My mother's exam sampler.

Whilst sorting out old photos and memorabilia, I again came across her book of sewing tests for her final exams at Edinburgh College of Domestic Science  in Atholl Crescent. The samplers include print patch (above), continuous placket, run and fell seam, french seam, weft hem and of course warp hem. The stitches had to be as invisible as possible, and samples were frequently binned.

I don't recall that she did much sewing after that. She did tell me that some of her co-pupils ruined their eyesight over this.

The samples are dated 18 July 1939.  Things were about to change very swiftly.