Cross stitch guide
14 count Aida cross stitch fabric
14 count Aida has 14 woven squares to the inch, so a design comes out at 14 stitches to the inch. It is the cloth most first projects are stitched on, with two strands of six-strand cotton and a size 24 tapestry needle.
On this page 9 parts
What 14 count means
The count of a cloth is the number of squares it has to the inch. Aida is woven in small blocks with a hole at each corner. On 14 count there are 14 of those blocks in every inch (2.54 cm), across and down.
One block takes one cross, and one cross is one square of the chart. So 14 count gives you 14 stitches to the inch. A higher count means smaller squares and a smaller finished design. A lower count means bigger squares and a bigger design.
Why most people start on 14 count
- The holes are easy to see, so the needle finds its place without a struggle.
- The stitches are large enough to count and small enough to look neat.
- Two strands of thread cover it well, and two strands are easy to handle.
- It is the count more charts are sized for than any other, so the size printed on a pattern is often already the 14 count size.
14 count at a glance
| On this fabric | 14 count Aida |
|---|---|
| Stitches to the inch | 14 |
| Tapestry needle | Size 24 |
| Strands of six-strand cotton | 2 |
| 100 stitches measure | 7 1/8 in (18.1 cm) |
Strands and needle
Two strands. Pull two strands away from the six in the skein and stitch with those. If the cloth shows between the stitches, or a pale color looks thin on a dark cloth, try three. Stitch a few crosses in the margin first and look at them in daylight. With too many strands the thread drags in the hole and the crosses look lumpy. Outlines in backstitch are usually worked with one strand.
A size 24 tapestry needle. It is blunt, so it slips into the hole without splitting the cloth, and its eye takes two strands easily. Some stitchers like the slightly finer size 26 on 14 count. Both work.
What a design comes to on 14 count
| Design, in stitches | Stitched size, inches | Stitched size, centimeters | Fabric to cut, inches | Fabric to cut, centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 | 2 1/8 × 2 1/8 in | 5.4 × 5.4 cm | 9 × 9 in | 21 × 21 cm |
| 50 × 50 | 3 5/8 × 3 5/8 in | 9.1 × 9.1 cm | 10 × 10 in | 25 × 25 cm |
| 70 × 70 | 5 × 5 in | 12.7 × 12.7 cm | 11 × 11 in | 28 × 28 cm |
| 100 × 100 | 7 1/8 × 7 1/8 in | 18.1 × 18.1 cm | 14 × 14 in | 34 × 34 cm |
| 120 × 120 | 8 5/8 × 8 5/8 in | 21.8 × 21.8 cm | 15 × 15 in | 37 × 37 cm |
| 150 × 150 | 10 3/4 × 10 3/4 in | 27.2 × 27.2 cm | 17 × 17 in | 43 × 43 cm |
| 200 × 200 | 14 1/4 × 14 1/4 in | 36.3 × 36.3 cm | 21 × 21 in | 52 × 52 cm |
The fabric to cut leaves 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side for framing, rounded up to a whole inch or centimeter. For a design of another size, open the fabric calculator on 100 × 100 stitches at this count and change the numbers.
Can a large design be worked on 14 count?
Yes. Nothing about the cloth limits the size of a design, only the size of the piece you cut. But 14 count grows fast. A design 200 stitches wide is more than 14 inches (36 cm) wide before any margin is added.
If the finished piece must fit a frame or a wall you already have, work out the size before you buy the cloth. If it comes out too big, the same chart on 16 count or 18 count will be smaller, with the same number of stitches.
Common mistakes
- Buying cloth the size of the design. The stitched size is not the size to cut. Leave a margin on every side to hold, to hoop and to frame.
- Trusting the label on an old piece of cloth. Check it: measure off one inch (2.54 cm) with a ruler and count the blocks inside it. On 14 count there are fourteen.
- Using all six strands. The thread comes as six strands so that you can divide it. On 14 count, two is the usual number.
Questions people ask
Is 14 count Aida good for a beginner? Yes. It is the cloth most beginners start on, because the holes are clear and two strands cover it.
Is 14 count the same size as 28 count? A design comes out the same size on both when the 28 count cloth is evenweave or linen and each cross is worked over two threads. Twenty-eight threads, two to a stitch, is 14 stitches to the inch.
Can I stitch a pattern on 14 count if it was charted for another count? Yes. Any counted chart can be stitched on any count. Only the finished size changes: divide the number of stitches by 14 to get inches, then multiply by 2.54 for centimeters.
What colors does it come in? White and cream or ecru are the standard ones, and it is also made in many other colors.
Where to go next
Work out your own design in the fabric calculator, or print 14-count graph paper to draw a design at the size it will stitch. To read about the cloth itself, see Aida cloth. For the thread and the needle in more depth, see how many strands to use and needle sizes. Ready to stitch? The Easy patterns are a good first choice on 14 count.