Your machine comes with designs and fonts already built in and these are the perfect starting point. There is no file transfer, no software needed and they are already digitised correctly for your machine.

• Browse your machine's built-in design library and choose something simple - a small filled motif or a short word in a built-in font
• Avoid very large, very dense or multi-coloured designs for your first attempt
• Built-in fonts are particularly good for beginners - personalising a tea towel or tote bag is a satisfying first project

For your very first project, stick to a stable woven fabric, plain cotton is ideal. Avoid stretch fabrics, fleece or anything textured until you are comfortable with the basics.

• Use a tear-away stabiliser for stable woven fabrics - it removes cleanly once stitching is complete
• For stretch or jersey fabrics, use an iron-on cut-away stabiliser - bond it to the fabric before hooping to prevent any movement
• Cut your stabiliser slightly larger than the hoop, so it is held all the way to the edges

Good hooping is the foundation of good embroidery. A poorly hooped project will distort no matter how good everything else is.

• Place the stabiliser flat on a surface, then lay your fabric on top, grain straight and centred
• Place the outer hoop on top, push the inner hoop down firmly until it clicks into place
• The fabric should be taut but not stretched - think of a drum rather than a trampoline
• Check the grain is straight and the fabric has not shifted before attaching to the machine

Before stitching on your actual project, always do a full test run on a scrap of the same fabric with the same stabiliser. This will save you from many a disappointment.

• Use identical fabric, stabiliser and thread to your actual project
• Check the design placement, thread tension and colour sequence
• Adjust anything that does not look right before moving to the real thing
• Keep your test piece - it is a useful reference for future projects on the same fabric

Attach the hoop to the machine, select your design and let the machine do the work. Modern embroidery machines handle most of the process automatically - your main job is to be present.

• Watch the first few stitches to make sure everything looks correct
• Change thread colours when prompted, the machine will stop automatically
• Do not walk away and leave the machine unattended, especially early on
• Trim jump stitches as you go if your machine does not have an automatic trim cutter

Once stitching is complete, remove the hoop from the machine and carefully finish the project.

• Trim all thread tails close to the fabric on both the front and back
• For tear-away stabiliser hold the embroidery firmly and tear away the stabiliser close to the design, working in small sections
• For cut-away stabiliser trim close to the design with small, sharp scissors, leaving a small margin
• For wash-away stabiliser, rinse in cold water until completely dissolved, then press flat to dry