When I did it I used a marking pencil to make a x from corner to corner. These lines need to be very accurate because that's where you start stitching. These first lines will be your guide. Then just use your gage to follow along however far over you have decided to do the next line. You might come out with longer thinner diamonds, but that depends on the shape of your pieces. I did all one direction first and then went back and did the other direction.