Aida to Linen Calculator: Formula
The aida to linen calculator preserves the chart, then changes the spacing between complete crosses. Start with the pattern width and height in stitches. A 140 by 180 chart remains 140 by 180 when moved to another cloth; dividing those numbers by the effective stitches per inch gives the new physical rectangle. Do not double the chart dimensions merely because the fabric label says 28 rather than 14.
For Aida stitched over one block, the effective count equals the printed count. For linen or evenweave fabric, divide the fabric thread count by the number of threads crossed by each X. Thus 32 divided by 2 gives 16 stitches per inch. Stitching over 2 on 32 count produces the same nominal design dimensions as 16 count Aida stitched over one block.
The comparison ratio is source Aida count divided by target effective count. Moving from 14 count Aida to 32 count over two gives 14/16, or 0.875. Each design dimension becomes 87.5% of its original length. The area becomes 0.875 squared, or 76.5625%, but the number of charted stitches stays unchanged. Margins do not scale automatically because handling and finishing need physical space.
Add twice the chosen margin to each design dimension. Three inches per side adds six inches to the width and six to the height, regardless of the target count. Multiply inches by exactly 2.54 for centimeters. The calculator retains the underlying precision and rounds cutting minima upward for display. These are nominal grid dimensions; measure a sample of the actual cloth if its horizontal and vertical spacing differ after washing or stretching. For a 140-stitch width at 20 effective stitches per inch, that division gives exactly seven inches before margins.
Effective stitches/in = linen threads/in ÷ threads crossed Design inches = chart stitches ÷ effective stitches/in Cut inches = design inches + 2 × margin per side
Measure and Test Evenweave Fabric
Read the chart legend. Use the full design bounding box, including backstitched lettering or isolated motifs extending beyond the picture. Enter width first and height second, each as a whole stitch count. This tool accepts 10 through 2,000 stitches on either axis. For a chart stating 140 wide by 180 high, do not enter page dimensions or the size of a printed grid square.
Choose the source Aida count printed in the pattern instructions: 11, 14, 16, 18, or 20. That selection only establishes the comparison size. It does not change the chart. Next choose the actual linen fabric count from the package, then select over one or over two. Check these independently: 28 count over two means 14 effective stitches per inch; selecting over one makes the same chart half as wide and half as tall.
Measure the cloth before committing to the cut. Count threads across a measured inch in more than one place and inspect both directions. If the label and the sample disagree enough to matter for your frame, base the final finishing decision on a stitched test and direct measurements. This preset calculator assumes the stated count is uniform in both directions; it cannot correct an uneven weave using one number.
Set the margin for your finishing method. The three-inch default is a planning starting point, not a requirement from a framer. Include space for the visible fabric border, handling, mounting board thickness, and lacing or sewing. Confirm those needs before buying cloth. Switch inches and centimeters to suit your ruler; the unit switch converts the same margin rather than silently changing three inches into three centimeters.
Test full crosses with your planned thread and tapestry needle. Compare coverage and hole distortion under the display lighting. Record the fabric label, over setting, needle trial, and margin in project notes. Use the share link for numeric inputs only; leave names, photographs, order details, and personal information out of the URL.
Eight Linen Fabric Count Setups
The table uses one 140 by 180 chart throughout. Its design sizes exclude all finishing margins and are rounded to four decimal places for comparison. Use the interactive result for the upward-rounded cutting minimum. Every row follows the same division, so an over-one row should have half the width and half the height of the over-two row on the same cloth.
The four over-two rows correspond to 14, 16, 18, and 20 stitches per inch. These match the nominal spacing of the same Aida counts worked over one block. The over-one rows reach 28 through 40 stitches per inch; they describe spacing rather than a recommendation to substitute an unusually fine Aida product. A matching numerical count does not make two fabrics feel or behave alike.
Needle suggestions are sample starting points, not mandatory pairings or manufacturer certification. Work a test before selecting strand thickness, especially for over-one stitching. The table does not estimate skeins or compensate for fractional stitches, specialty threads, shrinkage, or tension. For a three-inch margin, add six inches to both listed design dimensions. For a centimeter ruler, multiply the resulting dimensions by 2.54; do not convert the stitch count or thread count themselves. Check both axes.
| Fabric threads/in | Threads crossed | Stitches/in | Design width × height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 2 | 14 | 10 × 12.8571 |
| 32 | 2 | 16 | 8.75 × 11.25 |
| 36 | 2 | 18 | 7.7778 × 10 |
| 40 | 2 | 20 | 7 × 9 |
| 28 | 1 | 28 | 5 × 6.4286 |
| 32 | 1 | 32 | 4.375 × 5.625 |
| 36 | 1 | 36 | 3.8889 × 5 |
| 40 | 1 | 40 | 3.5 × 4.5 |
Aida to Linen Calculator: Three Examples
1. Keep the same size: 14 Aida to 28 count over two
A 140 by 180 design on 14 count Aida measures 140/14 = 10 inches wide and 180/14 = 12.857142857 inches high. On 28 count linen, stitching over 2 gives 28/2 = 14 effective stitches per inch: both dimensions stay unchanged. A three-inch margin per side gives an unrounded cut of 16 by 18.857142857 inches, displayed as 16.00 by 18.86. The metric cut is 40.64 by 47.897142857 centimeters, displayed as 40.64 by 47.90. This spacing equivalence does not establish needle choice or thread coverage.
2. Reduce the footprint: 16 Aida to 36 count over two
A 144 by 180 chart on 16 count Aida measures 9 by 11.25 inches. On 36 count linen over two, the effective count is 18, giving 144/18 = 8 inches and 180/18 = 10 inches. The linear ratio is 16/18 = 0.888888889. Add three inches per side for a 14 by 16 inch cut, exactly 35.56 by 40.64 centimeters. The design shrinks; the six-inch total margin stays unchanged. Transfer the new effective count of 18 to the floss tool, then check actual crosses instead of assuming full coverage.
3. Compare over one: 14 Aida to 32 count linen
For the 140 by 180 chart on 32 count over one, divide by 32: the design is 4.375 by 5.625 inches. A three-inch margin gives 10.375 by 11.625 inches, displayed upward as 10.38 by 11.63. Its exact metric cut is 26.3525 by 29.5275 centimeters, displayed as 26.36 by 29.53. The same fabric over two gives an 8.75 by 11.25 inch design. Over one halves each dimension. Transfer preserves 32 effective stitches per inch. The floss estimate still assumes two strands, so sample fine stitching rather than treating the number as a per-color purchasing guarantee. The six-inch margin addition is independent of the design reduction; compare cut sizes as well as stitched sizes when choosing cloth.
Avoid Count and Margin Mistakes
Keep three numbers distinct in your notes: fabric threads per inch, fabric threads crossed by each complete X, and floss strands in the needle. Over two describes the cloth grid, not two strands of cotton. Choosing two strands on 32 count linen does not by itself make the effective fabric count 16. Only crossing two cloth threads in each direction creates that spacing.
Check the whole outline before cutting. A charted name extending ten stitches past a motif adds those ten stitches to the bounding width. Conversely, multiplying the full width and height counts empty squares inside that outline. A 140 by 180 rectangle contains 25,200 grid positions, but a sparse sampler may stitch far fewer. Estimate and round each color separately when planning skeins; pooled leftovers cannot substitute for a missing color.
Separate the cut from the frame opening. Handling and lacing cloth sits behind the finished presentation. Measure completed work before ordering a mat. Save source and target settings so reopening a link does not leave you guessing whether 32 meant fabric threads or finished crosses per inch.
Aida and Linen Conversion FAQs
Does 28 count linen match 14 count Aida?
Yes, when each complete cross covers two linen threads in both directions. Both arrangements place 14 crosses per inch: 140 by 180 stitches measure 10 by 12.857143 inches before margins. This describes grid spacing; texture, coverage, tension, and counting technique may differ. Preserve the chart coordinates.
What does stitching over one change?
At the same fabric count, stitching over one halves both design dimensions compared with stitching over two. A 32 count gives 32 rather than 16 crosses per inch, occupying one quarter of the area. The chart retains its crosses; test needle choice and strand thickness separately.
Which tapestry needle should I try?
Try size 24 at 14 effective stitches per inch, 26 at 16, and 28 at 18 or 20. These are starting points, not DMC guarantees. Test finer over-one work with your actual thread. A larger needle number means a finer needle; watch for distorted holes or fraying.
Does conversion calculate skeins for each color?
No. Width multiplied by height includes empty squares. Count actual full crosses per color or make an approximate coverage estimate. The floss tool keeps this fabric count but uses a fixed two-strand approximation. Fine over-one work may need different strands or technique; test coverage and consumption before buying.
Can I cut fabric or order a frame from rounded sizes?
Measure the stitched piece before ordering a frame. Cutting minima round upward to the next hundredth of the selected unit; design displays are approximate. The default three-inch margin applies to each side. Ask your finisher about extra handling, shrinkage, and lacing space before making the final cut.