14, 16 or 18 count? Start with the size you want.

What the number on Aida means

For ordinary full cross stitches worked across one Aida square, count is the number of stitches in one inch. Fourteen-count Aida fits 14 stitches along that inch; 18-count fits 18. DMC describes count in these terms on its Aida fabric page. A larger count packs the same stitches into a smaller area.

The chart does not gain or lose detail when you change count. A 140-stitch-wide design remains 140 stitches wide. Its physical width is 10 inches on 14-count, 8.75 inches on 16-count, and about 7.78 inches on 18-count. The stitch symbols and their positions stay the same.

Compare a complete project

Take a chart that is 140 stitches wide and 112 stitches high. On 14-count Aida, the stitched area is 10 × 8 inches. On 16-count it is 8.75 × 7 inches. On 18-count it is approximately 7.78 × 6.22 inches.

Now add 2 inches of unstitched cloth on every edge. The required rectangles become 14 × 12 inches, 12.75 × 11 inches, and approximately 11.78 × 10.22 inches. The margin stays a physical measurement. It does not shrink automatically when the stitches do.

Choose with your eyes and your finish in mind

Size is only one part of the choice. A smaller square means a smaller place to put your needle. Before committing to a large project, try a small patch on the actual fabric in the lighting you normally use. Check whether you can see the holes comfortably and whether you enjoy the texture.

Think about the finished object as well. A design that sits comfortably in a particular frame on one count may look small on another. Beads, buttons and other fixed-size embellishments do not scale with the stitches. Check the pattern instructions before changing fabric, especially when an embellishment must fit a specific gap.

• Record the chart’s stitch width and height, including the complete outer design.
• Compare the finished dimensions at each count before buying cloth.
• Choose your edge allowance separately for your hoop, handling and finish.
• Check the pattern’s instructions for threads, fractional stitches and embellishments.

Aida count is the input here

This planner is specifically for Aida with one full cross stitch across one square. Linen and other evenweaves may be labelled by threads per inch and worked over more than one thread. Entering that label directly would produce the wrong result for those techniques. Follow a method appropriate to your fabric instead of assuming that every fabric label means Aida count.

The calculation also assumes a square, regular grid. If an unlabeled or previously washed piece is important to the finished fit, measure its actual stitch spacing in both directions. A nominal count is a planning value, not a guarantee that a particular piece of cloth will measure identically after washing or finishing.