What this calculator does
The Cross-stitch Fabric Calculator turns a pattern's stitch count into a finished design size and tells you how much fabric to cut. Patterns are measured in stitches, but fabric is measured in inches (or centimeters), so you need the fabric count — the number of stitches per inch — to convert between the two. This works for Aida and for evenweave/linen.
How to use it
Enter the stitch count of your chart in width and height (the grid dimensions). Choose your fabric count: 14 ct Aida means 14 stitches per inch. Then set a margin per side — most stitchers leave 2–3 inches on every side for hooping, framing, or finishing. The calculator returns the stitched design size and the total fabric piece you should cut, in both inches and centimeters.
The formula explained
Design size in inches = stitch count ÷ fabric count. Fabric to cut = design size + 2 × margin (a margin on each side). For evenweave and linen normally stitched "over two" threads, the effective stitches per inch is the count divided by 2 — this calculator applies that automatically for 25, 28 and 32 count fabrics.
$$W \times H = \left(\frac{\text{Stitches W}}{c} + 2m\right) \times \left(\frac{\text{Stitches H}}{c} + 2m\right)$$
$$\text{where}\quad \left\{ \begin{aligned} c &= \text{Fabric count} \\ m &= \text{Margin (in)} \end{aligned} \right.$$
Worked example
A pattern is 140 × 100 stitches on 14 ct Aida with a 3-inch margin. Design width = \(140 \div 14 = 10\) in; height = \(100 \div 14 \approx 7.14\) in. Fabric to cut = \(10 + 2\times3 = 16\) in wide and \(7.14 + 6 \approx 13.14\) in tall.
FAQ
What margin should I leave? Two to three inches per side is typical; use more for larger frames or scroll frames.
Why is linen handled differently? Linen and evenweave are usually stitched over two threads, so a 28 ct linen gives 14 stitches per inch.
Does this include the design's own size? Yes — the fabric figure already contains the stitched area plus your margins.
