Cross stitch fabric explained

Which cross stitch fabric should you use? Aida, evenweave and linen compared, what the count number means, what size to buy, and how it changes your finished piece.

The fabric you stitch on decides two things: how big your finished piece will be, and how easy it is to see where the needle goes. Everything else — the pattern, the floss, the colours — stays the same.

The three fabrics you will meet - **Aida** — woven in clear blocks with visible holes at each corner. One stitch fills one block. Much the easiest to start on. - **Evenweave** — a smoother, finer cloth with the same number of threads each way. Usually stitched over two threads. - **Linen** — like evenweave but with natural slubs and irregularities that give an antique look. Also worked over two threads.

What the count number means The count is how many threads sit in one inch. On Aida it is also the number of stitches per inch, so 14-count Aida gives 14 stitches to the inch. On evenweave and linen you normally work over two threads, which halves it: 28-count linen also gives 14 stitches per inch, and produces a piece the same size as 14-count Aida.

Which count should you pick? - **11-count** — large holes, big stitches. Good for children and anyone with tired eyes. - **14-count** — the standard, and what most patterns assume. - **16 and 18-count** — smaller stitches, fin