What you actually need
A 6-inch (15 cm) wooden hoop
Plain cotton or linen fabric
Six-strand cotton floss in 5-6 colors
Embroidery needles, size 5-7
Small sharp scissors and a water-soluble pen
Your first project: a leafy branch
- Draw a simple branch on the fabric with the pen.
- Outline it in back stitch.
- Fill the leaves with satin stitch.
- Add French knots as berries.
Beginner mistakes
Loose fabricIf it is not drum-tight in the hoop, stitches pucker.
Long threadKeep it shorter than your forearm or it tangles.
All six strandsSplit the floss and stitch with two or three.