Needlepoint tool
Needlepoint canvas size calculator
How big will this be on my mesh, and how much canvas do I cut?
Example
Canvas to cut
8 × 8 in 20.3 × 20.3 cm
The design and 2 in of bare canvas on every side.
Stitched size
4 × 4 in 10.2 × 10.2 cm
72 × 72 stitches on 18 mesh.
Type your own numbers to change it.
| Mesh | Stitched size | Canvas to cut |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mesh | 7.2 × 7.2 in18.3 × 18.3 cm | 11.2 × 11.2 in28.4 × 28.4 cm |
| 12 mesh | 6 × 6 in15.2 × 15.2 cm | 10 × 10 in25.4 × 25.4 cm |
| 13 mesh | 5.5 × 5.5 in14.1 × 14.1 cm | 9.5 × 9.5 in24.2 × 24.2 cm |
| 14 mesh | 5.1 × 5.1 in13.1 × 13.1 cm | 9.1 × 9.1 in23.2 × 23.2 cm |
| 18 mesh | 4 × 4 in10.2 × 10.2 cm | 8 × 8 in20.3 × 20.3 cm |
“Our suggestion” marks advice that is this site’s own, not a figure from a published chart.
How it works
- Mesh is the number of holes, and so of stitches, to the inch. Inches are stitches divided by mesh.
- Mono canvas is most often sold in 10, 12, 13, 14 and 18 mesh, and most hand-painted canvases are 13 or 18.
- Leave at least 2 inches (5 cm) of bare canvas on every side, for tacking to stretcher bars, for blocking and for the finishing. One shop's guide calls 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) common practice. This calculator allows 2 inches unless you change it, as this site's pattern pages and chart PDFs do.
- The project sizes offered as starting points are the sizes this site charts for. Finishers and makers differ: measure your own insert or form. Our suggestion
Worked examples
- 72 by 72 stitches
- 4 by 4 in (10.2 by 10.2 cm) on 18 mesh; about 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 in (14.1 cm) on 13 mesh. With a 2 in margin, cut 8 by 8 in (20.3 cm) of 18 mesh canvas.
- 14 by 14 inches on 13 mesh
- 182 by 182 stitches. With a 2 in margin, cut 18 by 18 in (45.7 cm).
- 130 by 91 stitches on 13 mesh
- 10 by 7 in (25.4 by 17.8 cm). With a 2 in margin, cut 14 by 11 in (35.6 by 27.9 cm).
Questions
- How many stitches per inch is 13 mesh canvas?
- Thirteen. The mesh number is the number of holes, and so of tent stitches, in one inch.
- How big is a 72 stitch design on 18 mesh?
- Four inches (10.2 cm): 72 divided by 18.
- How much margin should I leave around a needlepoint design?
- At least 2 inches (5 cm) on every side. The margin is where the canvas is tacked to stretcher bars and pinned out for blocking.
- Can I stitch an 18 mesh chart on 13 mesh canvas?
- Yes. The stitch count stays the same and the piece comes out larger: divide the stitches by 13 instead of 18.