Cross-stitch fabric calculator

Enter your pattern size in stitches and pick your fabric. The calculator shows how big the finished design will be and how much fabric to cut, with room around it for a hoop and for framing.

Pattern width (stitches) Pattern height (stitches) Fabric 11-count Aida 14-count Aida 16-count Aida 18-count Aida 22-count Hardanger 25-count evenweave 28-count evenweave or linen 32-count linen 36-count linen Stitch over 1 thread (Aida) 2 threads (evenweave, linen) Extra fabric on each side Units Inches Centimetres

Finished design –

Fabric to cut –

Stitches per inch –

The same pattern on other fabrics

Fabric	Finished design	Fabric to cut

How to work out the finished size

Divide the number of stitches by the fabric count. A design 140 stitches wide on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches wide. On evenweave and linen you usually stitch over two threads, so halve the count first: 28-count linen over two works like 14-count, and the same design is again 10 inches wide.

Then add fabric around the design. About 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side is the usual advice, so add 6 inches to both the width and the height. Small ornaments can make do with 2 inches; large framed pieces are easier with 4.

Which fabric count should I choose?

11-count has big, easy-to-see holes: good for beginners and children. 14-count is the most popular, and most patterns are designed for it. 16 and 18-count make the same design smaller, with finer detail. 28 and 32-count linen stitched over two give the size of 14 and 16-count with a softer, finer look.

A 100 × 100 stitch design on common fabrics

Fabric	Finished size
11-count Aida	9.1 × 9.1 in (23.1 cm)
14-count Aida	7.1 × 7.1 in (18.1 cm)
16-count Aida	6.3 × 6.3 in (15.9 cm)
18-count Aida	5.6 × 5.6 in (14.1 cm)
28-count linen over two	7.1 × 7.1 in (18.1 cm)
32-count linen over two	6.3 × 6.3 in (15.9 cm)

Questions

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

Divide the number of stitches by the fabric count. A design 140 stitches wide on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches wide. On evenweave or linen stitched over two threads, divide the count by two first: 28-count linen over two works like 14-count.

How much extra fabric should I leave around a cross-stitch?

About 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side is the usual advice: enough to hold the fabric in a hoop and to frame or finish it. Small ornaments can make do with 2 inches; large framed pieces are easier with 4.

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

Yes, when you stitch over two threads, which is the usual way on linen and evenweave. Each stitch covers two threads, so 28-count gives 14 stitches per inch: the same finished size as 14-count Aida, on a finer-looking fabric.

Do CROSSTIA patterns show the finished size?

Yes. Every PDF pattern made with CROSSTIA lists the finished size on 11, 14, 16, 18 and 28-count fabric, in inches and centimetres, so you and your buyers never need to work it out.