Cross-stitch size, fabric count and printing

Separate stitches, grid size and fabric size

1. Grid in stitches: the number of cells across and down, including empty cells.
2. Full-grid physical size: the width and height that the complete grid occupies on the chosen Aida count.
3. Fabric including allowance: the full-grid size plus your chosen extra fabric on both sides of each dimension.

The studio also shows occupied bounds: the rectangle containing actual stitches. It can be smaller than the full grid. The calculator uses the complete grid, so empty cells remain part of its dimensions.

What Aida count changes

In this full-stitch Aida workflow, fabric count is the number of stitches per inch: 14-count Aida holds 14 stitches across one inch. For the same stitch grid, a higher count gives a smaller physical size. It does not change the pattern’s stitch count or add image detail.

Values are rounded for display. The tool supports 11, 14, 16 and 18 count and grids of 10–200 whole stitches on each side.

Work out the grid, then add your allowance

For 100 × 100 stitches on 14-count Aida, the complete grid is about 18.14 × 18.14 cm. That size includes empty cells as well as stitched cells.

If you enter 5 cm on each side, the fabric size becomes about 28.14 × 28.14 cm. The 5 cm allowance is an example input, not a framing or fabric-margin recommendation.

Calculate your own grid and fabric dimensions. Choose stitches to calculate a size, or enter a target grid size to work backwards. Target dimensions are rounded to whole stitches, so the actual grid size may differ slightly from the target; check the result before choosing your fabric.

Use Print for a chart on paper

Choose Print in the PDF options, then A4 or Letter. The page-count preview includes the overview map, enlarged symbol charts and material key. Empty chart sections are omitted without moving the remaining stitches.

Follow the global row and column coordinates, page map and adjacent-page labels when moving between sheets. The printed chart squares are for reading; they do not represent the size of holes in your fabric. Material quantities count stitches, not thread length or skeins.

Use Screen or View pattern for reading

Screen PDF keeps the whole vector symbol chart on one page, followed by the material key. Zoom in to read it. It is not an actual-size fabric template.

In the studio, View pattern hides editing tools and prevents accidental edits while you zoom, focus one color or locate a row and column. Choose Back to editing to make changes. A white cell with a material symbol is a real stitch; an empty cell is not.