Guide
Graph paper for cross-stitch
Match the grid to the fabric count and the chart prints at the finished size.
Short answer
Any square grid works for charting, one square per stitch. To see the design at its finished size, match the grid to the fabric: 14 count Aida has 14 stitches per inch, so a 1.81 mm grid, and a Letter sheet fits 106 × 141 stitches. For easier charting, use a larger grid, such as quarter inch, and count rather than measure.
Grid size by fabric count
| Aida count | Grid | Stitches on a page | Print it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 count | 2.31 mm | 83 × 110 | 11 count grid |
| 14 count | 1.81 mm | 106 × 141 | 14 count grid |
| 16 count | 1.59 mm | 120 × 160 | 16 count grid |
| 18 count | 1.41 mm | 136 × 181 | 18 count grid |
| 22 count | 1.15 mm | 166 × 222 | 22 count grid |
The links set a bold line every 10 squares, the convention on published cross-stitch charts, which makes counting across a large design much faster.
Charting grid or finished-size grid?
A grid at the fabric count shows exactly how big the design will be, which is useful for fitting it to a frame or a card. It is also small to draw in: 14 count squares are under 2 mm. Many stitchers chart on a quarter-inch or 5 mm grid, where symbols are easy to draw and read, and work out the finished size with arithmetic: stitches divided by the count gives inches.
Knitting charts need a different grid
Knitted stitches are wider than they are tall, so a knitting chart drawn on square graph paper comes out squashed when knitted. Knitters use a grid in their gauge ratio, such as 5 stitches by 7 rows. For colourwork, graph paper is fine for planning; for a chart that knits up true to shape, use a gauge-ratio grid.