Help me please - absolute beginner

[Amyrvn]

Hello, I'm new on here and to cross stitch. All I have done is a bookmark and now have a lighthouse to try (slightly ambitious maybe but I'm not going to let it beat me!) I am an absolute beginner and really don't know what I'm doing at all, I was told this cross stitch was suitable for a beginner but it looks like rocket science to me!
Anyway I was just wondering if someone could help me get started as I'm stuck already!!! I was told I need to start at the middle so I've found the middle but now I'm really confused as I was also told to work outwards? So the first stitch is one colour and then one the same line it changes colour 4 times. How do I swap the colours? That probably sounds really stupid to most of you but Im so confused? So if it's only 1 or 2 or 3 stitches for example do I just cut a short bit of thread just to do that couple of stitches then fasten it somehow and go onto next colour?!
I'm so confused so would be greatful for some help
Thanks

[Angel]

once you've found the center of both the chart and the fabric, I then choose which colour looks mot interesting, it doen't have to be the exact center colour, sometimes it might be 2 or 3 stitches to one side, then I follow that colour as much as possible before I change colours.

ETA:
So my stitching will look like this and grow in the same way

[Lori0]

Lets see if I can give you a helping hand. First thing: look around the middle spot. see if there is 3 or more symbols in the line above, below or even several over. If there are, count from the middle spot to the location of the string of spots of the same color and use that as your starting point. then you can work off those stitches. Maybe if you see some video it might help on questions and give you a little ease on starting. These are short but helpful tips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wwj6QGf6W4" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Amyrvn]

Thank you so much. I can start now! I'm sure I will be back with more questions. Thanks again that is a massive help. X

[JazzeyBear]

I'll try and answer for you.

Make sure when you find your middle, you do it for both fabric and chart. Do you know if the chart says 2 over 1, or 1 over 1? And are your threads already precut? If the chart says 2 over 1 it means that you'll be using two threads over one stitch, which means you can use the loop start. Which the loop start is where you pull one thread out of the little bundle of six threads. You can take the thread in one hand between your index finger and thumb and hold somewhat tightly, and with your other hand take one thread and pull. This will cause the the threads in your other hand to bunch between your thumb and index, but it's the quickest way without it tangling and knotting. Now that you have your one thread, fold it in half and stick the two ends into your needle, but don't pull all the way, you want the loop at the bottom and the two ends as a tail. When you make your first stitch don't pull the thread all the way through the fabric, you want to leave a good amount on the backside, so that when you pull the needle back through to the back you are able to slip the needle through the loop and tighten. This holds your beginning thread without the back looking terribly messy. Each symbol is a color, and you can stitch each symbol until you run out of thread on the needle. You don't have to stitch one row at a time. Unless you want to. To hold your ending thread, just run the needle through a couple of your stitches on the back, don't go through the fabric, just the thread.
You want to make sure all your stitches lie the same way, either /// than \\\ or \\\ or ///. But you want your top leg to face the same direction or you'll be able to see the different ways. And sometimes that's the point of the chart, but more than likily it's not. Every time you finish a few stitches you want to mark it off on your chart, many use highlighters, pens, pencils, I use color pencil. In a light color, so if I have to redo an area because I had a mistake I'm able to erase and redo. I think that answered all your questions. If you have any more feel free to ask and I'm sure someone will stop by and answer. And I'll answer if I have the answer.
Welcome to this amazing forum, everyone here is really nice and welcoming! Good luck on tackling this amazing craft!

[Rose]

The girls have already given you some excellant help. I will add that you may want to make a working copy of the pattern. This means you make 1 copy and as you stitch you mark the squares off that you have finished. This will make it easier for you to know where you are on the pattern. When you have finished the stitching the copy must be destroyed so as not to break copyright rules.

When you are following a color you really should not jump more then 5 stitches at any one time or else you will be wasting thread. If the jump is more then 5 just finish off the thread with the technique that Jazzybear suggested. You can then find another area that uses that color and start again or you can go back to the starting spot pick a different color and start that new one there. Whatever you want is what is best this is a very individual hobby no right or wrong answers.

When you have used a thread and had to cut it off to start in another location, if the thread is not long enough to do another loop start, but is still long enough to stitch with you can begin the same way that you end. Run the thread through the back of 3 or 4 stitches. Then to anchor it reverse the needle, skip the last stitch that you just used to run the tread under and run the needle back under those stitches this will hold the thread and you can then turn the fabric to the front and continue to stitch. There are a few other ways to anchor your thread but the ones we have suggested are the most popular. Once you have done some stitching and feel more comfortable you can google it and see what works best for you.

Another tip. If your pattern has areas that have no stitching then you do not want to jump your thread across there. When you have finished the stitching and go to finish it off either by framing or some other form the thread that is on the back of an unstitched area maybe seen from the front and can ruin the pleasure of the finished piece.

I hope we have helped you get started. As Jazzybear said if you have more questions please come back and ask we are more then happy to help.

You might want to go and have a peek in the Stitch A Long Section the pictures there might help you see some of the things we have explained here.

[dalronix]

Jazzeybear,

Is this the loop method you're explaining? I've never come across it before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJgwJGlZjk" target="_blank

[Rose]

Yes that is the Loop Method and it is so great for starting I use it as much as possible when I am stitching. The backs look so much better.

[Stitchinkitty]

You are not being overly ambitious with a bookmark says she whose first cross stitch was a 4'x3' Alphabet!!(still not finished after 37 years)
All the info you have been given is good.
I taught myself and one thing I found was starting in the middle is good but not obligatory.You may start at the top and work down or the bottom and work up..
With your fabrics a 14ct Aida is 14 stitches to the inch.With linen or even weave a28count fabric is worked over two threads thus making it 14 stitches to the inch.
Why use evenweave?Well if your design has lots of quarter stitches evenweave makes them a breeze,just stitch over one thread instead of two.
Just remember if you make a mistake it's not the end of the world.Stitch and enjoy.

[Solitaire]

It can be confusing starting cross stitch without actually being shown and the links are very helpful and ask as many questions as you like, I've learnt a lot being with this forum, never heard of loop starting before and now use it whenever I can, it's so much easier and can even do pinhead start sometimes.

[Pippa]

I think you've been given enough advice & all good. I just wanted to encourage you to keep trying as once you get the hang of it, it will be fun! My first attempt wasn't good, & even though I've been cross-stitching for awhile now, I still have had to ask friends for help. The forum friends are lovely & will help you lots, so take heart, we all want you to suceed.

[BizzieLizzie]

Welcome to the forum!!

There's not much I can add to the advice you've already been given but, like Pippa, I just wanted to cheer you on. We were all complete beginners once.

[rcperryls]

Hello and welcome to the forum. You've gotten so much information that should help you. I don't have anything to add, other than to agree with the others that the most important thing is to enjoy your stitching. And come back once you've "digested" all this info with any questions you have. Someone will either have the answer or know where you can find it.

Carole

[Mystonique]

Working copy is the best advice ever - I didn't for my first project and 1/3 of the way in I'd worn my chart out.

Don't be afraid of making mistakes - they are nearly always fixable.

ENJOY!!!