Counted Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator

Stitches per inch (Width): Stitches per inch (Height): Design Width (in stitches): Design Height (in stitches): Border Allowance (in inches):

Your Fabric Requirements:

function calculateFabric() { var stitchCountWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stitchCountWidth").value); var stitchCountHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stitchCountHeight").value); var designWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("designWidth").value); var designHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("designHeight").value); var borderAllowanceInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById("borderAllowanceInches").value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result"); resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results if (isNaN(stitchCountWidth) || stitchCountWidth <= 0 || isNaN(stitchCountHeight) || stitchCountHeight <= 0 || isNaN(designWidth) || designWidth <= 0 || isNaN(designHeight) || designHeight <= 0 || isNaN(borderAllowanceInches) || borderAllowanceInches < 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Border allowance can be zero or positive."; return; } var fabricWidthInches = (designWidth / stitchCountWidth) + (2 * borderAllowanceInches); var fabricHeightInches = (designHeight / stitchCountHeight) + (2 * borderAllowanceInches); resultDiv.innerHTML = "Required fabric width: " + fabricWidthInches.toFixed(2) + " inches" + "Required fabric height: " + fabricHeightInches.toFixed(2) + " inches" + "Total fabric needed: " + (fabricWidthInches * fabricHeightInches).toFixed(2) + " square inches"; }

Understanding the Counted Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator

Embarking on a new cross-stitch project is an exciting venture, but ensuring you have enough fabric is crucial to avoid frustration and last-minute rushes to the craft store. The counted cross stitch fabric calculator is designed to help you precisely determine the amount of fabric needed for your design, taking into account the fabric's count, your design's dimensions, and a necessary border allowance for framing or finishing.

What is Fabric Count?

Fabric count refers to the number of threads (or "squares") per inch of fabric. Common counts include 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, and 28. A higher count means smaller holes and more stitches per inch, resulting in a more detailed and intricate design. For example, 14-count Aida fabric means there are 14 squares (where you make your stitches) in every inch.

Why is Design Size Important?

Your cross-stitch pattern will typically specify the design dimensions in stitches (e.g., 100 stitches wide by 120 stitches high). This is the core of your calculation. Knowing these dimensions allows us to translate stitch counts into physical measurements.

The Role of Border Allowance

It's highly recommended to add a border around your stitched design. This allowance serves several purposes:

Framing: Provides space to secure the fabric within a frame without encroaching on your stitches.
Stretching: Allows for tensioning on a hoop or frame.
Finishing: Accommodates techniques like 'overdying' or for creating stitched borders.
Handling: Makes the fabric easier to handle during the stitching process.

A common recommendation is to add at least 1-3 inches of border allowance on all sides. Our calculator simplifies this by asking for the total allowance you wish to add (which is then split to each side).

How the Calculator Works

The calculator takes four key inputs:

Stitches per inch (Width & Height): The count of your chosen fabric. While typically the same for squares like Aida, some fabrics might have slight variations.
Design Width & Height (in stitches): The dimensions of your pattern as provided by the designer.
Border Allowance (in inches): The extra fabric you want around your stitched area.

The calculation is straightforward:

Convert Stitch Width to Inches: Divide the Design Width (in stitches) by the Stitches per inch (Width).
Convert Stitch Height to Inches: Divide the Design Height (in stitches) by the Stitches per inch (Height).
Add Border Allowance: Add twice the Border Allowance (in inches) to both the calculated width and height (since the allowance is added to both sides of the design).

The output will provide you with the required dimensions of the fabric piece you need to cut, in inches.

Example Scenario

Let's say you are working on a beautiful floral design that measures 150 stitches wide by 120 stitches high. You have chosen 16-count Aida fabric and want to include a 3-inch border allowance on all sides for a frame.

Stitches per inch (Width): 16
Stitches per inch (Height): 16
Design Width: 150 stitches
Design Height: 120 stitches
Border Allowance: 3 inches

Calculation:

Fabric Width = (150 stitches / 16 stitches/inch) + (2 * 3 inches) = 9.375 inches + 6 inches = 15.375 inches
Fabric Height = (120 stitches / 16 stitches/inch) + (2 * 3 inches) = 7.5 inches + 6 inches = 13.5 inches

Therefore, you would need a piece of 16-count Aida fabric that is approximately 15.38 inches wide and 13.5 inches high. It's always a good idea to round up slightly when purchasing fabric to be absolutely safe!