Cross stitch guide
32 count cross stitch fabric
32 count evenweave and linen have 32 threads to the inch. Worked over two threads, that is 16 stitches to the inch, the same size as 16 count Aida. Use two strands and a size 26 tapestry needle.
On this page 11 parts
What 32 count is
A 32 count cloth has 32 single threads in every inch (2.54 cm). It is woven as linen and as cotton-blend evenweave, and it is one of the common counts for both.
Each cross goes over two threads each way. Thirty-two threads, two to a stitch, is 16 stitches to the inch. So a chart comes out on 32 count exactly as it would on 16 count Aida, and one eighth smaller each way than on 28 count or 14 count Aida.
32 count over two, at a glance
| On this fabric | 32 count evenweave or linen, over two |
|---|---|
| Stitches to the inch | 16 |
| Tapestry needle | Size 26 |
| Strands of six-strand cotton | 2 |
| 100 stitches measure | 6 1/4 in (15.9 cm) |
32 count over one, at a glance
| On this fabric | 32 count |
|---|---|
| Stitches to the inch | 32 |
| Tapestry needle | Size 28 |
| Strands of six-strand cotton | 1 or 2 |
| 100 stitches measure | 3 1/8 in (7.9 cm) |
Strands and needle
Over two: two strands. The stitch is the size of a 16 count stitch and takes the same two strands. Backstitch outlines are usually worked in one. If you are unsure of the cover, work a few crosses in the margin and look.
Over two: a size 26 tapestry needle. It should pass between the threads without pushing them apart. One needle chart goes a size finer, to a 28.
Over one: one strand and a size 28 needle. This gives 32 stitches to the inch, which is very fine work. The table allows one strand or two; a size 28 needle takes only one.
What a design comes to on 32 count over two
| Design, in stitches | Stitched size, inches | Stitched size, centimeters | Fabric to cut, inches | Fabric to cut, centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 | 1 7/8 × 1 7/8 in | 4.8 × 4.8 cm | 8 × 8 in | 20 × 20 cm |
| 50 × 50 | 3 1/8 × 3 1/8 in | 7.9 × 7.9 cm | 10 × 10 in | 23 × 23 cm |
| 70 × 70 | 4 3/8 × 4 3/8 in | 11.1 × 11.1 cm | 11 × 11 in | 27 × 27 cm |
| 100 × 100 | 6 1/4 × 6 1/4 in | 15.9 × 15.9 cm | 13 × 13 in | 31 × 31 cm |
| 120 × 120 | 7 1/2 × 7 1/2 in | 19.1 × 19.1 cm | 14 × 14 in | 35 × 35 cm |
| 150 × 150 | 9 3/8 × 9 3/8 in | 23.8 × 23.8 cm | 16 × 16 in | 39 × 39 cm |
| 200 × 200 | 12 1/2 × 12 1/2 in | 31.8 × 31.8 cm | 19 × 19 in | 47 × 47 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.
What a design comes to on 32 count over one
| Design, in stitches | Stitched size, inches | Stitched size, centimeters | Fabric to cut, inches | Fabric to cut, centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 | 1 × 1 in | 2.4 × 2.4 cm | 7 × 7 in | 18 × 18 cm |
| 50 × 50 | 1 5/8 × 1 5/8 in | 4.0 × 4.0 cm | 8 × 8 in | 19 × 19 cm |
| 70 × 70 | 2 1/4 × 2 1/4 in | 5.6 × 5.6 cm | 9 × 9 in | 21 × 21 cm |
| 100 × 100 | 3 1/8 × 3 1/8 in | 7.9 × 7.9 cm | 10 × 10 in | 23 × 23 cm |
| 120 × 120 | 3 3/4 × 3 3/4 in | 9.5 × 9.5 cm | 10 × 10 in | 25 × 25 cm |
| 150 × 150 | 4 3/4 × 4 3/4 in | 11.9 × 11.9 cm | 11 × 11 in | 27 × 27 cm |
| 200 × 200 | 6 1/4 × 6 1/4 in | 15.9 × 15.9 cm | 13 × 13 in | 31 × 31 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.
Evenweave or linen at 32 count
Evenweave threads are all the same thickness, so every stitch is the same size and the holes are regular. It is the easier of the two to count.
Linen threads vary. Some are thicker, some thinner, and now and then there is a small lump in a thread. Over two threads these differences even out, and they give linen its look. Linen frays readily, so neaten the edges before you start. It is also an open cloth: a dark thread carried across the back can show through from the front.
Stitching on 32 count comfortably
The threads are fine and the holes are small. Good light helps: a lamp that shines onto the cloth. If the threads still blur, a magnifier on a stand or worn around the neck brings them back. Bring the needle up between the threads, not through one. A blunt tapestry needle parts the threads instead of piercing them.
Common mistakes
- Working out the size as if it were Aida. Over two, divide the stitches by 16, not by 32. In a calculator, choose "over two".
- Using the cloth size printed for another count. A pattern sized for 28 count comes out smaller on 32. One sized for 32 count comes out bigger on 28 and needs more cloth. Work the size out for the count you are stitching on.
- Carrying dark thread across open cloth. On linen it can show. End the thread and start again instead.
Questions people ask
Is 32 count the same as 16 count? In size, yes, when each cross is over two threads. The cloth looks different: no blocks, a finer and smoother ground.
Is 32 count too fine for a beginner? It is finer than most people start on. If you have stitched on 14 count Aida and want to try linen or evenweave, 28 count is the usual first step: over two it keeps the stitch size you know. 32 count is one step finer.
How do I change a 14 count pattern to 32 count? The chart stays the same. Divide its stitches by 16 for the size in inches, and multiply by 2.54 for centimeters. It will be seven eighths of the 14 count size.
Where to go next
Enter your design in the fabric calculator, set to 32 count over two. For the cloth, read linen for cross stitch; for the stitch, how to cross stitch on evenweave and linen, over two threads. The Aida of the same size is 16 count, and the next count down is 28 count. For lamps and magnifiers, see light, magnifiers and comfort.