RJLinkletter

It look beautiful. I've never heard of chicken scratch before - I can see how the red stars and white stars are created but what is the white circles and grid? When I hand embroider I use a hoop to help keep the fabric fairly taut so that I don't get bunching (just don't do your stitches too tight). If your fabric is particularly thin you could use a water solubler stabiliser - I don't but I know others who do. As for size 10 crochet thread - this is fine to use (you can stitch with anything as long as you have the right size needle so the thread doesn't drag through the fabric

edit: I can see the white circles are created by a woven stitch - how clever! I am off to investigate myself!