Fabric Guide for Cross Stitch

Aida, linen, different counts? What does it all mean?

When you are first starting cross stitching you may be overwhelmed by the options and unsure what to use, lets break is down.

Fabric types

Linen is commonly used for finer embroidery. It's a soft fabric.

Aida cloth is the most commonly used cloth for cross stitch. It's a stiffer fabric and very easy to work with, plus is a lower price than linen. 

There are other fabrics available, as long as you can see the squares in the fabric, technically you can use it. 

Fabric Count

When you purchase Aida cloth there are different counts, the most common being 10, 14, 18 and 28. The counts refer to how many stitches can be made in an inch, so 14 count mean 14 stitches per square inch.

A basic rule of thumb is the higher the count, the more stitches in an inch so a pattern stitched on 14 count will be larger than one stitched on 18 count, but less detailed. 

So which one should I use?

Personal preference. Larger squares are easier, smaller squares are more detailed. If you are just starting I would recommend using 14 count Aida, that's an easy size to work with while still giving you a nice finished project. (remember the lower the count the larger the squares you are stitching) Once you are more comfortable play with other fabric sizes and types and see the difference it makes!

How large of fabric do I need?

1.  Determine the completed pattern size (if not given)

Confirm the completed size of the pattern based on the count and the fabric size you are using. The math is the stitch count divided by the fabric count. Here's some examples

Stitches    14 Count        18 Count

10            .71 inches        .56 inches

50            3.57 inches     2.78 inches

100          7.14 inches     5.56 inches

Let's use Bigfoot for an example (pattern and kit available on my Etsy site - subtle plug)

The stitch count for this guy is 90 x 90 stiches.

using 14 Count the completed size would be 6.43 x 6.43 inhes

using 18 count the completed size would be 5 x 5 inches

2.  Add extra fabric to the completed pattern size

The amount of extra fabric is what you are comfortable working with. You should add 2-3 inches around all edges. So for Bigfoot I would recommend your fabric size be at least 11 x 11 inches for 14 count and 9 x 9 inches for 18 count. 

Fabric Fraying

Linen and Aida fabric does fray, especially when you are handling the material a lot. Prior to starting a project always prep your fabric to prevent fraying. The most common ways of doing this is

1. Serge the edges with a serger machine

2. Zig Zag stitch with a standard sewing machine

3. Fold tape around all the edges. Masking tape or packing tape works well, don't use scotch tape, it's not wide enough to cover the edges.

Closing remarks

When you are first stating out use a larger square fabric such as aida 14 count, as you get more comfortable you can work with a larger count size to make more detailed designs. 

Don't forget to prep your fabric to prevent fraying. I surge the edges of the cloth in my kits, as usually prepping is the most hated part of cross stitching. The day I found out you could surge the edges instead of taping them, I did a dance for joy!

If your pattern does not include in the completed size for different fabrics use math, the stich count / fabric count. If you purchase a digital pattern from me, the pattern size on the thread sheet is based on 18 count, but I include the different cloth count sizes on the listing page, so you don't have to do math.