What size needle for cross stitch?
Use a blunt tapestry needle: size 24 for 14-count Aida, 26 for 18-count and 28-count evenweave, 22 for 11-count. The larger the number, the finer the needle.
Find your needle
Size 24 tapestry needle
for 14-count Aida · size 22 also works · 2 strands of floss
Cross stitch needle size chart
| Fabric | Tapestry needle | Also works | Strands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-count Aida (binca) | 18 | 20 | 6 |
| 8-count Aida | 20 | 18 | 4–6 |
| 11-count Aida | 22 | 20 | 3 |
| 14-count Aida | 24 | 22 | 2 |
| 16-count Aida | 24 | 26 | 2 |
| 18-count Aida | 26 | 24 | 1–2 |
| 20-count Aida | 26 | 28 | 1–2 |
| 22-count Hardanger | 26 | 28 | 1 |
| 25-count evenweave (over 2) | 24 | 26 | 2 |
| 28-count evenweave (over 2) | 26 | 24 | 2 |
| 32-count linen (over 2) | 26 | 28 | 1–2 |
| 36-count linen (over 2) | 28 | 26 | 1 |
| 40-count linen (over 2) | 28 | — | 1 |
These are the usual pairings in DMC and Zweigart guidance and most kit instructions. Personal taste matters: a needle one size larger is easier to thread, one size smaller glides more easily.
How to tell the needle is right
- It drops through a hole with a gentle push and doesn’t stretch it. If the hole opens up visibly, go one size finer.
- The floss doesn’t fray or fuzz after a few stitches. Fraying means the eye is too tight for your strands; go one size larger.
- You can thread it without a fight. A needle threader helps with sizes 26 and 28.
Tapestry, embroidery or beading?
Tapestry needles are blunt and the standard for counted cross stitch. Embroidery (crewel) needles are sharp, for stitching on plain fabric or waste canvas. Beading needles are thin enough to pass through seed beads; a size 28 tapestry needle often does the job too.
Working out fabric too? The cross stitch calculator shows the needle next to the fabric size, and the Aida cloth guide compares counts.
Needle questions
What size needle for cross stitch on 14-count Aida?
A size 24 tapestry needle. Size 22 also works if you prefer a bigger eye or are using three strands.
What size needle for 18-count Aida?
A size 26 tapestry needle. It slips through the smaller holes without pushing the weave apart.
What size needle for 28-count evenweave?
Size 26 when stitching over two threads with two strands, or 24 if you find the eye too small to thread.
Why use a tapestry needle for cross stitch?
Tapestry needles have a blunt, rounded tip that slides between the threads of the fabric instead of splitting them, and a long eye that takes several strands of floss.
Is a bigger needle number bigger or smaller?
Smaller. Needle sizes count up as the needle gets finer, so a 28 is thinner than a 22.
What is a petite tapestry needle?
A shorter needle of the same size. Many stitchers find it faster for small, dense areas; the eye and thickness match the standard needle of that number.