When I was a child I used to watch my grandmother as she did her embroidery, learning first-hand how to create stitches on fabric. With great patience she allowed me to add my clumsy attempts to her beautiful needlework. I was lucky but you may not have someone to sit with and learn from. This is where online cross stitch forums can step in.

Even though cross stitch is simple, tips from other stitchers can help. They can advise you on the best fabric to use, help you understand written instructions, show you where to find patterns or supplies and direct you to other useful websites.

The internet is packed with cross stitch forums, you just need to know how to find them. Just type the phrase cross stitch forums with inverted commas, or speech marks, at the begininning and end, into a search engine. You will then be able to view the results to see if the forums appeal to you. Some will be run by shops, others by fellow enthusiasts, but all will offer the chance to chat with like-minded stitchers.

After registering you are free to join in. Previous responses may help answer your own queries but if not, try to keep to one question per post so that others can assist you easily. Give advice of your own, if you can; it will help you become a useful and respected member of the community. Don't forget to read and follow the rules of the forum.

It is possible for friendships to blossom, but keep in mind that forums are public and anyone could be reading. If you want to talk personally you may prefer to communicate by email. You could even end up travelling half way across the world to meet a new friend as I did! I had never dreamed that joining a forum would lead to a holiday in the United States with a fellow stitcher.

Most cross stitch forums have different sections and whether you just want to chat, or sell a completed project, try to post in the right area to avoid any problems.

Cross stitch forums can't take the place of your grandmother, but don't overlook them. I wouldn't have been sitting in a rocking chair on the farm porch in Amish country, stitching with my new found friend, if I hadn't joined in!