How Do You Determine The "Count" Of Cross-Stitch Fabric?

To determine the "count" of a cross-stitch fabric, you'll need to understand that fabric count refers to the number of squares (or holes) per inch. Here’s a quick guide to how you can tell what count your fabric is and why it matters.

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🧵 What Does "Count" Mean in Cross-Stitch Fabric?

• Fabric count is the number of squares (or holes) per inch in the fabric.
• For example:
  • 14-count Aida has 14 holes per inch.
  • 18-count Aida has 18 holes per inch.
  • 28-count Evenweave has 28 threads per inch, but you usually stitch over 2 threads, making it look like 14-count.

Higher count fabrics have smaller holes, and lower count fabrics have larger holes.

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🧷 Why Does Fabric Count Matter?

• The count affects the size of your finished design.
  • Lower count fabric = larger stitches = larger finished piece.
  • Higher count fabric = smaller stitches = smaller finished piece.

For example:
A design that is 50 stitches wide will be:

• 3.6 inches wide on 14-count fabric (50 ÷ 14 = 3.57 inches)
• 2.8 inches wide on 18-count fabric (50 ÷ 18 = 2.78 inches)

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📏 How to Tell the Count of Cross-Stitch Fabric

Here’s how to measure the count of your fabric:

🔍 Method 1: Measure with a Ruler

1. Place a ruler over your fabric.
2. Count the number of holes within 1 inch.
   • If you see 14 holes in 1 inch, you have 14-count fabric.
   • If you see 18 holes in 1 inch, you have 18-count fabric.

👉 Tip:
For evenweave fabric, count individual threads instead of holes.

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🧵 Method 2: Use a Stitch Gauge Tool

• A stitch gauge tool is a small ruler designed specifically for cross-stitch fabric.
• Place it on your fabric, and it will help you quickly identify the count.

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🧵 Method 3: Use a Simple Cross-Stitch Pattern

1. Stitch a small section of a known cross-stitch pattern (like a 10x10 square).
2. Measure how wide your stitched section is.
   • On 14-count fabric, a 10x10 square will measure about 0.7 inches wide.
   • On 18-count fabric, a 10x10 square will measure about 0.55 inches wide.

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🧵 Fabric Count Reference Chart

Fabric Count	Holes per Inch	Stitch Size (per inch)
11-count	11	Large
14-count	14	Medium (most common)
16-count	16	Smaller
18-count	18	Small
28-count	28 (over 2 threads = 14-count)	Very fine

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🎨 Summary:

• Use a ruler or stitch gauge to count the holes in 1 inch of fabric.
• The higher the count, the smaller the stitches and the more detailed your design.
• 14-count Aida is the most popular for beginners, as it’s easy to see and stitch on.