Hi Carmel, I think the best way is to watch someone, so if you go on youtube and type in "how to use a scroll saw" you should get plenty of video's to start you off, infact if you look for STEVE GOOD he has a lot for the novice, just to get you going get your self some masking tape (low tack) and some peel off lables, print your pattern on the lable then wrap the wood in a layer of tape then stick your pattern lable on it and away you go.... Here are some to try just to get you used to moving the wood around, Let the saw do the work don't push the wood to hard and try different speeds..........good luck. Paul