Cross stitch guide
18 count Aida cross stitch fabric
18 count Aida has 18 squares to the inch, so the crosses are small and sit close together, and a design comes out about three quarters of the width it would be on 14 count. Stitch it with one or two strands and a fine tapestry needle, size 26 or 28.
On this page 8 parts
What 18 count is like to stitch
There are 18 blocks, and so 18 stitches, in every inch (2.54 cm) of 18 count Aida. The stitch is made exactly as on 14 count: one cross to one block, through the hole at each corner. What changes is the scale.
- The crosses are smaller. They sit close and cover the cloth well, so the picture looks smoother and less like a grid.
- The design is smaller. The same chart comes out at 14/18 of its 14 count size, a little over three quarters of the width and the height.
- There is more stitching in the same space. One square inch (6.5 square cm) holds 324 crosses on 18 count, against 196 on 14 count.
- The holes are smaller. They are harder to see, and they take a finer needle.
18 count at a glance
| On this fabric | 18 count Aida |
|---|---|
| Stitches to the inch | 18 |
| Tapestry needle | Size 26 |
| Strands of six-strand cotton | 1 or 2 |
| 100 stitches measure | 5 1/2 in (14.1 cm) |
Strands and needle
One strand or two. Makers differ here, and both are right for different looks. Two strands give full, solid cover. One strand gives a lighter, finer stitch that lets a little of the cloth show. Stitch a few crosses each way in the margin and choose the one you like.
A size 26 or size 28 tapestry needle. Needle charts give one or the other for 18 count. Too thick a needle stretches these small holes, and a stretched hole shows as a gap beside the stitch. The eye of a size 28 is fragile, so thread it with one strand only.
What a design comes to on 18 count
| Design, in stitches | Stitched size, inches | Stitched size, centimeters | Fabric to cut, inches | Fabric to cut, centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 | 1 5/8 × 1 5/8 in | 4.2 × 4.2 cm | 8 × 8 in | 20 × 20 cm |
| 50 × 50 | 2 3/4 × 2 3/4 in | 7.1 × 7.1 cm | 9 × 9 in | 23 × 23 cm |
| 70 × 70 | 3 7/8 × 3 7/8 in | 9.9 × 9.9 cm | 10 × 10 in | 25 × 25 cm |
| 100 × 100 | 5 1/2 × 5 1/2 in | 14.1 × 14.1 cm | 12 × 12 in | 30 × 30 cm |
| 120 × 120 | 6 5/8 × 6 5/8 in | 16.9 × 16.9 cm | 13 × 13 in | 32 × 32 cm |
| 150 × 150 | 8 3/8 × 8 3/8 in | 21.2 × 21.2 cm | 15 × 15 in | 37 × 37 cm |
| 200 × 200 | 11 1/8 × 11 1/8 in | 28.2 × 28.2 cm | 18 × 18 in | 44 × 44 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.
How to stitch on 18 count comfortably
- Light the work well. Sit by a window, or use a lamp that shines down on the cloth. A daylight bulb shows the thread colors truly.
- Magnify it if you need to. Magnifying glasses, a clip-on lens or a lens on an arm all make the holes easier to find. Some lenses have a lamp built in.
- Use a fine, blunt needle. A tapestry needle slides into the hole without piercing the block. Keep to size 26 or 28.
- Try it small first. Work a few crosses in the margin before you begin. You will see at once whether the scale and the number of strands suit you.
Common mistakes
- Using the needle of 14 count. A size 24 is thick for these holes and can push them out of shape. Change to a 26 or a 28.
- Using three strands. They crowd a block this small: the thread drags and the crosses look lumpy.
- Forgetting that the design shrinks. A piece planned for a frame on 14 count will leave a wide empty border on 18. Work the size out first.
- Pulling a thick thread through a fine needle. Two strands fit a size 26. A size 28 is for one.
Questions people ask
Is 18 count harder than 14 count? The stitch is the same. It is finer work, so it takes better light, more patience and more stitches to fill the same space.
Why choose 18 count? For a smaller finished piece from the same chart, or for a smoother look with less cloth showing between the stitches.
What is the same size as 18 count? 36 count evenweave or linen with each cross worked over two threads: 36 threads, two to a stitch, is 18 stitches to the inch.
Where to go next
Check the size of your own design in the fabric calculator, or print 18-count graph paper to chart at true size. If 18 count feels too fine, 16 count is one step back and 14 count two. For lamps, magnifiers and how to sit, see light, magnifiers and comfort. The Small patterns make a good first trial of a finer cloth.