Cross-stitch calculator
Finished size, fabric to cut and number of skeins, for your fabric and number of strands.
Your chart
100% = fully stitched. A design with an unstitched background is often 40–70%.
Thread by thread (optional)
Enter the number of stitches of each colour (often listed in the chart key).
Estimate with a 15% margin (starting, ending, waste). Full cross stitches only; add a skein for backstitch.
How do you work out the size of a cross-stitch design?
Divide the number of stitches by the fabric count. 14-count Aida has 14 stitches per inch (5.5 per cm), so a 100 × 80 stitch chart is about 7.1 × 5.7 in (18 × 14.5 cm) once stitched.
| Fabric | Stitches per cm | 100 stitches measure |
|---|---|---|
| Aida 11 | 4.3 | 23.1 cm · 9.1 in |
| Aida 14 | 5.5 | 18.1 cm · 7.1 in |
| Aida 16 | 6.3 | 15.9 cm · 6.3 in |
| Aida 18 | 7.1 | 14.1 cm · 5.6 in |
| Aida 20 | 7.9 | 12.7 cm · 5 in |
| Linen 28 over 2 | 5.5 | 18.1 cm · 7.1 in |
| Linen 32 over 2 | 6.3 | 15.9 cm · 6.3 in |
On linen or evenweave you usually stitch “over 2”: 28-count fabric then gives 14 stitches per inch, like 14-count Aida.
How many skeins do you need?
A skein of DMC stranded cotton is 8 m long and has 6 strands. With 2 strands on 14-count Aida it covers about 1,800 cross stitches. Finer fabric uses less thread per stitch; 3 strands use more. The calculator adds a 15% margin for starting, ending and waste.
For a chart with several colours, work thread by thread: the stitch count for each colour is often in the key. Starting from a photo? Grillo makes the chart and lists the threads and skeins for you.
How much spare fabric?
Allow 5 cm (2 in) on each side for framing or a cushion, 3 cm for a small piece. For a hoop, the fabric should extend at least 3–4 cm beyond the ring.
Looking for a specific thread number? The DMC colour chart shows every colour and the threads that look like it.