How do I work out the finished size of a cross stitch?

Divide the number of stitches by the stitches per inch of your fabric: 140 stitches on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches. For evenweave or linen stitched over two threads, halve the count first: 28-count over two gives 14 stitches per inch.

How much fabric should I cut?

Add 3 inches on every side of the finished design for framing or mounting, so add 6 inches to both the width and the height. A 10 × 8 inch design needs a 16 × 14 inch piece. Use 2 inches per side for small pieces that will be finished as cards, ornaments or patches, and 4 inches for large pieces that will be laced or stretched.

What does fabric count mean?

Count is the number of squares (Aida) or threads (evenweave and linen) per inch of fabric. A higher count gives smaller stitches and a smaller finished piece. 14-count Aida is the most common starting fabric; 16 and 18 give finer detail, and 11 is easier to see.

How do I find the stitch count for a size I want?

Switch to "Size → stitches" and enter the finished width and height you want; the calculator multiplies by the stitches per inch and rounds down so the design fits. Use that width in the pattern maker to generate a design that will come out at exactly that size.

Is 28-count evenweave the same size as 14-count Aida?

Yes, when you stitch over two threads, which is the usual way. Each cross covers two by two threads of the 28-count fabric, giving 14 stitches per inch. If you stitch over one thread on 28-count, the design comes out half the size, like 28-count Aida would.

Why is my finished piece a little different from the calculation?

Fabric is never exactly its nominal count; Aida is often slightly off and evenweave can differ between the warp and weft by a few percent. Measure 10 squares of your actual fabric with a ruler if accuracy matters, and enter it as a custom size by using the nearest count and allowing a little extra margin.

Cross Stitch Size Calculator – Finished Size & Fabric

Use this cross stitch size calculator to turn a stitch count into finished size and the fabric to cut, or work backwards from the size you want.

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How the cross stitch size calculator works out finished size

A cross stitch chart is measured in stitches, but the fabric decides how big each stitch is. Aida fabric is woven into a grid of holes, and its count is the number of squares per inch. On 14-count Aida, 14 stitches fill one inch. Evenweave and linen are counted in threads, and you normally stitch over two threads, so 28-count evenweave also gives 14 stitches per inch. The finished size is simply:

finished inches = stitches ÷ stitches per inch, and finished cm = finished inches × 2.54

That is all this calculator does, for both directions, plus the margin you need around the design. It shows every number so you can check the arithmetic yourself, and it remembers your fabric and margin on this device.

Fabric count comparison

The same chart changes size a lot between fabrics. This table shows finished width × height in inches for common chart sizes. Use it to decide whether a design you like will suit the space you have, or whether to move to a finer fabric.

Stitches	11	14	16	18	25 over 2	28 over 2	32 over 2	36 over 2
50 × 50	4.5 × 4.5	3.6 × 3.6	3.1 × 3.1	2.8 × 2.8	4.0 × 4.0	3.6 × 3.6	3.1 × 3.1	2.8 × 2.8
100 × 100	9.1 × 9.1	7.1 × 7.1	6.3 × 6.3	5.6 × 5.6	8.0 × 8.0	7.1 × 7.1	6.3 × 6.3	5.6 × 5.6
150 × 100	13.6 × 9.1	10.7 × 7.1	9.4 × 6.3	8.3 × 5.6	12.0 × 8.0	10.7 × 7.1	9.4 × 6.3	8.3 × 5.6
200 × 150	18.2 × 13.6	14.3 × 10.7	12.5 × 9.4	11.1 × 8.3	16.0 × 12.0	14.3 × 10.7	12.5 × 9.4	11.1 × 8.3

Notice that 14-count Aida and 28-count evenweave over two give identical sizes, as do 16 and 32, and 18 and 36. Choosing between them is about look and feel rather than size: evenweave and linen give a softer, more traditional finish, while Aida's clear holes are easier for beginners and for anyone with tired eyes.

How much fabric to cut

Always cut more fabric than the design. You need room to hold the fabric in a hoop or on scroll bars while you stitch, and room to fold or lace the edges when you frame it. The common rule is 3 inches on every side, which adds 6 inches to each dimension. The calculator rounds the cut size up to the next half inch (or whole centimeter) so it matches how fabric is sold and cut.

2 inches per side is enough for cards, small ornaments and patches that will be trimmed.
3 inches per side suits most framed pictures and hoop displays.
4 inches or more is safer for big pieces that will be stretched over board or professionally framed.

If you are finishing the piece in a hoop, the hoop needs its own margin inside the ring. The hoop size calculator works out which hoop or ornament frame holds a design, and the largest design a hoop you already own can take.

Working backwards from a size you want

Have a frame, a cushion or a space on the wall already? Switch to "Size → stitches", enter the finished width and height, and pick a fabric. The calculator multiplies by stitches per inch and rounds down, so the design never ends up bigger than the space. Then open the pattern maker and use that width; it keeps the shape of your picture and works out the height for you.

Stitch counts also tell you how much work a design is. A 140 × 100 chart is 14,000 squares if it is fully stitched. At a typical 60 to 120 stitches an hour, that is roughly 115 to 235 hours. The time calculator turns your own pace into a finish date, and the floss calculator works out how many skeins of each color to buy.

Measuring your own fabric

Fabric counts are nominal. Some Aida is a fraction off its label, and many evenweaves have slightly different thread counts across the width and the length. For a design that has to fit an exact frame, lay a ruler on your fabric, count the squares or threads in 2 inches, and divide by two. If your "14-count" measures 13.6, a 140-stitch design will come out about 10.3 inches rather than 10, so give yourself a little more margin.

Example results

Sampler on 14-count

140 × 100 stitches on 14-count Aida: 10.0 × 7.1 in (25.4 × 18.1 cm). Cut 16 × 13.5 in with 3 in margins.

Same chart on 28 over 2

140 × 100 stitches on 28-count evenweave over two: also 10.0 × 7.1 in, because 28 over 2 is 14 stitches per inch.

Reverse: 8 × 10 in frame

An 8 × 10 in opening on 16-count Aida holds up to 128 × 160 stitches.

Cross Stitch Size Calculator