Inspiration from a 1822 cross-stitch sampler

I turned 40 and my eyes are not the same anymore. Now I need eyeglasses and a magnifier to actually see my stitches. So doing canvaswork feels like holidays for my eyes (at least with a 8.5 count canvas).

This “Sweet Pair” comes from a cross-stitch sampler I saw last year at the Chicago History Museum. I counted the stitches and modified some things to my taste: I changed the modesty undies for leaves instead, made the apples much bigger and gave Eve longer hair.

Sweet pair who still from morn to night
The moments pafs in kind delight
And fondly bill and gently coo
May I be innocent as you Harriet Rich A[ged] 11 1822