What the number means
The count is the number of squares in one inch of fabric. On 14-count Aida, one inch holds 14 squares, so you get 14 crosses per inch. On 16-count you get 16. On 18-count you get 18.
Fourteen count is the friendly place to start. The holes are easy to see, which is why DMC suggests it for beginners. Pick the fabric you can see well and stitch comfortably. Then check that the size suits what you'll make with it.
Here's the part people mix up. More squares per inch does not add detail to a chart. The chart has the same stitches no matter what. A higher count just packs those stitches into less space.
Work out the stitched size
One chart comes out a different size on each count. Same stitches, same colors: on 14-count it is biggest, on 18-count it is smallest. Nothing changed but the fabric.
You can work out the size before you stitch. Divide the stitch count by the fabric count, like this:
Width in inches = chart width in stitches ÷ Aida count.
Height in inches = chart height in stitches ÷ Aida count.
Multiply inches by 2.54 for centimeters.
Say a chart is 100 stitches wide and 120 stitches high. Here is how big the stitching comes out:
| Aida | Inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 14-count | 7.14 x 8.57 | 18.14 x 21.77 |
| 16-count | 6.25 x 7.50 | 15.88 x 19.05 |
| 18-count | 5.56 x 6.67 | 14.11 x 16.93 |
Those numbers are the size of the stitching only, rounded to two decimal places. They are not the size of fabric to cut. Washing, tension and small differences in the fabric can nudge the finished measurement a little.
Leave fabric around the design
Leave bare fabric around the stitching, about 3 inches (7.5 cm) from the stitching to the cut edge. That extra fabric is for the hoop, the frame or the seams later. Add it on every side before you cut.
Take the 14-count example from the table: 7.14 x 8.57 inches of stitching. Add a 3-inch margin on each side, and you add 6 inches to each measurement. That's about 13.14 x 14.57 inches of fabric. Three inches is an example, not a rule. Check the finishing instructions for your project first, especially for bookmarks, cushions and shaped ornaments.
When in doubt, cut bigger. You can trim fabric later. You can't add it back.
Check how many strands look good
On 14-count, two strands leave tiny bits of fabric showing between the crosses. Three strands look full. Neither is wrong. They're two different looks.
Follow your pattern's strand advice first. Switching to a different count? Stitch a small test square first. Use your real floss and your real fabric color. The same strands look more open on a lower count and fuller on a higher count. Dark thread on light fabric, or pale thread on dark, shows the gaps more. I keep a scrap of each fabric in my project bag just for these tests.
More strands isn't always better. Too many crowd the holes and make every stitch a struggle. Pick the look you like.
One last note. All the math on this page is for Aida, stitched over one square. Linen and evenweave patterns often stitch over two fabric threads. Those patterns come with their own instructions, so read them separately.