Most patterns will mark the centre of the design with arrows from the outside edge. This way you know that you won’t end up too close to one edge or another. I always start my stitching in the middle of the design. Then I add 3″ on each side of the design to give some clearance around the edges of my picture for framing. I’m using 22 count Aida so I divide each of those numbers by 22 to find out how many inches of fabric I need for the picture. The pattern told me the picture is 219 stitches wide and 203 stitches tall. You can see my calculations for my latest cross stitch project above. For example, if you get it professionally framed, they will stretch it over a mat board so it is good to have 5″ or 6″ of the border all the way around. I would recommend at least 2″ or 3″ but you may need more. Then think about how much space you want around the edge of your picture. If you’re not sure, measure an inch and mark it with two pins, then count how many squares are between the two pins. Next, you need to know what size Aida cloth you will be using. Some patterns will tell you in the instructions but if not, just count the squares! Look at the pattern and see how many stitches there are. There is nothing worse than finding out your design won’t fit after you’ve stitched half of it! It is important to work out how much Aida cloth you need up front so that your design will fit. This will add dimension and shading to your picture. Sometimes you might use 3 strands to create thicker denser crosses, or only one strand to create very thin light crosses. For example, you might stitch your cross stitches with two, then stitch the outlines in one strand. It is specially designed to be able to separate the strands so you can stitch with less if you want to. Stranded embroidery thread has 6 strands. If you’re working on higher count Aida like 18 or 20, you may prefer to use only one strand, but I personally prefer the coverage of two strands even on those smaller squares. How many strands of the thread should I use for each Aida count?įor most cross stitching on Aida cloth, you would use two strands of embroidery thread. On the outside of the bags, I write the count so that I don’t have to measure each time I want to use it.
#14 count aida cloth zip
I store it in A4 size zip lock bags to keep it clean and protected. In my picture above, I’m using 22 count Aida which has very small squares.Īfter a few years of cross stitching, I have collected various pieces of leftover Aida cloth. Count how many ‘squares’ are within that inch and that is the ‘count’. To calculate the count of Aida, look at one inch of the fabric. As you get more experienced you might move to 16 or 18 count Aida, or to even weave linen designed for stitching. So if you’re a beginner you might start stitching on 14 count, probably the most common size available. The larger the number, the smaller the squares formed on the Aida cloth. They range from 6 count through to 22 count. You can get it in a variety of colours from neutral white or ecru to colourful blue or black.Īida cloth comes in different sizes or counts. It makes it super easy to make even crosses in your cross stitch. This is special fabric designed for even stitching with threads that form small squares and spaces. What is Aida cloth?įor my latest project, I’m using Aida cloth. Read more about using a hoop for stitching here.
You could also add a hoop or frame to keep your stitching taut and flat. Thread to stitch – my choice is always DMC stranded cotton because I have a huge collection of it already.A needle to stitch with – I prefer one with a round tip rather than a sharp point and a long skinny eye – usually known as a tapestry needle.Fabric to stitch on – my favourites are Aida cloth or even weave linen.
There are only a few basics that you will need to get started: What do I need to do counted cross stitch?
So here’s a quick review to get you started.
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I’ve done a lot of cross stitch over the years – some quite simple, like these Rainbow Blocks, and others that were very detailed and took me years to complete, like my wedding peacock sampler.īut every stitching project starts with the same basics of choosing fabric and making sure you have enough to fit in your picture. I recently started a new cross stitch project and it got me thinking about counted cross stitch basics again. Aida cloth is the most common fabric for cross stitch projects so you need to know which count Aida cloth you should use and how many strands of thread.
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