You have your tools. Let's get started!

Hopefully you have all your tools (see last week's blog if you're thinking 'what tools?') and are ready to get going with your first cross stitch pattern.

Let's get started:

1. Get your pattern and I will run through the basics

• the pattern grid corresponds to the fabric weave and each coloured square represents a stitch.

or a blue cross

• line numbers at the top and side will help you remember where you are.

• arrows on the sides indicate the centre of the design, or a red cross in the middle.

• the legend tells you what colours to use and where they go.

• start out at the centre of the design, it's important to make sure your design is centred in the fabric. Refer back to your pattern and find which area is the closest to the centre. Starting with a large block of colour is easiest so that you're not changing threads out a lot at the beginning.

2. Next, prepare your fabric:

• aida has an annoying habit of fraying, leading to threads everywhere and often accidentally finding their way into your stitches. To avoid this either pop the fabric onto a sewing machine and zig-zag stitch the edges, or fold masking take over the edges of your fabric.

• next, find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half, and then in half again. You can pinch the fabric to mark it, add a pin or make a small mark in fabric pen.

(When it comes to more complex designs I like to use friction pens to draw the 10x10 grids out as the marks disappear when you iron the fabric.)

3. Put your fabric into a hoop

• first loosen the screw at the top to separate the two rounds. The round which does not have a screw is placed onto a flat surface. Lay the fabric over the top, making sure that the fabric centre is in the hoop's centre.

• place the other round over the fabric and press down. Make sure that the fabric is between the two hoops, pulling taut as you tighten the screw at the top. Ensure that you do not pull the fabric so taut that the weave is distorted as this will effect your end result.

my centre is indicated with a pin in this picture

4. Prepare your thread/ floss

• using the legend in the pattern, find the thread number and cut a length about as long as your arm. Don't cut too much thread as it'll get easily knotted up.

• embroidery floss is made up of 6 strands which are twisted together. Usually you will use 2 strands at a time, unless stated otherwise on the pattern. For back stitching you will use one.

• separate out one strand at a time as multiples may cause the thread to knot. As you can see from the picture, I simply pull one thread from the end.

5. Thread your needle

• as I said earlier, usually a size 24 embroidery needle is used which can be threaded as you would any other - however do not knot the end.

6. And now, finally... we can start stitching

• there are two methods used in cross stitch: English and Danish. The English method is when you complete each cross before moving on The Danish method is when you work one half stitch in one direction and then come back to do the other stitch. Neither one is better than the other, find whichever suits you best.

• start from the back of your fabric and bring the needle up through the hole at the front. Generally, cross stitch is worked from left to right, and therefore your starting stitch will be bottom left of the first square.

• pull the thread through leaving a tail on the back.

• then pass your needle diagonally through the hole to the top right (within the same square) which will make a slanted or half stitch.

• hold onto the tail at the back while you do this.

• then pass the needle through from the back on the bottom right - directly underneath your last stitch.

• check the back to ensure that the tail is now caught between the stitches before pulling the thread tight. If it's not, adjust the tail so it is.

• continue along the row, following the pattern making half stitches until you reach the last stitch in the pattern if using the Danish method. Complete the full stitch if using the English method.

• for the Danish method, then you return back sewing from bottom right, to top left crossing over the top of the half stitches you have just sewn.

7. How to finish your thread

• continue stitching until you reach the end of your thread or no more stitches are required.

• on the back of your fabric pass the needle underneath 3 or more completed stitches. Trim the remaining thread, be careful not to trim too close.

8. Repeat with the other colours until your pattern is finished

For easy beginner's patterns, head over to the shop. I create geeky cross stitch patterns which are very easy to follow!