
• 10 inches of 1/2-inch-wide elastic
• Acid-free four-ply and two-ply mat board
• Straight pins, including quilting and silk pins
• Polyester fiberfill
• Aleene’s Tacky Glue and LePage White Glue
• Offray 1/8-inch satin ribbon — white
• Freezer paper
• Sharp paper scissors
• Rotary cutter, plastic ruler, cutting mat, and iron

Finishing Instructions

Written finishing instructions are also included in the PDF or printed Gingerbread Tree Etui pattern. The completed project may be displayed as part of a Christmas Gingerbread Village. The course videos provide step-by-step instruction so you can finish along with Lisa.

Important: The Gingerbread Tree Etui pattern is not included in this course and must be purchased separately. Course access expires one year after signing up.