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What Fabric Count Means
Count is how many stitches fit in one inch of fabric. That single number decides how big your finished piece will be — and it is the only thing that does.
The definition, and what follows from it
14-count aida has 14 stitches to the inch. So a chart 140 stitches wide comes out 10 inches wide, because 140 ÷ 14 = 10. That is the whole calculation, and it is arithmetic rather than estimation: finished size = stitches ÷ count.
Two consequences catch people out. First, a higher count makes a smaller piece — more stitches squeezed into each inch. Second, the chart never changes. Moving from 14-count to 18-count does not alter a single square; it just makes the same design 22% smaller.
Aida, evenweave and linen
| Fabric | How you stitch it | What the count means |
|---|---|---|
| Aida | Over one woven block | The number on the label is the number you use |
| Evenweave | Usually over two threads | Halve it: 28-count over two behaves like 14-count |
| Linen | Usually over two threads | Halve it: 32-count over two behaves like 16-count |
Aida is woven into obvious little squares with visible holes at the corners, which is why beginners are pointed at it: the holes tell you where the needle goes. Evenweave and linen are woven as plain cloth, so you count threads instead of blocks. Stitching over two threads on those fabrics evens out any irregularity in the weave — and that is why the effective count is half the label.
How much fabric to cut
Always more than the stitched area. The usual allowance is 2–3 inches on every side, so a piece stitching at 7 × 5 inches gets cut at roughly 13 × 11 inches. That margin is not waste: it is what a frame grips, what a hoop holds while you work, and what gets folded behind when you finish.
Leave more if you plan to lace the piece over board, use a large hoop, or are not yet sure how you will finish it. The fabric calculator adds the margin for you and shows the cut size for every count at once.
Which count should you choose?
Not by the design — any chart works on any count. Choose by two things: how big you want the finished piece, and how comfortable the stitching is on your eyes. Beginners are usually happiest at 11 or 14; 16 and 18 give more detail per inch and suit portraits and dense pictures; above 22 you are in miniature and heirloom territory, usually with a magnifier.
If you are unsure, work a small test on the fabric you have before committing to a big project. Nothing tells you whether a count suits you like an hour of stitching on it.
Keep going
About the colours. DMC does not publish official RGB values, so every on-screen colour table — including ours — is an approximation. Our 456-shade table is merged from three independent open datasets by taking the median of each channel; use it to plan the shape of a design, and check a real floss card before you buy thread. Charts you make here are yours, and nothing you upload leaves your browser: the converter runs entirely on your own device, with no account and no upload.