Cross stitch calculator
Enter your pattern’s size in stitches and pick your fabric. You’ll see how big a piece to cut, how big the finished work will be, how many skeins to buy, which needle to use and about how many hours it will take.
Result
- Fabric to cut
- 11 × 11 in
- Finished size
- 7.1 × 7.1 in
- DMC floss
- ≈ 10 skeins
- Stitching time
- ≈ 67 hours
- Tapestry needle
- size 24
- Usual for this fabric
- 2 strands
How the calculator works
The finished size is the stitch count divided by the stitches per inch of your fabric. On evenweave and linen worked over two threads, halve the count first. The cut is the finished size plus your margin on all four sides. Floss is estimated from an 8 m skein of 6 strands, with thread for the front and back of each cross and some lost to starts and stops. Count by color and you’ll get the same skeins as the thread list in the PatternHoop editor.
How big will my cross stitch be?
Divide the stitches by the fabric count and you have the size in inches; multiply by 2.54 for centimeters. A pattern of 140 × 100 stitches comes out at 10 × 7.1 in (25.4 × 18.1 cm) on Aida 14 and 7.8 × 5.6 in (19.8 × 14.1 cm) on Aida 18. Evenweave and linen over two threads use half their count.
How much fabric do I need for cross stitch?
Take the finished size and add spare fabric on every side: 2 in (5 cm) is enough for a hoop and framing, and a scroll frame needs about 3 in (8 cm). A 100 × 100 design on 14-count Aida needs a piece of about 11 × 11 in (28 × 28 cm). If in doubt, cut it bigger: you can trim fabric later, but you can’t add it.
What does 14 count mean in cross stitch?
It means 14 stitches fit in one inch of fabric. The higher the number, the smaller the stitches and the finished piece: 100 stitches across take 9.1 in on Aida 11 and 5.6 in on Aida 18. Aida 14 is a good first fabric, because you can see the holes without a magnifier. How to choose an Aida count.
How do I calculate evenweave or linen over two threads?
Halve the count. Each cross on evenweave or linen usually covers two threads each way, so 28-count gives you 14 stitches per inch, just like Aida 14. 32-count works like Aida 16 and 36-count like Aida 18. Pick one of these fabrics in the calculator and it halves the count for you.
How many stitches per skein of DMC floss?
With 2 strands, one 8 m skein covers about 860 stitches on Aida 11, 1,100 on Aida 14, 1,250 on Aida 16 and 1,400 on Aida 18. We count on the careful side, with thread for starts, stops and jumps between areas, so you’re less likely to run out on the last row. Stitching with 3 strands takes about half as much floss again.
What size needle and how many strands for 14 count Aida?
On Aida 14, use a size 24 tapestry needle and 2 strands. Aida 11 takes a size 22 and 3 strands, while Aida 16 and 18 take a size 26 and 2 strands. For 28-count linen over two, go with a size 26 and 2 strands. Try a few stitches first: if the fabric shows through, add a strand.
How long does cross stitch take?
Divide your stitches by your pace. A beginner makes around 80 stitches an hour, someone with practice about 150, and a fast stitcher about 250. At 150 an hour, a 10,000-stitch picture takes 67 hours, a little over two months at an hour a day. Part stitches, backstitch and lots of color changes will stretch that.
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