Cross Stitch Canvas
Textile crafts / Practical workbench

A practical guide

Convert design stitch dimensions and fabric count into finished design and cut-fabric size.

No account neededWorks in your browserEditable assumptions

Start with the actual project

Count a small measured section of the actual fabric and confirm the over-one or over-two convention before cutting.

Write down each measurement with its unit. Enter lengths in the displayed unit and keep counts separate from dimensions. If a product specification provides a value, use that value for the exact material or equipment involved.

MeasurementUnitExample
Design widthstitches160
Design heightstitches220
Fabric threads or holes per inchcount/in14
Threads per stitchthreads1
Extra fabric on each sidein3

Work through the calculation

  1. Open the calculator and replace every example input that differs from your project.
  2. Read the named results and their units. A negative remaining-space result describes a fit problem, not a usable dimension.
  3. Save a baseline before changing assumptions. Adjust one measurement at a time to see what drives the result.
  4. Use the comparison table and the exact values beneath the chart to check the effect of a change.
  5. Export a worksheet or print the final result, then verify a sample before making an irreversible cut or purchase.

Project-specific checks

  1. Aida commonly uses one hole interval per stitch; evenweave stitched over two threads uses a value of 2.
  2. Check whether the supplied fabric count is threads or stitches per inch.
  3. The border is added independently to all four sides.
  4. Framing, lacing and hoop placement may need more surrounding fabric.

Read rounding correctly

Whole-item counts may round upward to cover a requirement or downward to fit a space. The formula reference identifies ceil and floor operations. Displayed decimals are rounded for readability; calculations keep the underlying numeric precision.

When a number looks wrong

First check units and inside-versus-outside dimensions. Next check whether allowances were included twice. Finally compare the input assumptions with the project-specific checks above. The worked scenarios provide a reproducible starting point.

Open the calculator