Beginner Cross-Stitch Supplies: What to Buy

Fabric: count, size and margin

The count is the number of stitches per inch, and DMC recommends 14-count Aida for beginners because the holes are easy to see. To size the fabric, divide the chart's stitches by the count. A design 70 stitches wide and 56 tall on 14-count is 70 ÷ 14 = 5" by 56 ÷ 14 = 4" (12.7 × 10.2 cm).

Then add a margin. Stitcher's hoop guide suggests about 2–3" (5–8 cm) of spare fabric per side for grip and finishing. With 3" per side, the 5" × 4" design needs fabric cut 11" × 10". The cross-stitch pattern maker does this sum for you with a 3" margin.

• Finished size = stitches ÷ fabric count.
• Fabric to cut = finished size + 2 × margin.
• Example: 70 × 56 stitches on 14-count → 5" × 4" → cut 11" × 10".

Needle size by fabric count

Cross-stitch uses a blunt tapestry needle that slides through the holes without splitting the fabric threads. The needle gets finer as the count rises. World of Cross Stitching gives size 22 for 11-count, 24 for 14-count, 26 for 16-count and 28 for 18-count. Many stitchers simply use 24 for 11–14 count and 26 for 16–18 count, so treat the table as guidance rather than a rule.

Floss: colors and strands

Buy one floss color for each color in the chart key. Stranded floss is made of six strands, and Adafruit's instructions describe separating the number you need, usually two or three, according to the pattern.

Needle Nook charts show screen colors and hex codes rather than brand numbers, so match floss by eye in daylight and lay the skeins side by side before you start.

Hoop and scissors

A hoop keeps the fabric taut. Stitcher's advice is to pick a hoop a little larger than the area you want to stitch in one sitting, and to start with a 6" round hoop if you are unsure. The fabric must be larger than the hoop, which the 2–3" margin allows for. For very large counted pieces, the same guide suggests a scroll frame so you are not clamping over finished stitches.

Before the next session, check three things: the fabric is cut with its margin, the needle matches the count, and every color in the key has a skein beside it.

Common questions

What count of Aida should a beginner buy?

14-count Aida. DMC recommends it for beginners, and a 70-stitch-wide design on it is 5" wide.

How many strands of floss do I use?

Follow the pattern. Floss has six strands, and patterns usually ask for two or three.

Does the hoop have to fit the whole design?

No. A hoop a little larger than the area you stitch at one sitting works; you move it as you go. For large pieces, a scroll frame avoids clamping over finished stitches.