Cross stitch calculator
Two answers before you buy supplies: how big a piece of fabric to cut, and how many skeins of floss each colour needs.
Fabric size
Finished design 10.0 in × 7.1 in
Cut fabric 16.0 in × 13.1 in
Smallest hoop that holds the whole design with a little room: 12 in.
Floss per colour
Uses the fabric count from the left: 14 stitches per inch.
Buy 3 skeins (2.31 exactly)
≈ 55.2 m of 2-strand thread · one skein covers about 1,816 stitches at these settings
Finished size on common fabrics
For your 140 × 100 design.
| Fabric | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 11-count Aida | 12.7 × 9.1 | 32.3 × 23.1 |
| 14-count Aida / 28-count evenweave over 2 | 10.0 × 7.1 | 25.4 × 18.1 |
| 16-count Aida / 32-count evenweave over 2 | 8.8 × 6.3 | 22.2 × 15.9 |
| 18-count Aida / 36-count evenweave over 2 | 7.8 × 5.6 | 19.8 × 14.1 |
| 22-count Aida | 6.4 × 4.5 | 16.2 × 11.5 |
How far does one cross stitch take your thread?
On the front, a cross is two diagonals across one square of fabric. On the back, the needle travels straight to the next hole, twice. So one cross uses about 2 × √2 + 2 ≈ 4.83 square-widths of thread, per strand.
A square on 14-count fabric is 1/14 in, so one cross takes about 8.8 mm of each strand before any waste. A six-strand DMC skein is 8.7 yd (8 m) long, which is three two-strand lengths running side by side.
Real stitching adds starts, finishing tails and trips between areas, which is why the calculator adds a waste allowance. Raise it for confetti-heavy photo charts; lower it for big blocks of one colour.
Higher count → smaller squares → shorter thread per stitch.
Using the numbers
- Round up skeins, always. Dye lots vary; a second skein bought months later may not match the first.
- For a whole photo chart, skip the per-colour sum: our pattern maker prints skeins for every colour in the key.
- Not sure what count to pick? The Aida cloth guide compares 11 to 18-count and evenweave.
Questions stitchers ask
How much extra fabric should I add around a cross stitch?
Add at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side for framing or a hoop, and 2 inches for small pieces finished as cards or ornaments. That is the margin most chart publishers recommend.
How do I work out the finished size of a cross stitch?
Divide the stitch count by the fabric count. A 140 × 100 stitch design on 14-count Aida is 140 ÷ 14 = 10 inches wide and 100 ÷ 14 ≈ 7.1 inches tall. On evenweave or linen stitched over two threads, divide the count by two first.
How many cross stitches does one skein of DMC floss make?
Roughly 1,500–2,000 full crosses with two strands on 14-count, depending on how much thread you waste on starts and ends. This calculator uses about 1,800 stitches per skein at that setting and adjusts for fabric count and strands.
Why does finer fabric use less thread?
Each stitch is smaller: on 18-count a cross is 1/18 inch across instead of 1/14, so every stitch needs about 22% less thread, if the strand count stays the same.
How many strands of floss should I use?
Two strands for 11–16 count Aida and 28-count evenweave over two; one or two strands on 18-count; three strands on 11-count if you want heavy coverage. Use one strand for backstitch outlines.