A little planning. A better fit.

The right fabric.
Before the first stitch.

Turn a pattern’s stitch count into a fabric size. Compare counts, check the piece in your stash, and take a project card to the shop.

Plan your project

01 / YOUR PATTERN
02 / FABRIC & BORDER
14-count Aida over one and 28-count evenweave over two give the same design size.
3 inches is an editable starting example, not a universal framing rule.
03 / CHECK YOUR STASH

Use usable fabric dimensions, excluding damaged edges and selvedges. Changing units converts all three measurements.

FABRIC TO CUT · INCLUDES BOTH BORDERS
Round UP when ordering. Do not cut from rounded display values.
Stitched design
Stitches per inch

Maximum stitches on your fabric, with this border (current orientation)

Green = design · beige = border · not actual size

Same pattern, different count

All sizes use your selected unit and border. ✓ fits · ↻ rotate the fabric · — too small.

CountDesignFabric to cutStash

Cross stitch fabric size calculator

Start with the width and height in stitches printed on your chart. The stitched width is stitch count divided by stitches per inch. Add your chosen border twice: once for each side. For evenweave worked over two threads, divide the fabric count by two first.

Example: 140 stitches on 14-count Aida make a 10-inch-wide design. A 3-inch border on each side requires 16 inches of usable fabric width. This does not estimate thread quantity or account for washing shrinkage.

Check the definitions against DMC’s Aida description and the calculation structure at Yarn Tree.

01 / Count

14 vs 16 vs 18 count

Understand what changes when the same chart meets a different fabric.

02 / Finish

How much border?

Separate the design, visible margin and finishing allowance.

03 / Buy

Check before you cut

Take a usable-size checklist to your chosen fabric supplier.