How the estimate works
Each full cross stitch puts two diagonals on the front of the fabric and some travel on the back. On 14-count Aida, one stitch is 1.81 mm across, so one strand path for a full cross is about 8.8 mm. Stitching with 2 strands doubles that.
Some thread never ends up in a stitch: the tails you weave in, the bit left in the needle and the thread taken up by tension. The calculator allows about a third of each length for this, which gives about 1,780 full stitches per 8 m skein with 2 strands on 14-count. Other calculators quote roughly 1,500 to 1,800 for the same setup. That allowance is a rule of thumb set to match those published estimates, not a measured standard, so treat the result as a shopping estimate.
How a skein divides up
A standard skein of stranded cotton, such as DMC or Anchor, is 8 m of six strands twisted together. You separate the strands before stitching. With 2 strands at a time, each length of six strands gives three working lengths, so one skein gives you 24 m of 2-strand thread. With 1 strand, it gives 48 m.
Higher count, less floss
Smaller stitches use less thread. The same number of stitches on 18-count uses less floss than on 14-count, and higher counts are often stitched with fewer strands too. Stitching over two threads of evenweave or linen gives half the fabric count in stitches per inch, so 28-count over two uses the same floss as 14-count Aida. See fabric count.
Backstitch and half stitches
Half stitches use about half the floss of a full cross. Backstitch is worked out from the length of its lines, at about twice the line length per strand, usually with 1 strand.
Before you buy
- Add extra for mistakes and unpicking. The default is 10%.
- Buy all of a colour at once. Different dye lots can look slightly different side by side.
- For colours with only a few stitches, one skein is plenty, and you may already have it.
Use the cross stitch calculator to work out how much fabric to cut.