Meanings of fade sampler in English

Cecile sat down willingly, drew out the faded sampler, and made valiant efforts to follow in the dead Mercy's finger marks.

Above them was hung the faded sampler that Grandma Sheldon had worked ninety years ago when she was a little girl.

They love to think of the little children whose skilful, tired hands wrought the faded sampler and whose bright eyes smarted over its innumerable stitches.