Hi Lisa,
I just realized that past week that if I have a pattern with a lot of PAGES, I will measure from the top down 3 inches and from the top left side of the fabric. Where the two measurements meet is where I bigin my first stitch. The fabric I bought I had added the 3 inches to each side for mounting and framing, that is why I measure in and down from the left corner.
BUT if I have a pattern that I just unfold and is only one page, I start my stitching in the middle of the fabric.
Just out of curiousity, did you choose to do all the blavk stitching on a piece of light fabric or did you decide to stitch this on black fabric?