Darning Sampler

1801

Germany or Netherlands

In the early 19th century, schoolgirls in Northern Europe made darning samplers to learn the crucial skill of mending, practicing a range of embroidery and darning techniques that could extend the life of garments and household textiles. Although these repairs have a beauty all their own when made in contrasting thread, they were ultimately intended to be invisible. The use of two-colored threads allowed students to discern the underlying weave structure; students would gradually transition to using one color of thread as they gained skill.

Status: On View, Gallery 58
Department: Textiles

Title: Darning Sampler
Place: Germany (Object Possibly made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Made 1801
Medium: Linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk in darning and cross stitches
Inscriptions: Inscription: GIK 1801 (at center)
Dimensions: 48 × 45.3 cm (18 7/8 × 17 7/8 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Harold Keele through the Needlework and Textile Guild
Reference Number: 1976.128
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/50620/manifest.json

Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival, Sept. 6, 2025–Mar. 15, 2026, cat. (not in cat.)

Mrs. Harold Keele, Chicago, by Feb. 11, 1976 [Incoming receipt, RX10495, Feb. 11, 1976; copy in curatorial object file]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1976.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.