What does fabric count mean in cross stitch?

Thank you for explaining about the difference between counts and aida and linen. It has helped.

Thank you for this detailed explanation! If you would be so kind to respond to this question. I have a photograph of my late husband’s grandmother that I will be cross stitching. I have 18 ct Aida but after seeing similar finished pieces, it occurred to me that the finished piece would look more refined if I used linen (given is a portrait of her at age 15). I have read that linen is typically stitched over 2. Has anyone done over 1? I am looking for a picture like effect and guessing if I reduced the number might do the trick. How many threads are used when stitching over 2? And… how many threads would you recommend for stitching over 1 – if anyone has ever done it or even recommends it? Much appreciated! Thanks!!

Is there a solution for fabric where the count is off? I measured my 18-count aida 1-inch in both directions and the stitch count is 15 and 17…is the cloth still usable? Or should I not use it?

Wow, thank you so much for your effort and time that you so generously shared with us. I understand so much better now. Just in time for an upcoming project.

This article made it so easy to understand the scale of the final product. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you so much. I now “get-it” :) :)

Thank you, I found this incredibly straightforward and sensible.
Now, could yoy please explain why stitchers convert from 14-count Aida to 28-count evenweave/laguna(?)/linen?
I only discovered cross stitching about two years ago, so am still learning with every question I ask and every article on cross stitching I read.
I find your articlea very easy to understand, so great job; many thanks.

I’m trying to create a Christmas stocking with an elephant. I bought an elephant picture that is 10 inches square, using 14 count Aida cloth. I bought some 28 count Aida cloth, but should I still use two strands of thread, or just one strand? Thank you for any help!

Found a Riolis counted cross stitch kit that states “0058 count.” What does this equate to: 11, 14 or higher in Aida??

Thank you. Made sense , cleared up my worry!

Hi Susan, I enjoyed reading your post a lot gave me a lot of insight in cross stitch.. I am working on a big project currently which is a family portrait and it’s my 1 st cross stitch project.. I do embroidery though. I have converted our picture to the cross stitch pattern, 14 count but unfortunately because India doesn’t have a lot of art shops finding aida is very difficult and what I’m getting is a 15 count.. I wanted to check with you can I use the 14 count pattern on the 15 count aida?

The cross stitch I have is small can I get it bigger my eyes isn’t that good so can you help me out.

I am cross stitching a photo of my sister and my dad. To get the most detail would you suggest 16 or 18 count Aida? I think I usually use 14. I did one several years ago and I used 14 and it turned out okay but it was a large project.

@bex You can increase the number of strands of thread in order to increase coverage. So if you want the pattern to stay the same size, try using 3 or 4 strands instead.

just done a pattern on 14 ct with 2 threads and i wasn’t happy with the coverage if i use 16 or 18ct the pattern will be smaller but will the coverage be better?

I have a lot of 28 count linen but my patterns for Santas all call for 18 count Davis or linen. Is there a way to use what I have or not? Thanks for the help.

If I use 11 count instead of 14 how much bigger will the project be, and will it be as nice as if it was on 14?

I am so grateful that I came accross your site. I have taken up counted cross stitch again after 30 years. I hope to have more patience and appreciation for the craft this time. I will be sure to contact you again -you are so helpful and non judgemental.

Thanks so much,
ellen

Hello,

I have a pattern that calls for 28 Linda, what would the Aida cloth equivalent be?

I have a bunch of 6 count aida that’s already pre cut to 6 inch squares, is there anywhere I can find some patternt to practice with?

Hi, I have a pattern that it states is done on 18 Aida but it also states the sizes for 16, 14, 12 and 10. My vision isn’t the best but I desperately want to do this pattern for sentimental reasons.
Does this mean that I could do the pattern in 10 Aida without the actual pattern distorting?

Thanks so much

If I use 11 count instead of 14 will it make my project bigger

@Amy
If the scale is 290 stitches by 190 stitches, and your fabric is 14 stitches per inch, some math will get us there.
290 stitches ÷ 14 stitches/in = 20.71 in (call it 22)
190 stitches ÷ 14 stitches/in = 13.57 in (call it 14)
So your project is going to be 22 in x 14 in. Personally, I’d add at least 2 inches around each edge for finishing. So we get:
22 inches long + 2 inches top + 2 inches bottom = 26 inches.
14 inches wide + 2 inches left + 2 inches right = 18 inches.
26 in x 18 in is your fabric size. If you need more space around the edge for framing or just personal security, you can adjust as needed.

I bought a pattern on ETSY and I don’t know where to start.. the scale on the papers go from 290 × 190 if my fabric count is 14, what size Aida cloth should I get??

It calls for 20 count but would like to use 14 count. How much of a difference it would be and the stitch over stitch

I bought a pattern with the details bellow:
-Design size: 7.67 × 7.33 inches or 19.47 × 18.63 cm on 18 count Aida

I want to cross stitch a pillow cover and I found one at Amazon ready to be used (needs only the picture in cross stitch). But the cover is 11 count Aida.

I’m confusing about the size. Do you think that based in this information you can help me to find out the size of the final project?

@Debbie,
If you are stitching over two threads, you would have 12 stitches per inch on the 24-count fabric, and 16 stitches per inch on the 28-count fabric. That means the pattern will render larger on the 24-count fabric and small on the 28-count. Hope this helps!

Im new at cross stitch.i used 24 count if i use 28 count will picture be larger.

Hi Ann – If you want to stitch it on 14-count Aida, the finished size will be 3.9 inches (=55 stitches/14) by 4 inches (=56 stitches/14). Hope this helps!

Got a chart but say it’s done on 16HPI aida max stitch count 55×56
Design area (31/2×31/2in) or (9×9cm)

But I want to do it 14 count aida but for life of me I can’t work it out. I’ve epilepsy so find maths very hard to do. Could u please work it out for me. It’s a cross stitch designs to make a birthday for a friend. But at this rate I’ll not get it done. Hope u can help me?
Thank you
Ann

I boughta pattern of a house I thpught was 14 count. I asked if I could transfer to aida 14 count he said no it would be too big enormouos. Ot think its 28 ct. I am so disappointed. Sos nothing but hell with cross stitch. One thing I did was a KOY IT WAS STOLEN THAT is how great it was. Stolen by ex ’s grand daughter 14 years ago and I have tried on vaon to find the pattern from westerly rhode island. A GEM..

I boughta pattern of a house I thpught was 14 count. I asked if I could transfer to aida 14 count he said no it would be too big enormouos. Ot think its 28 ct. I am so disappointed. Sos nothing but hell with cross stitch. One thing I did was a KOY IT WAS STOLEN THAT is how great it was. Stolen by ex ’s grand daughter 14 years ago and I have tried on vaon to find the pattern from westerly rhode island. A GEM..

Thank you very much! I am confused about the directions that go with the picture included under How to Determine Fabric Count. I enlarged the picture so I could see closer up. If I count each space (hole), I have to include where the pins are inserted to come out with 14. If I count only the spaces inbetween (as in instructions) I get 12. Should I count the spaces only inbetween the pins, or should I include the pins? Otherwise, if I count the fabric ‘squares’ between the two pins, I come out with 13. I think I need some help! What am I doing wrong?

Hi Susan, thanks for this information. Was just gifted a big bag of AIDA and linen but none of it labelled so now I can count and label it correctly,

@Trish – Thanks for your question! Buckle in, we need to do a little math. :-)

If you stitch your pattern over 1 on 20-count Aida, you would have 20 stitches per inch. If your pattern was 60 stitches wide (for example), that would be a finished size of 3 inches (=60 stitches / 20 stitches per inch).

If you switch to 30-count linen and stitch over 2, you would have 15 stitches per inch, so that same pattern would now have a finished size of 4 inches (=60 stitches / 15 stitches per inch).

So, stitching over two on 30-count linen will give you a larger finished size than stitching over one on 20-count Aida. Since you wanted your finished project slightly larger, this may give you what you need. If not, you will have to think of other ways to make the project larger, for example, by adding a border or other design elements. You could also switch to over two on 28-count linen to make it 14 stitches per inch.

Hope this helps!

(Also, for tips on stitching over two, see this blog post: https://stitchedmodern.com/blogs/news/how-to-stitching-over-two-threads)

Hi Susan, How can I increase the size of the pattern when transferring from 20 ct. Aida to 30 ct linen? If I understand correctly, I should go over 2 squares on the linen, instead of 1 on Aida, but my finished product will be approximately the same size. I would like to make the finished product slightly larger. Thank you for your help.

@Lindsey – I’m glad you found it helpful. Happy stitching!

This was incredibly helpful and I know I will be referring to it for a bit as I get started on this new venture! Thanks for the helpful tips and tricks!