We are back with the second and final installment of Laura’s Sampler.

Now, going to the left, do 13 more of the Wheat Stitches; a line of stitches is shown below.

Only part of the numbering is put in the diagram so it is not too confusing. However, continue to place stitches on your canvas in the counter clockwise direction until the Maltese Cross is completed.

Now, complete one more Maltese Cross to the left of this first cross and complete two more Maltese Cross stitches to the right of the center of the canvas. The figure below illustrates the location of two Maltese Cross stitches with respect to each other.

After you have completed the center stitch, going to the left, complete 8 more cross stitches.

Now, thread your needle with Felicity's Garden again and this time traveling to the right of the center Cross Stitch, complete 8 more of these stitches. You should have a total of 17 Cross Stitches.

The second layer of the stitch uses Silk and Ivory. Again, you will be completing Cross Stitches that are 6 threads high and 6 threads wide, but in between the Cross Stitches you have already made. Please refer to the figure below for placement of the stitches.

Starting at the left side of the center of the canvas, and using a waste knot, count over 6 threads to start your first Cross Stitch using the Silk & Ivory. The figure above shows the start of the row from the center of the sampler. Complete 9 Cross Stitches in this manner.

Now, thread your needle with the Silk & Ivory again and this time traveling to the right of the center of the canvas, complete 9 more cross stitches. You should have a total of 18 cross stitches in the Silk & Ivory.

The third layer of the stitch uses the Watercolours thread. A small horizontal straight stitch is completed over the center of each of the Silk & Ivory Cross Stitches that you just completed above. The following figure shows the placement of this stitch. You will be completing 18 of these straight tie down stitches; complete a tie down stitch on top of each of the Silk & Ivory Cross Stitches you have already made.

You will first place your couching thread down on the left side of the canvas. This thread is the Silk & Ivory and is a long thread that starts to the left of the Cross Stitch variation on the bottom, with a waste knot placed as shown below and ends at the top of the Bargello 4 threads to the left and down 1 canvas thread from its top. Complete a second long stitch next to the first one and to the left of it

Continue completing Cross Stitches in this manner until you get to the top of the Silk & Ivory threads. After you have completed your cross stitches you can cut your waste knots from the couched threads and run them under the cross stitches on the back of the canvas to secure the threads.

Now do the same thing on the right side of the canvas for that border. The Silk & Ivory thread will start to the right of the Bargello, 4 threads right and 1 thread down, and travel all the way to the bottom of the Cross Stitch Variation and 4 threads to the right of it on the bottom band. Complete a second long stitch next to the first and to the right 1 thread. Start at the bottom with the Watercolours and complete the Cross Stitch shown above, 4 threads high by 3 threads wide, until you have reached the top of the Silk & Ivory threads.

You have now completed Laura’s Sampler, and you should be very proud of yourself because this wasn’t an easy piece. Frame your piece and enjoy your hard work.