For a first counted cross-stitch project, 14-count Aida is a straightforward option to compare with the fabric specified by your pattern. Do not buy a listing whose title mixes incompatible descriptions such as 28-count Aida and 10-count fabric.
DMC describes its Aida as a square block weave and recommends 14-count for beginners . The count must be read together with how the pattern tells you to stitch.
Calculate the design area
On 14-count Aida, a pattern 140 stitches wide occupies 140 / 14 = 10 inches of stitched width. A 112-stitch height occupies 8 inches. That is the design area, not the piece of fabric to buy. Add the border required for the hoop, handling and final framing on every side.
For example, a chosen 3-inch margin on each edge makes that fabric piece 16 by 14 inches. Three inches is an example planning allowance, not a requirement for every frame.
Aida and evenweave use different descriptions
Evenweave stitched over two fabric threads has half as many completed cross stitches per inch as its thread count. Thus 28-count evenweave worked over two gives 14 crosses per inch. Worked over one, it does not. Follow the pattern, especially where fractional stitches or specialist fabric are involved.
| Buying field | What to match |
|---|---|
| Fabric type | Aida, linen or another specified evenweave |
| Count | The stated count and over-one/over-two instructions |
| Cut dimensions | Design area plus your finishing margin |
| Fibre and colour | The actual product label, not a similarly named fabric |
Before the first stitch
Count a small measured section if the packaging is unclear. Confirm the cut piece is large enough in both directions before trimming it or placing the design. If changing the count, recalculate the finished size and check the suggested needle and strand count. A finer count makes a smaller design; it does not automatically make the project easier or the result better.