Counted Cross Stitch Pattern, Ann Watson 1839, Queen of the May 2026, Reproduction Sampler, Reproduction, Hands Across the Sea, PATTERN ONLY

This is for the PATTERN ONLY.

Counted Cross Stitch pattern, Ann Watson 1839. The Queen of the May is a tradition that celebrates beauty, renewal, and honour. Each year, we select a sampler that embodies these qualities — a design that rises above the rest, chosen not only for its visual appeal, but for its enduring presence.

For 2026, we are delighted to present Ann Watson 1839, a truly exceptional Cumbrian sampler worked by an eleven-year-old girl.. We chose Ann’s work for its balance and compositional confidence, its rich symbolic language, and its clear connection to place. It is a sampler that speaks with quiet authority — one that rewards close looking and thoughtful stitching.

Ann’s sampler is a study in balance and intention. A broad floral border frames the work with rhythmic symmetry, enclosing a carefully composed arrangement of motifs. At its centre, a devotional verse — taken from the writings of Isaac Watts — speaks of faith, discipline, and the shaping of a young heart. Above, a garden unfolds: trees, birds, flowering urns, and a watchful stag arranged with quiet assurance. Within this ordered landscape, subtle references to the Garden of Eden invite reflection on innocence, choice, and moral formation.

Below, a red-brick house anchors the composition — a symbol of stability and aspiration — surrounded by delicate motifs that evoke domestic harmony. Dividing bands guide the eye, creating a sampler that reads with clarity from top to bottom.

At its base, Ann stitched her name:

“Ann Watson’s Work finished in her 11 year Anno 1839.”

In that line, a young girl declares her presence across time.

Ann was baptised in Whitehaven in 1829, a busy coastal town shaped by industry, faith, and community. Like many girls of her time, her life is only faintly recorded in the archive. Yet through her needlework, she remains.

This sampler forms part of a wider group of Cumbrian work stitched in the shadow of Scafell Pike, where patterns were taught, repeated, and passed from one generation to the next.

Ann’s sampler is not only a beautiful design — it is a record of education, discipline, and identity. A quiet but enduring voice from 1839.

Linen Sizes:
The design area is 370 stitches (w) x 343 stitches (h). Our calculations have included a 3" margin for finishing and framing.

The model was stitched on a Zweigart-based linen that was overdyed by Cedar River to a shade of Saltash.

28ct linen: Design: 26.43" x 24.50" Fabric: 32.43" x 30.50"

32ct linen: Design: 23.13" x 21.44" Fabric: 29.13" x 27.44"

36ct linen: Design: 20.56" x 19.06" Fabric: 26.56" x 25.06"

40ct linen: Design: 18.50" x 17.15" Fabric: 24.50" x 23.15”

46ct linen: Design: 16.09" x 14.91" Fabric: 22.09" x 20.91"

56ct linen: Design: 13.21" x 12.25" Fabric: 19.21" x 18.25"

Thread Legend
Ann’s magnificent sampler has been reproduced using a particularly beautiful palette of 22 colours. The model was stitched using Soie d’Alger from Au Ver à Soie, and we have included below conversions for Soie 100.3 and DMC.
1 strand of 100.3 on 46/56ct ~ Colour
067 ~ Antique mauve
072 ~ Grey green (lt)
089 ~ Copper
148 ~ Straw
179 ~ Olive green
211 ~ Mocha brown
223 ~ Mauve
274 X 2 Khaki green
277 ~ Peacock blue
307 ~ Rose
329 ~ Olive green (lt)
335 ~ Terracotta
439 ~ Antique violet (lt)
493 ~ Alizarin
499 ~ Garnet
517 ~ Mocha beige
557 ~ Antique violet
621 ~ Beaver grey
628 ~ Beige brown
702 ~ Desert sand
703 ~ Grey green
Noir ~ Black

1 strand of SDA on 46ct ~ Colour
946 ~ Garnet
1444 ~ Peacock blue
1745 ~ Grey Green
1814 ~ Beaver grey
4111 ~ Mocha brown
2212 ~ Olive green (lt)
2644 ~ Alizarin
2543 ~ Straw
2646 ~ Terracotta
3046 ~ Mauve
3433 ~ Mocha beige
3435 ~ Beige brown
3733 ~ Olive green
3734 x 4 ~ Khaki green
4142 ~ Desert sand
4612 ~ Copper
4623 ~ Rose
4634 ~ Antique mauve
5112 ~ Antique violet (lt)
5114 ~ Antique violet
5383 ~ Grey green (lt)
Noir ~ Black

1 strand of SDA on 36 to 40ct ~ Colour
946 ~ Garnet
1444 ~ Peacock blue
1745 ~ Grey Green
1814 ~ Beaver grey
2212 ~ Olive green (lt)
2644 ~ Alizarin
2543 x 2~ Straw
2646 x 2 ~ Terracotta
3046 ~ Mauve
3433 ~ Mocha beige
3435 ~ Beige brown
3733 ~ Olive green
3734 x 4 ~ Khaki green
4111 ~ Mocha brown
4142 ~ Desert sand
4612 ~ Copper
4623 ~ Rose
4634 ~ Antique mauve
5112 ~ Antique violet (lt)
5114 ~ Antique violet
5383 x 2 ~ Grey green (lt)
Noir ~ Black

2 strands of SDA on 32ct ~ Colour
946 x 2 ~ Garnet
1444 ~ Peacock blue
1745 ~ Grey Green
1814 ~ Beaver grey
2212 x 2 ~ Olive green (lt)
2644 ~ Alizarin
2543 x 2~ Straw
2646 x 2 ~ Terracotta
3046 ~ Mauve
3433 ~ Mocha beige
3435 ~ Beige brown
3733 ~ Olive green
3734 x 8 ~ Khaki green
4111 ~ Mocha brown
4142 ~ Desert sand
4612 x 2 ~ Copper
4623 x 2 ~ Rose
4634 ~ Antique mauve
5112 ~ Antique violet (lt)
5114 x 2 ~ Antique violet
5383 x 2 ~ Grey green (lt)
Noir x 2 ~ Black

2 strands of SDA on 28ct ~ Colour
946 x 2 ~ Garnet
1444 ~ Peacock blue
1814 ~ Beaver grey
2212 x 2 ~ Olive green (lt)
2644 ~ Alizarin
2543 x 2~ Straw
2646 x 3 ~ Terracotta
3046 ~ Mauve
3433 ~ Mocha beige
3435 ~ Beige brown
3733 ~ Olive green
3734 x 9 ~ Khaki green
4111 ~ Mocha brown
4142 ~ Desert sand
4612 x 2 ~ Copper
4623 x 2 ~ Rose
4634 ~ Antique mauve
5112 ~ Antique violet (lt)
5114 x 2 ~ Antique violet
5383 x 3 ~ Grey green (lt)
Noir x 2 ~ Black

1 strand of DMC on 40 to 46ct ~ Colour
22 ~ Alizarin
309 ~ Rose
310 ~ Black
632 ~ Desert sand
647 ~ Beaver grey
732 ~ Olive green
734 ~ Olive green (lt)
806 ~ Peacock blue
815 ~ Garnet
838 ~ Beige brown
922 ~ Copper
927 ~ Grey green (lt)
3011 x 3 ~ Khaki green
3033 ~ Mocha brown
3041 ~ Antique violet
3042 ~ Antique violet (lt)
3685 ~ Mauve
3726 ~ Antique mauve
3768 ~ Grey green
3777 ~ Terracotta
3822 ~ Straw
3862 ~ Mocha beige

2 strands of DMC on 32 to 36ct ~ Colour
22 ~ Alizarin
309 ~ Rose
310 ~ Black
632 ~ Desert sand
647 ~ Beaver grey
732 ~ Olive green
734 ~ Olive green (lt)
806 ~ Peacock blue
815 ~ Garnet
838 ~ Beige brown
922 ~ Copper
927 x 2 ~ Grey green (lt)
3011 x 5 ~ Khaki green
3033 ~ Mocha brown
3041 ~ Antique violet
3042 ~ Antique violet (lt)
3685 ~ Mauve
3726 ~ Antique mauve
3768 ~ Grey green
3777 x 2 ~ Terracotta
3822 x 2 ~ Straw
3862 ~ Mocha beige

2 strands of DMC on 28ct ~ Colour
22 ~ Alizarin
309 ~ Rose
310 ~ Black
632 ~ Desert sand
647 ~ Beaver grey
732 ~ Olive green
734 ~ Olive green (lt)
806 ~ Peacock blue
815 ~ Garnet
838 ~ Beige brown
922 ~ Copper
927 x 2 ~ Grey green (lt)
3011 x 6 ~ Khaki green
3033 ~ Mocha brown
3041 ~ Antique violet
3042 ~ Antique violet (lt)
3685 ~ Mauve
3726 ~ Antique mauve
3768 ~ Grey green
3777 x 2 ~ Terracotta
3822 x 2 ~ Straw
3862 ~ Mocha beige

PLEASE NOTE: Patterns are NOT returnable to protect the copyright of the designer.

We love our customers and want only to be fair. We never charge more than what we would want to pay ourselves. If you overpaid for shipping, we will gladly refund $1.00 or more for the overage.







~~~~~ About Us ~~~~~

We are a small Christian company and a family that loves Jesus Christ. It is our desire to bring honor and glory to God and to provide outstanding sales and service to you, our customers, always keeping Him at the forefront of all we do at Farmers Attic! Included with each order is a Gospel of John (while supplies last).