Aida, evenweave, and linen
Updated November 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Aida is a cloth with ready-made squares. Evenweave and linen are cloths you cross in groups of threads. The chart does not change. The number of fabric threads under each stitch does.
- 1
Start on Aida if you are still learning the count
Aida is woven in blocks, usually 11, 14, 16, or 18 blocks per inch. You stitch over one block. The holes are obvious. 14-count is the count most beginner charts assume.
- 2
Treat evenweave as threads, not blocks
Evenweave (Lugana, Jobelan, and similar) has single threads in a regular grid. 28-count evenweave is usually stitched over two threads, so you get 14 stitches per inch — the same finished size as 14-count Aida, with a softer edge. 32-count over two gives 16 stitches per inch.
- 3
Expect linen to be less even
Linen is the same idea as evenweave, with natural thick and thin threads. Stitchers use it over two for a woven look. Counting is harder because the holes are not punched squares. It is a second cloth, not a first one.
- 4
Enter the effective count when you measure
Finished inches = stitches ÷ stitches per inch. On 28-count stitched over two, stitches per inch is 14, not 28. PixVix size math is over-one. The fabric-size page says to type 14 if you are working 28-count over two, so the inches match the cloth. The fabric-count converter and the floss calculator can take “over two” directly.
- 5
Match strands to the stitch, not the printed count
Two strands on 14-count Aida and two strands on 28-count over two are the same coverage. Do not drop to one strand just because the packet says 28.
- 6
Buy spare cloth for the finish
Whatever the weave, leave at least 5 cm spare on each side, more if a framer will stretch it. Evenweave and linen fray. A quick machine stitch or a strip of masking tape on the raw edge holds them while you stitch. Take the tape off before you wash.
When the holes are hard to see
Aida can be stiff. Evenweave can be slippery. A hoop or a Q-snap helps both. Good light matters more than a magnifier at the start. If you cannot see the hole, you will stitch into the thread and the count will drift.
Hand-dyed cloth
Mill Aida and evenweave from the big weavers are usually stitched as they come. Hand-dyed cloth can bleed. Test a corner in cold water before you cover it with thread. DMC’s own cotton is sold as colourfast; the cloth is a separate question.
Sources
- 10 essential things to know before starting cross stitch — Embroiderers’ Guild of America
- DMC Mouliné Spécial: six strands, 8.7 yards, colourfast — DMC
- DMC general FAQ: colourfast thread — DMC
Check the finished size before you buy cloth
Type the stitch count and the count you will actually stitch.
Open the size calculatorQuestions
- Is 14-count Aida the same as 28-count linen?
- Only if you stitch the linen over two threads. Then both give 14 stitches per inch. Stitching 28-count over one gives a much smaller piece and is not what most charts mean.
- Can I stitch an Aida chart on evenweave?
- Yes. Keep the stitch count. Choose an evenweave count that, over two, matches the stitches-per-inch the chart used, or accept a different finished size.
- Which is better for a beginner?
- 14-count Aida. Move to evenweave when your tension is even and you are tired of seeing the blocks.
- Does PixVix draw linen over two?
- The editor stores an over-one grid. For 28-count over two, use an effective count of 14 when you read finished size, or set over-two in the floss and fabric calculators.