In England and elsewhere in Europe in the 17th century, samplers had developed from personal reference works for embroiderers into a method of instruction and practice for girls learning needlework. The central area of this sampler was worked in a needle lace stitch called hollie point, most examples of which date from the second quarter of the 18th century. Hollie point was a practical stitch to learn, used particularly for decorative insertions into baby clothes and occasionally adult garments, and exact counterparts of the patterns worked in hollie-point samplers can be found in surviving clothing.

The embroidery is worked with silk in back, cross, satin and rococo stitch, with cutwork and hollie stitch, and with knots.