1. Use a sewing box or other storage container to keep your sewing things in. It will save you scrabbling around to look for your scissors, or the frustration of losing anything. It will also help prevent your design from getting dirty when you are not working on it.

2. Before starting on a new pattern, tack around the edges of the canvas. Just fold back a couple of centimetres, and loosely sew all around the edge. This will prevent fraying.

3. Another preparation tip is to apply some sticky tape to the reverse of your pattern, just along the folds. This is especially useful if you are undertaking a large design, as the pattern will see a lot of handling, and wear and tear on the crease can cause the symbols to fade or the paper to rip.

4. When sewing, try to maintain an even tension. If the thread is pulled too tight, it will make the holes in the fabric too large and the stitches will look too thin. If the thread isn’t pulled tight enough, the stitch will bulge out and the design will look blurred. An embroidery hoop is a great way to hold the canvas and make even tension easier to achieve. If the canvas you are working on is too small though, you may not be able to fit it into a hoop.

5. Mark off the stitches you have sewn on your pattern to stop you getting lost and making a mistake. A colouring-in pencil or highlighter with a thin nib are ideal for this.

6. When starting off a new thread, rather than using two lengths, try using one folded in half. When you sew the first half stitch, thread the needle on the reverse side through the fold in the middle of the yarn for a neater finish.

7. Never work with a twisted yarn. If your yarn begins to twist, hold your work up and let the needle dangle. It will untwist by itself.

8. Have two kits on the go at the same time. Have one which you are doing the cross stitches for, and the other which needs the back stitching done. If you get fed up with one type of sewing, you can switch to the other kit. Also, to keep you motivated, combine this with having a large and small kit in progress. Working on a large project can seem to take forever when you spend a long sewing session working on it and at the end not much seems to have been done. Switch to the smaller kit whilst working on the larger design and you will see some quick results.

9. A piece of work sewn on a dark coloured canvas can create an absolutely stunning effect, but looking for the little holes in canvas can make your eyes water! Put something light in colour on your lap, either by wearing light trousers or a skirt, or sitting with a light cushion on your lap. The holes will be much clearer to see, making working on your design much easier.

10. Never eat or drink when sewing. A small slip will ruin hours of work. Also wash your hands before starting to sew, to avoid your work getting grubby.