Formula
Counted-thread size is stitch count divided by stitches per inch. Stitches per inch are the fabric count divided by the threads one cross covers.
stitches per inch = count ÷ over
design = stitches ÷ stitches per inch
fabric = design + 2 × margin
Aida is stitched over one. Evenweave and linen are usually stitched over two, so 28-count cloth gives 14 stitches per inch. The same identity is what fabric shops (Yarn Tree, Scarlet Quince) use to quote a cut.
Worked examples
100 × 80 on 14-count, 3 inch margin. Stitches per inch = 14. Design = 7.14 × 5.71 in. Cloth = 13.14 × 11.71 in.
100 × 100 on 28-count over two, 3 inch margin. Stitches per inch = 14, same as the Aida above. Design = 7.14 × 7.14 in. Cloth = 13.14 × 13.14 in.
Reference
100 × 100 stitches, 3 inch margin on every side. Centimetres are the inch cut times 2.54.
| Cloth | SPI | Design | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 11 | 9.09 × 9.09 in | 15.09 × 15.09 in 38.33 × 38.33 cm |
| 14-count Aida | 14 | 7.14 × 7.14 in | 13.14 × 13.14 in 33.38 × 33.38 cm |
| 16-count Aida | 16 | 6.25 × 6.25 in | 12.25 × 12.25 in 31.12 × 31.12 cm |
| 18-count Aida | 18 | 5.56 × 5.56 in | 11.56 × 11.56 in 29.35 × 29.35 cm |
| 28-count evenweave, over 2 | 14 | 7.14 × 7.14 in | 13.14 × 13.14 in 33.38 × 33.38 cm |
| 32-count linen, over 2 | 16 | 6.25 × 6.25 in | 12.25 × 12.25 in 31.12 × 31.12 cm |
Questions
How does a cross stitch fabric calculator get the cut size?
Divide the stitch count by the stitches per inch, then add the margin twice. Stitches per inch equal the fabric count divided by how many threads one stitch covers. A 100 by 80 stitch design on 14-count Aida, with a 3 inch margin, cuts to 100/14 + 6 by 80/14 + 6 inches.
What is the difference between a cross stitch size calculator and a stitch calculator?
They are the same measurement. Size is the design in inches or centimetres. The fabric calculator adds the unstitched margin you need to hold the piece in a hoop or a frame. This page shows both.
How do I count evenweave and linen that is stitched over two?
Set the fabric count to the threads per inch printed on the bolt, and set “stitch over” to 2. A 28-count evenweave stitched over two is 14 stitches per inch, the same spacing as 14-count Aida. A 32-count linen over two is 16 stitches per inch.
How much margin should I leave?
Three inches on every side is the usual allowance for finishing and for a hoop. A small ornament can live with less. The margin is added on both sides, so 3 inches of margin adds 6 inches to the width and 6 inches to the height.
Sources
- Counted-thread measurement: design inches = stitch count ÷ stitches per inch. Stitches per inch = fabric count ÷ threads per stitch.
- Evenweave “over two” is the ordinary linen convention, not a different formula.