Design size and fabric to cut

The count of a fabric is the number of squares or threads in one inch. On Aida every cross covers one square, so the count is also the number of stitches per inch, and the size of a design is its stitches divided by the count. One calculator's own example: 140 stitches ÷ 14 count = 10 inches. Evenweave and linen are usually stitched over two threads, so the count is halved first; a needlework shop puts it as 28 count linen having 14 stitches per inch when stitched over two.

The fabric has to be larger than the design, for two different reasons that are often added together as one margin. The first is the plain fabric you want to see around the stitching inside the frame or mat. The second is the fabric nobody sees: what the frame covers, what the hoop grips, what is laced around the mounting board. One chart publisher says to allow for any unstitched border plus about 2 inches on all four sides for finishing; calculators that use a single figure start at 3 inches a side for framed pieces and 1 inch for cards. Keeping the two apart gives a third size for free: the design plus the visible border is the frame opening.

The same division runs backwards. If the frame is already bought, the stitches divided by the usable width give the stitches per inch the design needs, and the coarsest fabric at or above that figure gives the largest stitches that still fit. In a round hoop it is the diagonal of the design that has to fit, because the corners reach the hoop first.

Fabric counts are nominal. Linen in particular varies by a thread or so per inch, which on a large piece moves the edge of the design by a noticeable amount, so measure your own fabric before cutting close.

Chart: cross stitch design size on Aida, by stitches and fabric count

Each cell is the size of that many stitches on the count in its column, stitched over one square. Read the chart once for the width and once for the height, then add your border and allowance.

	Fabric count
Stitches across	11	14	16	18	20	22
20	1.82 in	1.43 in	1.25 in	1.11 in	1.00 in	0.91 in
40	3.64 in	2.86 in	2.50 in	2.22 in	2.00 in	1.82 in
60	5.45 in	4.29 in	3.75 in	3.33 in	3.00 in	2.73 in
80	7.27 in	5.71 in	5.00 in	4.44 in	4.00 in	3.64 in
100	9.09 in	7.14 in	6.25 in	5.56 in	5.00 in	4.55 in
120	10.91 in	8.57 in	7.50 in	6.67 in	6.00 in	5.45 in
150	13.64 in	10.71 in	9.38 in	8.33 in	7.50 in	6.82 in
200	18.18 in	14.29 in	12.50 in	11.11 in	10.00 in	9.09 in
250	22.73 in	17.86 in	15.63 in	13.89 in	12.50 in	11.36 in
300	27.27 in	21.43 in	18.75 in	16.67 in	15.00 in	13.64 in
400	36.36 in	28.57 in	25.00 in	22.22 in	20.00 in	18.18 in

Work out your own numbers: Cross stitch fabric calculator

Chart: design size on evenweave and linen over two threads, by stitches and fabric count

The same chart for fabric stitched over two threads. The column is the count printed on the fabric, not the stitches per inch.

	Fabric count
Stitches across	25	28	32	36	40
20	1.60 in	1.43 in	1.25 in	1.11 in	1.00 in
40	3.20 in	2.86 in	2.50 in	2.22 in	2.00 in
60	4.80 in	4.29 in	3.75 in	3.33 in	3.00 in
80	6.40 in	5.71 in	5.00 in	4.44 in	4.00 in
100	8.00 in	7.14 in	6.25 in	5.56 in	5.00 in
120	9.60 in	8.57 in	7.50 in	6.67 in	6.00 in
150	12.00 in	10.71 in	9.38 in	8.33 in	7.50 in
200	16.00 in	14.29 in	12.50 in	11.11 in	10.00 in
250	20.00 in	17.86 in	15.63 in	13.89 in	12.50 in
300	24.00 in	21.43 in	18.75 in	16.67 in	15.00 in
400	32.00 in	28.57 in	25.00 in	22.22 in	20.00 in

Work out your own numbers: Cross stitch fabric calculator

Chart: coarsest Aida count that fits, by stitches and space available

Each cell is the first of the counts six, eight, eleven, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty and twenty-two on which the stitches in its row fit the width in its column, with no clear space left over. A cell above twenty-two means none of them is fine enough.

	Opening width
Stitches across	4 in	5 in	6 in	8 in	10 in	12 in	14 in	16 in
60	16	14	11	8	6	6	6	6
80	20	16	14	11	8	8	6	6
100	25	20	18	14	11	11	8	8
120	30	24	20	16	14	11	11	8
150	38	30	25	20	16	14	11	11
200	50	40	34	25	20	18	16	14
250	63	50	42	32	25	22	18	16
300	75	60	50	38	30	25	22	20

Work out your own numbers: Aida count calculator

Used by

• Cross stitch fabric calculatorDesign size and fabric to cut for a cross stitch pattern.
• Aida count calculatorThe fabric count that makes a design fit a frame or hoop.

Sources

• Yarn Tree: stitch calculator chart
• Omni Calculator: cross stitch
• Needlework Tips and Techniques: cross stitch calculator
• Stitched Modern: what does cross stitch fabric count mean