Everybody gets lost sometime. It's just leaving a trail of "popcorn" so you can retrace your steps.

1st: Always make a working copy you can write on, highlite completed stitches, fold, mutilate, lose, etc. Lavendar & Lace & others print the pattern on a folio sheet (big!). Do the best you can on the copy machine and mark overlaps with a different color highliter.

2nd: At this point, find the center of the pattern & fabric, mark it on both. There's normally a down triangle, or arrow, at the top edge & one side. With these multi-page patterns, it can be helpful to lay the pages in order on a table. Draw a line in ink or highliter on each page the vertical column or horizontal row appears. Start stitching where horizontal & verticle cross. Stitch the entire page, then go on to a page bordering the center one. As you stitch, highlite the area completed - not every stitch but at reasonable completions. This flower is done, that face, that metallic braid.

(Alternate start: P.1, top left corner. You needed a piece of fabric sized to have 3" extra on all 4 sides to do this. Measure down 3" & in 3" from the left fabric edge.)

3rd: I used a real pattern sheet once, ruined it & lost it. The designer wouldn't respond. So, now I write Copy on each page, plus the position. (top far lft, top near left, top cent, top near rt, top far rt)

4th: Backstitching last, or when the whole section is stitched. Beads way last, after washing & pressing. You with very clean hands.

If others reply, they may have other answers to "how to begin." This is just one way. 1000 Good Lucks!

Thnx, that helps a bit. What about the washing part you mentioned though? do you wash it when your done with it?

As was stated, always make a copy of the chart first. Very few companies will replace a chart and all of us who have been stitching for awhile have had the misfortune at one time or another of losing or having a chart destroyed.

There are several stitching aids out there for keeping track of where you are on a chart. Now that I have gotten older and the eyes aren't what they use to be, I use a stand with a magnifying line minder to keep track. A highlighter is an inexpensive way of doing so and works just as well.

I start my projects based on the design. I look for a large area where I am stitching a block of the same color. That may be close to the center or in one of the corners. And again there are stitching aids out there that will help you find the spot to start on your fabric. If you don't want to wait on mail order, any of the large craft stores (Michaels, JoAnns) or even many Walmarts will carry both of these aids. You can also use a straight edge ruler if the design isn't that large. Divide the number of stitches for both width and length by your fabric count. For example, stitch count 112 x 112 with 14 count fabric would be 8" x 8", add 3" for 11" x 11" total. Have a needle with a piece of sewing thread attached handy and measure down one edge 11". Place your finger above that row of fabric and place the ruler along that row, At 11", use the needle and thread to loop around that block. This will give you the center, If starting in a corner do the same thing but use 3" instead. You then start your initial row based on its location relative to either of these areas. You can leave the sewing thread in place until you get to that block or remove it once you have made your initial stitch.

You will need to wash and press the project when it is done even if you are meticulous about keeping your hands clean. I use a product made especially for needlework because some of my projects have been around for quite some time before they get finished (I am NOT going to say how long for some of them lol). My daughter uses a dishwashing soap to do hers - just make sure it is one of the 'free and clear' types with no scent etc and hand wash. Place flat between two micro fiber towels and either hand press as much of the water from it or let dry till just damp. Do not wring it dry. Use 2 more towels to press.

As stated, if you have beads do those after washing and pressing, I generally set enough time aside to do all the beading in one go and make sure everything around the project is clean and immediately frame or place in ziploc bag with just a crack open to let the fabric breathe.

A bit long winded, but if you haven't done this before I am trying to be as clear as possible. I am sure there are youtube videos out there that will show you what you need to know.

Good luck and happy stitching!

All of the previous suggestions are very good, but I am going to add my "2 cents worth". Having been stitching over 30 years I have developed my own things that I do. Before I start I always make at least one copy of the pattern because I make notes and highlighting all over it. That way you always have the original in perfect shape. If the pattern has several pages I make a second copy and tape each of the pages together so I can see the entire pattern together. I usually do my projects on Aida cloth and I cut the fabric at least 3 inches extra on a side so I can frame it when finished. I always wash my Aida cloth before using it in the washing machine on gentle cycle using soap and fabric softener. I then hang it to dry on a metal pants hanger to dry before stitching around the edges to prevent fraying.

When starting my project I always start in the center of the fabric which can be found by folding the fabric in half lengthwise and then horizontal. I only use a plastic and metal spring tension hoop for my projects. I have 3 different sizes that I use. Over the years I have a stash of all the DMC floss colors available. They are wound on plastic bobbins and in 6 floss containers. when stitching I also only use sharp sewing needles. I never use tapestry needles, because the sharps are easier when doing 1/4 and 3/4 stitches.

When I am finished with all the cross stitching and back stitching I wash my project again on gentle and lay it out on a towel to air dry. I always iron fusible interfacing to cover the threads on the back of the project. I frame my own projects using sticky boards. Since I am also a quilter sometimes I do projects as a wallhanging with a quilted boarder. It just depends what project is for. Most of mine are for gifts for people.

Like the others I know I have gone on and on however over all the years of stitching you will gain different ways of doing things for yourself also. Don't worry about making mistakes. We have all done it. I have done some "real doozies". I have ripped out a lot of stitches and even thrown out things I couldn't fix to my satisfaction.

The thing to remember is cross stitching is a great hobby, but mistakes are not the end of the world. LOL Hope this gives you some help.

I, too, want to put in my 2 cents. All the suggestions above are excellent and I do most of them myself. However, in multiple page patterns, I do one page at a time - completely, then move on to the page that joins it to the left or bottom (whichever one I want to see most).

I too make copies and use highlighters to mark off what I have "already" stitched. Back stitch everything that I have completed on that first page before moving on.

I wash in the sink in tepid water with dish detergent by tapping the project and lifting it up and down in and out of the water, never rubbing. Put into clean clear water to rinse and then run under cold water last (to get out any remnants of soap). Put on towel and roll up. Wait a couple of hours and steam iron. Sometimes I use starch (on the back of the project) when the wrinkles are tough to get out.

I too frame myself. I buy the frames that are on the floor as oppose to custom. If it's an odd size and I can't find a frame, I order matting for it to fit the next size up.

Have fun stitching. There's no wrong way, just find your niche!

In case I didn't explain myself well enough which I am prone to do, I only stitch one page at a time before I move on. It is just that I make an extra copy to put on my design wall so I can see the entire pattern at once in case I want to check something out. Sorry for the confusion.

Syagel, you and JHewes do have to explain a little more in detail b'cause you two are so advanced that I think you can stitch all over the place and not get confused - like I do (confused that is!!! LOL!

I have found on large projects marking my fabric in the 10 x 10 grids (like the patterns) is very helpful. I find the center of my cloth then with a contrasting thread color, I work 5 up and 5 under and do this to the top of my pattern. I do this in both directions. It helps me to see if I have made a mistake faster than I typically would. I use this information to help me find the top left corner when the pattern suggest that I start there. I would constantly find I was off several stiches and get very frustrated. This technique is very useful when there is a lot of 'white' space on a pattern. I know right away where I need to go to start the border and still have everything placed correctly.
Tip on this: use old or weak thread. I take the tread marker lines out after I'm done with all cross stiches. Some of the threads break and that is fine as I work them from the other end to remove them.

When you are ready to put your stitching away for the day, always end where you can easily just pick it up and start again. By this I mean, if you are finishing a color or area, make the decision to start another color or area and start a few stitches there. That way when you are ready to begin the next time, you can jump right it. Try not to end at a 'decision point'. I used to do that and found it harder to pick up and start again, knowing I had a decision to make. If I know I can just start stitching, I find it easier to keep things moving.