Plan your first sampler: size, layout, and color before you stitch

A sampler looks complicated because it has many parts: a border, a name or verse, a few motifs, maybe a date. It gets easy when you decide things in the order that costs the least to change.

1. Decide the finished size

Stitch count and fabric count together set the physical size. A design that is 100 stitches wide on 14-count fabric finishes a little over 7 inches across; on 18-count the same design is about 5.5 inches. Pick the frame or the space you are filling first, then work backwards.

2. Place the border

The border defines the usable area, so put it down before anything else. Leave a stitch or two of breathing room between the border and what sits inside it.

3. Add the text

Names and verses are the least flexible element, because their width is fixed by the letters and spacing. Place them next, centered, and let the motifs fill around them.

4. Fill with motifs

• Repeat one or two motifs rather than using many different ones. It reads as intentional.
• Mirror a motif across the center line for instant balance.
• Vary size before you vary color: a large and a small version of the same motif looks designed.

5. Check the floss list

Count the colors. Every additional color means another skein, more thread changes, and more chance of a muddy result. If the list is longer than you expected, recolor a motif to a color you already use.