Cross-Stitch Fabric Size Calculator (and How Many Strands to Use)
Work out how big your finished piece will be, how much Aida, evenweave or linen to cut, and how many strands of floss to use, for any fabric count.
Cross-stitch charts are measured in stitches, but fabric is measured in inches, so before you cut anything you need to translate one into the other. Enter your design size and fabric count below and you will get the finished size and the piece of fabric to cut, in inches and centimeters. The math is explained underneath, so you can always check it by hand.
Fabric size calculator
Stitches per inch:
Finished design:
Fabric to cut:
Strands:
Strand suggestions are common guidance. Follow your chart's key if it specifies strands, and test a few stitches on a scrap.
The formula: stitches ÷ count = inches
Your chart gives the design size in stitches, usually printed near the title or the key as something like “140 × 117 stitches.” Fabric count is the number of blocks (on Aida) or threads (on evenweave and linen) per inch of fabric. On Aida, that is also the number of stitches per inch. Divide one by the other and you have the finished size:
- Finished width (in) = stitches wide ÷ fabric count
- Finished height (in) = stitches high ÷ fabric count
- Centimeters = inches × 2.54
On evenweave and linen you usually stitch over two threads, so each cross covers two fabric threads in each direction. That halves the effective count: 28-count linen worked over two gives you 14 stitches per inch. The formula becomes stitches ÷ (count ÷ 2).
To get the fabric to cut, add your margin twice to each dimension, once for each side: fabric width = finished width + 2 × margin, and the same for height.
Worked examples
Take a design that is 140 stitches wide and 117 stitches high:
- 14-count Aida: 140 ÷ 14 = 10.0 in, and 117 ÷ 14 ≈ 8.4 in, so about 10.0 × 8.4 in (25.4 × 21.2 cm). With a 3 in margin on every side, cut about 16.0 × 14.4 in (40.6 × 36.5 cm).
- 28-count linen over two: the effective count is 28 ÷ 2 = 14, so the finished piece is exactly the same size, 10.0 × 8.4 in.
- 18-count Aida: 140 ÷ 18 ≈ 7.8 in, and 117 ÷ 18 = 6.5 in, so about 7.8 × 6.5 in (19.8 × 16.5 cm). With 3 in margins, cut about 13.8 × 12.5 in.
- 11-count Aida: 140 ÷ 11 ≈ 12.7 in, and 117 ÷ 11 ≈ 10.6 in, so about 12.7 × 10.6 in (32.3 × 27.0 cm).
Same chart, nearly 5 inches of difference in width between 11 and 18 count, so run the numbers before you buy fabric. When you cut, round up: a little extra fabric costs far less than a design that runs out of room.
How much margin to leave, and why
The margin is the unstitched border around your design. If the piece will be framed, the fabric needs to wrap around a mounting board or be laced across the back. While you stitch, a hoop or snap frame needs fabric to grip beyond the edge of your stitching. Edges also fray, and finishing a pillow or ornament needs seam allowance.
Common guidance is 2–4 inches per side, and 3 inches (about 7.5 cm) is a typical default. Small pieces headed for an ornament or a card can often get by with less. Large pieces, or anything going to a professional framer, often get more; if you plan to have it framed, ask your framer what they like to work with before you cut.
Aida, evenweave and linen: what “count” means
Count is the number of stitching units per inch: blocks on Aida, threads on evenweave and linen.
- Aida is woven in little blocks with clear holes at the corners. You make one cross per block, so the count is simply stitches per inch. It is easy to see and count.
- Evenweave is woven from single, evenly spaced threads. It is usually worked over two, so 28-count evenweave behaves like 14-count Aida and 32-count like 16-count.
- Linen is also usually worked over two, but its threads vary a little in thickness, which gives it a natural texture but asks a little more care when counting.
You can also stitch evenweave or linen over one, one cross per thread intersection. That gives very fine detail: 28-count over one is 28 stitches per inch, and the design comes out half the size it would over two.
What size Aida is best?
Many beginners start on 14-count Aida. The holes are easy to see, the needle finds them without fuss, and two strands give good coverage. Lower counts such as 11 make bigger stitches and a bigger finished piece, and they are easier on the eyes. Higher counts such as 16, 18, or linen over one pack more detail into each inch and make a smaller piece, but the holes are harder to see. The best size is the one that gives the finished size you want at a detail level you enjoy. Try your chart at two or three counts and compare.
How many strands to use for 11, 14, 16 and 18-count
Stranded embroidery floss, such as DMC stranded cotton, comes as six thin strands twisted together; you separate them and stitch with a few at a time. More strands give fuller, plumper crosses; fewer give a lighter look with more fabric showing through. Here is common guidance:
| Fabric | Strands (cross stitch) | Tapestry needle |
|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 3 | 24 |
| 14-count Aida | 2 | 24 |
| 16-count Aida | 2 (some prefer 1–2) | 26 |
| 18-count Aida | 1–2 (2 for fuller coverage) | 26 |
| 28 or 32-count evenweave or linen, over two | 2 (like 14 or 16-count) | 26 |
| Evenweave or linen over one, and higher counts | 1 | 28 |
| Backstitch, any fabric | Usually 1 (sometimes 2 for bold outlines) | Same as your cross stitch |
On very low counts such as 9-count, stitchers often use 3 or more strands. Treat all of this as a starting point, not a rule: follow your chart's key if it specifies strands, and test a few stitches on a scrap before you commit.
What size needle for 14, 16 or 18-count Aida?
Cross stitch uses a blunt-tipped tapestry needle, where higher numbers are finer. As common guidance: a 22 or 24 for 11-count, a 24 for 14-count, a 26 for 16 and 18-count and for 28-count worked over two, a 26 or 28 for 32-count over two, and a 28 for higher counts and over-one work.
Common questions
Can I stitch a pattern on a different count than it was designed for?
Yes. A chart counts stitches, not inches, so it works on any count. The finished size changes, though, so recalculate before you cut. Coverage changes with it: moving from 14 to 11-count usually means adding a strand, and moving to 18-count may mean dropping one.
Does this work as a linen size calculator?
Yes. Choose your linen's count and “two threads” for over two, or leave it on “one thread” if you are stitching over one.
My chart doesn't list its size in stitches. What now?
Count the grid. Most charts draw a bold line every 10 stitches, so count the bold squares across and down, multiply by 10, and add the leftover stitches at the edge.
See the finished size on your own chart
Stitchwork for iPhone and iPad shows the finished size for the chart you are working on: set your fabric count, including evenweave or linen worked over two, and it does the division for you. It also builds a floss list from the chart's key, with DMC numbers and conservative skein estimates that allow for waste, so you know what to buy before you cut your fabric.
Your first 3 patterns are free, and a one-time $12.99 unlocks unlimited patterns, with no subscription. It is available on the App Store for iOS 17 or later.