Enter the stitch count of your pattern and the fabric you plan to use, and this gives the finished design size in inches and centimetres, plus the size to cut your fabric with margins included. On Aida the stitches per inch equal the fabric count; on evenweave or linen stitched over two threads it is half the count. That one distinction is where most size mistakes come from.

How to use it

  1. Read the stitch count from your chart — it is printed as something like 150w × 200h, not in inches.
  2. Choose your fabric count, then say whether you are stitching over one thread or two.
  3. Set your margin. Three inches each side is standard; go bigger if you plan to lace the piece over board.
  4. Buy the frame to the design size, and cut the fabric to the larger number.

A worked example

A chart that is 150 × 200 stitches on 16 count Aida. Sixteen stitches per inch gives 9.38″ × 12.5″ — 24 × 32 cm — and 30,000 stitches. With a 3″ margin all round, cut the fabric at 15.4″ × 18.5″. The same chart on 14 count would finish at 10.7″ × 14.3″, which no longer fits a standard 11 × 14 frame.

Stitches per inch by fabric count

Fabric count Over 1 thread Over 2 threads
11 count 11 spi 5.5 spi
14 count 14 spi 7 spi
16 count 16 spi 8 spi
18 count 18 spi 9 spi
20 count 20 spi 10 spi
25 count 25 spi 12.5 spi
28 count 28 spi 14 spi
32 count 32 spi 16 spi
36 count 36 spi 18 spi
40 count 40 spi 20 spi

Aida is normally worked over one thread. Evenweave and linen are normally worked over two.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the finished size of a cross stitch pattern?
Divide the stitch count by the stitches per inch. On Aida, stitches per inch equals the fabric count — 150 stitches on 16 count is 150 ÷ 16 = 9.38 inches. On evenweave or linen stitched over two threads, halve the count first: 28 count over two is 14 stitches per inch.
How much extra fabric should I leave?
Three inches on every side is the standard, so six inches added to both the width and the height. That gives you fabric to hold in a hoop or frame and enough spare to lace or mount the finished piece.
What is the difference between 14 count and 16 count?
The number of stitches per inch. The same pattern is smaller on a higher count and larger on a lower one. Moving from 14 to 16 count shrinks a design by about 12%, and the stitches get finer to see.
Why does 28 count linen give the same size as 14 count Aida?
Because linen is normally stitched over two threads, so 28 count becomes 14 stitches per inch. The finished size is identical; the fabric just looks and handles differently.
Which count should a beginner start on?
14 count Aida. The holes are easy to see, the stitches are big enough to be forgiving, and most patterns quote sizes for it. Move to 16 or 18 once the counting stops being the hard part.

Related free tools

Embroidery hoop size chart — which hoop fits that design · Craft pricing calculator — pricing a finished piece · All free craft tools

We publish hand embroidery patterns with the finished size and stitch key stated on page one, so you never have to work this out after buying.