Aida Cloth Count Guide: 11, 14, 16, 18 and 28 Over 2

If you've ever stood in a craft store staring at bolts labeled 11, 14, 16 and 18, you're not alone. Aida cloth count is the first technical choice every cross stitcher makes, and it quietly decides how big your finished piece will be, how many strands you'll use and which needle feels right.

This guide explains what count means, compares the common options side by side and shows you exactly how to calculate finished size in inches and centimeters.

What Aida count actually means

Aida is a cotton fabric woven in little blocks, which creates a regular grid of visible holes. You make each cross stitch over one block.

DMC defines the count as the number of stitches you can make in an inch, and its Aida page lists 14-count as 5.5 stitches per centimeter. The higher the count, the smaller your stitches and the finer the finish.

Aida was, according to the Cross Stitch Guild, invented at Zweigart & Sawitzki in Germany more than a century ago, and it remains the most popular cross stitch fabric because its holes make placing stitches so easy.

Aida counts compared

Here are the counts you'll see most often, with starting points for strands and needles. Only two of the strand entries come from a published source; the rest are marked "test". Your tension, the look you want and your hands all play a part.

These pairings draw on two sources. The Cross Stitch Guild says cross stitch is generally worked with two strands on 14- and 16-count Aida, and gives no figure for other counts. DMC's tapestry needle guidance matches size 22 to 4 strands, size 24 to 3–4 strands, size 26 to 2–3 strands and size 28 to 2 strands, while the Guild says to use only the equivalent of one strand with a size 28, so treat 28 with care. Neither maker ties a strand count to 11-count or 18-count: on 11-count the bigger holes usually take more thread than on 14-count, and on 18-count the holes are tighter, but the margin test below settles it.

11-count

Big stitches and big holes. Start by testing 2 and 3 strands. It's forgiving and quick to fill, which makes it popular for children, simple motifs and stitchers who find finer fabric tiring on the eyes. Designs come out noticeably larger, so check that your frame will fit; 11-count Aida works out how much bigger a chart comes out and who it suits.

14-count

The all-rounder. DMC recommends 14-count for beginners and calls it the most popular Aida in its range. It's a comfortable middle ground: the holes are easy to see, yet designs don't come out oversized.

16-count

A step finer. The same chart shrinks by about an eighth compared with 14-count, and stitches look a touch more refined. Two strands still give good coverage for most stitchers.

18-count

Small, crisp stitches that suit detailed designs and photo patterns you want to keep compact. Holes are harder to see, so good lighting helps. Some stitchers prefer one strand for a lighter, airier look; others use two for fuller coverage. Try both in the margin.

28-count evenweave "over 2"

Evenweave and linen have single threads rather than blocks. You stitch each cross over two threads in each direction. The Cross Stitch Guild explains that working over two threads on 28-count evenweave gives stitches the same size as 14-count Aida. The result looks softer and more heirloom-like. The Guild also notes that fractional stitches are less easy to form on Aida because the needle passes down the central hole in the thread group. Our charts are full cross stitches only, so that only matters if you add partial stitches by hand.

How to calculate finished size

The math is refreshingly simple. As the Cross Stitch Guild puts it, the only things that determine size are the number of stitches and the fabric count.

In inches:

Finished size (in) = stitches ÷ count

In centimeters:

Finished size (cm) = stitches ÷ (count ÷ 2.54)

or, equivalently, inches × 2.54.

For evenweave stitched over two, use half the fabric count: 28-count over 2 behaves like 14.

Worked example 1: a 140 × 100 stitch design on 14-count

• Width: 140 ÷ 14 = 10 in
• Height: 100 ÷ 14 = 7.14, so about 7.1 in
• In centimeters: 14 ÷ 2.54 = 5.51 stitches per cm. 140 ÷ 5.51 = 25.4 cm and 100 ÷ 5.51 = 18.1 cm

Worked example 2: a 200 × 150 stitch photo pattern on 16-count

• Width: 200 ÷ 16 = 12.5 in (31.8 cm)
• Height: 150 ÷ 16 = 9.375, about 9.4 in (23.8 cm)

Worked example 3: the same 200 × 150 pattern on 28-count over 2

• Effective count: 28 ÷ 2 = 14
• Width: 200 ÷ 14 = 14.3 in (36.3 cm)
• Height: 150 ÷ 14 = 10.7 in (27.2 cm)

The same design across every count

How much fabric to cut

Your design size isn't your fabric size. You need a border for hooping, stretching and framing.

DMC recommends leaving a clear border of at least 3 inches (8 cm) all the way around a design you plan to mount and frame. That means adding 6 inches (16 cm) to each dimension.

Worked example: the 200 × 150 pattern on 16-count is 12.5 × 9.4 in. Add 6 in to each dimension: 18.5 × 15.4 in. Round up and cut a piece about 19 × 16 in (roughly 48 × 40 cm).

Choosing needles for your count

Cross stitch uses blunt tapestry needles. The Cross Stitch Guild explains that a blunt point parts the fabric threads instead of piercing them, and that sizes 24 and 26 are the most commonly used.

Two things to remember:

• Higher number, finer needle. DMC notes that the smaller the number, the larger the needle, so a 26 is finer than a 24.
• Match the needle to the thread, too. The eye has to carry your strands without shredding them, and the shaft should slip through the hole without stretching it. The Cross Stitch Guild cautions that with a size 28, you should use only the equivalent of one strand because the eye is delicate.

If a needle drags or leaves visibly enlarged holes, go one size finer. If threading is a struggle or the floss frays quickly, go one size larger.

Choosing the number of strands

The chart usually tells you how many strands to use. When it doesn't, you have two easy tests from the Cross Stitch Guild:

1. Stitch a few crosses in the margin and look at them in daylight. Choose the coverage you like.
2. Pull a thread from the edge of the fabric and compare it with your floss. The Guild says the strands should be a similar weight to the threads in the fabric.

For backstitch outlines, the Guild suggests one strand and a slightly smaller needle so the outline stays crisp.

Strand choice also affects how much floss you'll buy. A lower count makes each stitch longer and more strands multiply the thread, so 3 strands on 11-count use noticeably more floss per stitch than 2 strands on 14-count. The skein counts in our PDF always assume two strands, so buy more if you use three. We run the numbers in how much embroidery floss you need.

Which Aida count should you choose?

• First project? 14-count. It's what DMC recommends and what most patterns assume. Our cross stitch for beginners guide walks you through the rest.
• Want bigger, easier stitches? 11-count, testing 2 and 3 strands.
• Stitching a photo pattern? Decide on the finished size you want, then pick the count; our pattern generator offers 11, 14, 16 and 18-count. A higher count lets you fit more stitches, and more detail, into the same frame. See how to turn a photo into a cross stitch pattern for the full process.
• Love the look of linen? 28-count evenweave over 2 gives you 14-count sizing with a softer background.

When in doubt, buy a small piece of two counts and stitch a test square of the same motif on each. Seeing them side by side answers the question faster than any chart.

Frequently asked questions

What does 14-count Aida mean?

It means the fabric has 14 blocks, and therefore 14 stitches, per inch. That works out to about 5.5 stitches per centimeter. Higher counts make smaller stitches and a smaller finished design.

Is 14-count or 18-count Aida better for beginners?

14-count is the usual recommendation, and DMC suggests it for beginners. The holes are easy to see and it works with two strands of floss. 18-count makes smaller stitches that are harder to see and count.

How do I calculate the finished size of a cross stitch?

Divide the number of stitches by the fabric count to get inches. For centimeters, divide the stitches by the count divided by 2.54. For example, 140 stitches on 14-count is 10 inches, or about 25.4 cm.

Is 28-count evenweave the same size as 14-count Aida?

Yes, when you stitch over two threads. Working each cross stitch over two threads of 28-count fabric gives 14 stitches per inch, the same finished size as 14-count Aida.

What size needle should I use for 14-count Aida?

A blunt tapestry needle in size 24 or 26. The Cross Stitch Guild says these are the most commonly used sizes for cross stitch, and DMC matches size 26 to 2–3 strands of its floss. Remember that the higher the needle number, the finer the needle.

Sources

• DMC — What fabric to use (count is the number of stitches per inch; 14-count recommended for beginners)
• DMC — Aida embroidery fabric (14-count the most popular in DMC's range)
• DMC — Preparing your fabric (clear border of at least 8 cm / 3 in for framing)
• DMC — Tapestry needles (sizes 22, 24, 26 and 28 matched to strands)
• DMC — Cross stitch needles (the smaller the number, the larger the needle)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Fabric basics (Aida invented at Zweigart & Sawitzki in Germany; woven in blocks with obvious holes)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Zweigart fabric facts (28-count evenweave over two threads gives 14-count-sized stitches)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Thread basics (two strands generally on 14- and 16-count Aida)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Cross stitch FAQs (finished size, counting threads, choosing strands, testing in the margin)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Cross stitch equipment (blunt tapestry needles, sizes 24 and 26 most common, size 28 with one strand)
• The Cross Stitch Guild — Away waste knot start (one strand for backstitch; fractional stitches less easy on Aida)