Maker and DIY Calculators
Cross stitch fabric size.
Your chart says how many stitches wide and tall. Enter the fabric count and margins to see how big the finished stitching is and how large a piece of fabric to cut.
Design size = stitches / count. A 140 x 112 stitch chart on 14 count Aida stitches to 10 x 8 inches. With 3 inches of margin on every side, cut 16 x 14 inches.
Pattern and fabric
Sizes
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
A chart is 140 stitches wide and 112 high, on 14 count Aida. 14 count means 14 blocks per inch, so the stitching is 140 / 14 = 10 in wide and 112 / 14 = 8 in high. Add a 3 in margin on all four sides: 10 + 6 = 16 in and 8 + 6 = 14 in, so cut a 16 x 14 in piece. The smallest round hoop that holds the whole design is its diagonal, √(10² + 8²) = 12.8 in, with no room to spare. In practice larger designs are stitched in a bigger hoop, on a frame or with the hoop moved around.
How it works
Fabric count is the number of Aida blocks or fabric threads per inch. On Aida each block is one stitch, so stitches per inch equals the count. On evenweave and linen a stitch normally covers a 2 x 2 thread square, so stitches per inch is the count divided by 2: 28 count linen stitched over two gives 14 stitches per inch, the same size as 14 count Aida. Design size is the pattern stitches divided by stitches per inch, and the cut size adds the margin to each side.
Fractional stitches (half and quarter stitches) fit within the same grid. Backstitching and French knots do not change the chart size, but check that any outline backstitch stays inside the grid. Cut fabric a little generously and bind or zigzag the edges, since fraying eats margin.
Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-05): definition of count as threads or blocks per inch for Aida cloth and the standard 2 x 2 thread stitch on evenweave in cross-stitch references; 1 inch = 2.54 cm.
FAQ
How big is a cross stitch pattern on 14 count Aida?
Divide the stitches by 14. A 140-stitch-wide pattern is 10 inches wide. On 18 count the same pattern is 7.8 inches.
How much fabric do I need for cross stitch?
The finished design size plus a margin of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) on every side. Use the calculator for the exact cut size.
How do I convert a pattern from 14 count to 18 count?
The stitch count stays the same and the size shrinks by 14/18. A design that is 10 inches on 14 count is 7.8 inches on 18 count.
What does 28 count evenweave stitched over two mean?
Each stitch covers 2 threads in each direction, so there are 14 stitches per inch. It gives the same finished size as 14 count Aida.
What hoop size do I need?
A round hoop must be at least as wide as the design diagonal to hold the whole stitched area at once. Many stitchers use a bigger hoop or a frame and keep stitching clear of the hoop edge.
Disclaimer
Sizes are arithmetic from your stitch count and fabric count. Real fabric varies a little in count and shrinks when washed. Cut generously and check against your chart notes.