Tina, I don't try to tell a stitcher, new or otherwise, what project he/she should try. If just starting out, I always suggest maybe a couple of smaller projects first. However, when I have my mind set on a project, I do what I want and what my heart (not to be mistaken with my head) is telling me to do. It may have fractional stitches such as quarter stitches, but you can do this. I love the pattern and the colors. My fear is this, if you start and start to feel "bogged down", you will quit cross stitching. On the other hand, it may be a wonderful, beautiful challenge that you totally fall in love with. Whatever you decide, if you ever need help and advice, there are many stitchers, men and women, that can aid you. Good luck and welcome to the chat. Pam

And it isn't just the stitching that could trip you up, but the finishing! That's where even experienced stitchers seem to get bigger down. All you have to do is know what you're getting into. But getting some less complicated projects under your belt is always a good idea...I mean it can't hurt and learning fractional stitches, backstitching, spacing of lettering in small increments will not be a bad thing. 😄

I was thinking that perhaps she is a seamstress already. If not, perhaps there is a shop or cleaners that could recommend someone to finish.☺☺☺☺pam

Oh, I didn't get that, at all...saw "newbie" and agreed with what you said. Still, the extra steps for finishing ARE where newbies stumble and though, stockings are popular, lots of them are ghosts in a drawer and not finished till years later. 😀

V, you are right. It is just when someone sees a project that catches their eye for whatever reason, I am so happy that someone else has caught the "cross stitching virus". Then I know that we as cross stitchers learned how to finish our own projects. Listen, I am the dumkaph that bought a sewing machine which the sole intent of making pillows! I learned to frame from the get go. Necessity is the mother of all invention...…...etc. etc. etc. LOL In my defense about the sewing machine, I took patterns and learned how to make dolls, teddy bears, mini quilts, etc. And pillows. LOL Pam

Absolutely agree! But. I don't agree with the "throw them in the deep end" to teach someone to swim. Remember me? The idiot so delighted with the sampler that resembled our house that those 400+ French knots PER TREE didn't even scan on the horizon...my first real project. YIKES! When I think how many I re-use and re-use and then, did again. Sure I learned, but I swear that thing caused DNA damage! There are so many traps, why not highlight/sign post some of the avoidable till they understand where the challenges lie? They can learn with a relaxed smile as well as with missing patches of hair! 😀

Well not to worried about the final assembly. My daughter gave me “waiting for Santa”
I’ve been trying to do it. Design is all black and white with numerous thread changes. Not sure I’m going to be able to do it. Now I’m gum shy on making a purchase

Tina,
We were all ‘gun-shy’ at some point in trying something new in cross stitching. In the past, I found a beautiful pattern and absolutely loved it but I was uncertain if I had enough experience. Sooo, I bought the beautiful pattern and put it aside for what I hoped was the NEAR future and stitched a smaller pattern called “May all your Weeds.....”
and when finished, I knew I was comfortable enough to begin stitching a larger pattern. AND even then my hands trembled because my beautiful project was going to be on 28-count. Make the jump and purchase it is my suggestion, the time will come sooner or later you’ll make the ‘leap’...😊
Oh and like VCESS and Pam said, there are a LOT of experienced stitchers, male and female, that can help you through the stitching and stocking process so you’ll have a ‘safety net’ ..... just don’t be afraid to yell ‘fire in the hole!!’ On this chat if you run into a problem......