How to read a cross stitch chart
Updated October 8, 2026 · 3 min read
A counted cross stitch chart looks complicated the first time, but it follows a few simple rules. Once you know them you can pick up almost any pattern, printed or digital.
One square is one stitch
Each square on the chart is one full cross stitch on your fabric. On Aida, one square of the chart is one square of the fabric weave. On evenweave or linen you usually stitch 'over two' threads, so one chart square covers two fabric threads each way.
Symbols and the legend
Each colour has a symbol (and on colour charts, a coloured square). The legend, also called the key, lists every symbol with its thread number, colour name and how many strands to use. Keep the legend next to you: it is how you know which floss goes where.
Grid lines every 10 stitches
Bolder lines divide the chart into 10 × 10 blocks. They make counting much easier — count to the nearest bold line rather than counting single squares across the whole chart. Many stitchers work one 10 × 10 block at a time.
Find the centre and where to start
Arrows on the edges of the chart mark the centre row and column. Fold your fabric in half both ways to find its centre and start there, so the design ends up centred with even margins. Some stitchers prefer to start at the top left; either works as long as you count carefully from your first stitch.
Multi-page charts
Large patterns are split across pages. Good charts repeat a few rows and columns on each page (overlap) and number the pages with a small map, so you can see how they join. Always check the row and column numbers on the edges when you move to a new page.
Backstitch, French knots and fractional stitches
Solid lines drawn over the grid are backstitch — straight stitches for outlines and details, usually added after the crosses. Dots are French knots. Squares split diagonally, or small symbols in a corner, are fractional stitches (half, quarter or three-quarter stitches) that give smoother curves.
Strands and colour vs black-and-white charts
'2 strands' means you separate two of the six strands in a length of floss and stitch with them together; two strands is standard on 14-count Aida. Colour charts are quick to scan; black-and-white symbol charts are clearer when shades are similar. Many patterns include both.
Keep track of your progress
On paper, mark finished stitches with a highlighter or pencil. On a phone or tablet you can tap stitches as you finish them — PIXVIX Workspace highlights one thread at a time, splits big charts into numbered sections and remembers where you stopped.
Stitch from a chart on your phone
Open a sample chart in PIXVIX Workspace, tap stitches as you finish them and let it keep your place — or turn your own photo into a chart.
Try PIXVIXQuestions
- Where do I start on a cross stitch chart?
- Most stitchers start at the centre: find it with the arrows on the chart edges and by folding the fabric in half both ways. Starting at the centre keeps the design evenly placed on the fabric.
- What do the arrows on the side of a chart mean?
- They mark the centre row and centre column of the design, so you can line the chart up with the centre of your fabric.
- What does '2 strands' mean in cross stitch?
- Embroidery floss is made of six thin strands. '2 strands' means you separate two of them and stitch with the pair. Two strands is typical on 14-count Aida; use fewer on finer fabric.
- What are the thick lines on a cross stitch chart?
- Bold grid lines appear every 10 stitches. They split the chart into 10 × 10 blocks to make counting easier.