Room for the finishing touches
Cross Stitch Frame Size Calculator: Mat Opening & Standard Fit
Plan your visible fabric reveal, mat borders and lacing allowance. Compare standard frames with a custom interior in inches and centimeters.
Plan the frame layers
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CUSTOM MAT & SUPPORT PLAN
Inputs: 140 × 112 stitches · 14ct over 1 · reveal 0.25, mat 2, lacing 3 in per side.
- Stitched design
- 10 × 8 in
- Visible mat opening
- 10.5 × 8.5 in
- Custom frame interior
- 14.5 × 12.5 in
- Fabric for custom support: at least
- 20.5 × 18.5 in
Frame interior means the nominal board/glazing size inside the rabbet. Outside moulding size and assembly depth are not calculated. Fabric assumes a support matching that interior.
- Fabric for lacing: 20.5 × 18.5 in
- Frame interior / board: 14.5 × 12.5 in
- Visible opening: 10.5 × 8.5 in
- Stitched design: 10 × 8 in
Custom plan only · Width × height · Not a full scale template. Zero allowances make adjacent edges coincide.
Standard frame comparison
Smallest listed frame meeting your requested mat: 16 × 20 in (rotated).
| Frame (in) | Left/right, each | Top/bottom, each | Requested mat | Fabric for this support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 7 | — | — | Opening does not fit | — |
| 8 × 10 | — | — | Opening does not fit | — |
| 11 × 14 · rotated | 1.75 | 1.25 | Opening fits; mat too narrow | 20 × 17 in |
| 16 × 20 · rotated | 4.75 | 3.75 | Meets request | 26 × 22 in |
| 18 × 24 · rotated | 6.75 | 4.75 | Meets request | 30 × 24 in |
Custom and standard support cuts are different plans. Display measurements round to 0.01; borders show up to 0.001. Fabric cuts round up. Fit checks use unrounded inputs; verify actual materials.
WHAT’S INSIDE REAL FILE EXCERPTS
Low-resolution, watermarked portions of the actual files. Tap to inspect the layout.
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How the Cross Stitch Frame Size Calculator Builds Each Layer
Start with the pattern’s width and height in stitches. The cross stitch frame size calculator divides each dimension by effective count. On 14 count Aida over one, 140 stitches occupy 10 inches. On 28 count linen over two, effective count is also 14; changing the fabric name alone does not change design size.
The visible opening adds your chosen reveal around the stitching. A 0.25 inch reveal adds 0.5 inch to each complete dimension, because the allowance appears twice. The mat opening surrounds the design without covering those outer stitches. This is different from sizing a window to overlap the edges of a photograph. Check isolated stitches, signatures and backstitching before deciding where the window belongs.
Next, the requested mat border is added outside that opening on all four sides. A 10 × 8 inch design, 0.25 inch reveal and 2 inch border require a 14.5 × 12.5 inch custom frame interior. This is the nominal board or glazing size inside the rabbet, not the outside of the wooden moulding. Outside dimensions require the actual frame profile, which this tool does not model.
Finally, add lacing allowance outside a mounting board matching the frame interior. With 3 inches per side, that arrangement needs 20.5 × 18.5 inches of fabric. Confirm your framer’s board dimensions before cutting. The 0.25, 2 and 3 inch defaults are editable choices, not preservation standards or guaranteed minimums. Keep full precision until the final measurement.
For standard frames, subtract opening width from interior width and halve the difference for each side border. Repeat with heights for top and bottom. Both border pairs must reach your request; a positive remainder alone is insufficient.
Measure, Choose a Mat Opening, Then Check the Actual Frame
1. Read the chart’s stitch dimensions rather than measuring a screenshot. Enter width and height separately; 140 × 112 is landscape, while 112 × 140 is portrait. Select the fabric’s thread count and whether each X crosses one or two threads. Over two on 32 count means 16 stitches per inch. Floss strands do not determine this setting.
2. Measure finished embroidery after any washing and pressing appropriate to its materials. Counted dimensions predict a rectangle; tension, fabric variation and shrinkage can change the result. Compare both axes with a ruler before ordering a custom mat. If measurements differ, have the framer use that measured rectangle rather than changing the count to force a convenient answer.
3. Choose the visible fabric reveal. Lay paper strips around the work and try 0.25 inch, then a wider gap for crowded lettering. Measure from the furthest stitched point on each edge. This calculator centers the design with equal reveal; offset compositions need a separate plan.
4. Enter the requested mat border and read the custom frame interior. Inspect the standard frame comparison: a frame can contain the opening yet fail your requested border. Left/right borders can differ from top/bottom borders when proportions differ. Rotating the frame preserves the artwork’s orientation while swapping frame width and height.
5. Verify the product’s actual interior, visible lip and depth before purchasing. The nominal size does not specify moulding width or clearance for a mounted textile. The Canadian Conservation Institute recommends separating glazing from textiles; a two dimensional fit cannot check that assembly depth. A mat or appropriate spacers may provide separation, depending on the construction.
6. Set the lacing allowance with the person mounting the work. Print the input summary and the four resulting rectangles. Label width and height clearly. Keep extra fabric until the support, folds and attachment method are confirmed; the computed cut is a geometric plan, not permission to trim a finished heirloom.
Cross Stitch Frame Size Calculator Reference: Eight Setups
Every row uses a 0.25 inch reveal and 2 inch mat border per side. Opening and frame interior columns are inches. Count means labeled fabric count followed by threads stitched over. These calculated examples include equivalent Aida and linen setups; they are not standard frame products.
The 140 × 112 pattern on 14 count, 160 × 128 on 16 count, and 180 × 144 on 36 count over two all create a 10 × 8 inch design. Their openings and custom interiors therefore match. Conversely, stitching 320 × 240 over one on 32 count produces 10 × 7.5 inches; selecting over two would double both design dimensions.
For lacing, add 6 inches to both interior dimensions with the 3 inch default. A larger standard frame requires fabric around its larger support, not the smaller custom cut. The tool lists actual available borders and a separate standard support cut. All eight rows can be reproduced with its input fields.
Read every pair as width followed by height. Decimal inches are not fractional inch notation: 0.5 means one half, while 0.25 means one quarter. Multiply an inch measurement by 2.54 for centimeters. Switching display units does not change thread count or the number of stitched squares.
| Pattern | Count / over | Opening (in) | Interior (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 × 84 | 14 / 1 | 4.5 × 6.5 | 8.5 × 10.5 |
| 70 × 98 | 14 / 1 | 5.5 × 7.5 | 9.5 × 11.5 |
| 112 × 140 | 14 / 1 | 8.5 × 10.5 | 12.5 × 14.5 |
| 140 × 112 | 14 / 1 | 10.5 × 8.5 | 14.5 × 12.5 |
| 160 × 128 | 16 / 1 | 10.5 × 8.5 | 14.5 × 12.5 |
| 180 × 144 | 36 / 2 | 10.5 × 8.5 | 14.5 × 12.5 |
| 200 × 160 | 40 / 2 | 10.5 × 8.5 | 14.5 × 12.5 |
| 320 × 240 | 32 / 1 | 10.5 × 8 | 14.5 × 12 |
Three Worked Cross Stitch Frame and Mat Examples
Landscape sampler: 140 × 112 on 14 count Aida
Divide 140 and 112 by 14: the design is 10 × 8 inches. Add twice the 0.25 inch reveal for a 10.5 × 8.5 mat opening. Adding a 2 inch mat border gives a 14.5 × 12.5 custom interior; adding 3 inches per side for lacing gives a 20.5 × 18.5 inch support cut.
A rotated 14 × 11 standard interior contains the opening, but leaves 1.75 inches left/right and 1.25 inches top/bottom, failing the 2 inch request. A rotated 20 × 16 interior provides 4.75 and 3.75 inch borders; its support cut is 26 × 22 inches.
Same sampler on 32 count linen over two
Effective count is 32 ÷ 2 = 16. The 140 × 112 design is 8.75 × 7 inches, opening 9.25 × 7.5, custom interior 13.25 × 11.5. With 3 inch lacing allowance, fabric is 19.25 × 17.5 inches. A rotated 14 × 11 interior has borders of 2.375 and 1.75 inches, failing the 2 inch request.
Requesting 1.5 inch borders makes that standard option eligible. Design and opening stay unchanged; the required border and custom interior change. Its 14 × 11 support still needs 20 × 17 inch fabric.
Small square: 56 × 56 with a half inch border
At 14 stitches per inch, the design measures 4 × 4 inches. A 0.25 inch reveal creates a 4.5 × 4.5 opening. A 0.5 inch border gives a 5.5 × 5.5 custom interior. The 5 × 7 standard frame leaves only 0.25 inch left/right, failing that request.
An 8 × 10 interior leaves 1.75 inches left/right and 2.75 inches top/bottom. With 3 inch lacing allowance its support cut is 14 × 16 inches. The custom support would need 11.5 × 11.5 inches; do not confuse those cuts. Equal side pairs are centered here; a deliberately heavier bottom border needs a separate layout.
Common Frame Size Mistakes Before You Cut or Order
Do not add a per-side allowance only once. A 2 inch mat border increases total width by 4 inches and total height by 4 inches. Conversely, do not add that border again when calculating a standard frame’s remaining margins: subtract the opening from the frame interior and divide each difference by two.
Do not compare the fabric rectangle with the visible window. Excess fabric folds behind the support; it is not the display size. When the standard frame changes, use its support cut line instead of the custom line. The SVG shows nested regions, not a full scale template or a bevel cutting diagram.
Do not treat an exact fit as manufacturing clearance. An 8 × 10 frame may hide part of the mat under its lip; board thickness also matters. Confirm usable measurements with the supplier. This tool does not guess a clearance or universal bevel allowance.
Logan’s needlework guide advises keeping adhesive away from textiles and separating glazing from the surface. Consult a textile conservator about damaged pieces. These references explain material decisions; they do not certify this calculator or its default margins.
Framing questions before you order
Does this give outside moulding dimensions?
No. It gives the frame interior, opening and fabric cut. A 14.5 × 12.5 inch interior does not identify the outside rectangle. Moulding width, rabbet overlap and construction determine that rectangle. Ask the supplier for outside dimensions before ordering.
Why does a standard frame fail my border?
One pair of borders may be too narrow. A 10.5 × 8.5 inch opening inside a rotated 14 × 11 frame leaves 1.75 inches left/right and 1.25 inches top/bottom. Both pairs must meet the requested minimum. A fit label does not verify depth or manufacturing clearance.
Does over two mean using two strands of floss?
No. Over two describes fabric threads crossed by each X: 32 count linen becomes 16 stitches per inch. Two strands describes cotton carried through the needle. Changing from over two to over one halves the design size for the same chart on that fabric.
Can I use the default lacing allowance for every mounting method?
Treat 3 inches per side as editable. This model wraps fabric around a support matching the frame interior. A smaller board, padding or different technique changes what you need. Confirm support and attachment details before trimming fabric.
What happens when I share or print?
Shared links restore validated inputs and units. Addresses can appear in server logs; recipients can read their values. Printing keeps the input summary, results and diagram. Related tool links carry compatible values, without uploaded files, emails or order information. Check the destination’s assumptions before using its result.
Further reading: Yarn Tree: fabric sizing · CCI: textile framing · Logan: needlework mounting