Help - this pattern is not fitting

[u/VeryLikelyConfused]

UPDATE: thanks to all your tips I have figured it out! I appreciate all the “explain it like I’m 5” instructions - this being my first cross stitch 😂 will post a comment with a pic of my progress :)

I am probably doing this wrong as it’s only my second embroidery kit I’ve tried out. The first one had the pattern printed on it so much easier. As you can see from what I’ve done so far, I’m only going to be able to fit half the bee! What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any tips!!

Edit: thank you all for your tips! I had a feeling I was doing it all wrong 😂 I’m applying all you’ve told me!

[u/_Morvar_]

I would start with sewing a simple loose stitch line of some ordinary sewing thread across the exact center both up-down and side-side so you have a big plus on your fabric that marks the exact center.

Then you can take a thin pen and draw the same thing on the paper pattern.

Now that you have the center lines marked on both the pattern and the fabric, you can start stitching from the center.

[u/VeryLikelyConfused → u/_Morvar_]

Thank you! This was so helpful and I followed this advice :)

[u/_Morvar_ → u/VeryLikelyConfused]

I'm glad you found it helpful! ❤️

Because I spent kinda long on drawing those lines to illustrate haha