MAY 1 – JUL 1, 2025

For centuries the traditional products of a woman’s life – the children they bore, the food they prepared, the clothing they made – were ephemeral; the children grew up, the food was consumed, the clothing was worn, then worn out, and finally discarded. One significant exception to this was the historical samplers and fancy needlework they created. These samplers were highly valued. They were meant to be displayed and passed down through generations.

Today, these samplers are considered both works of art and important pieces of the historical record stitched on cloth. Norfolk’s Stories in Stitches will showcase 19th and 20th century samplers from Norfolk County Heritage & Culture’s collection and examine what these textiles can tell us about the lives of the girls and women who made them.