The fabric you choose for your cross stitch projects can have a great influence on the eventual appearance and feel of your work.
Choosing the right fabric, however, can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re just getting started with needlework. Today, there are numerous types of fabric you could use for cross stitch projects and they all have their pros and cons.
So what’s the best cross stitch fabric? The best fabrics for cross stitch are Aida cloth, evenweave, and linen. Aida cloth, which is made of cotton, is a very common choice, particularly for beginners. Fabrics with open weaves and which hold their shape are helpful for new cross stitchers.
If you’re new to cross stitching, you’ll want to take a look at the Aida fabrics reviewed in the top 5 section below. If you’re looking for some excellent even weave or linen options, you’ll also find them there.
Before we jump right into looking at the best products out there today, let’s learn more about the different types of fabric you could use for cross stitch projects and how they differ.
Different Types of Cross Stitch Fabric
There are three major categories to choose from when deciding what fabric to use for cross stitching. These are:
- Aida fabric
- Evenweave fabric
- Linen fabric
Aida Fabric
Aida fabric is widely used for cross stitch projects. It’s made from 100% cotton and was invented in the late 1800s specifically for cross stitch purposes. Aida fabric is great for beginners, thanks to its wide-open weave which makes the holes very easy to see.
Aida fabric can be purchased in different fabric counts. The count refers to the number of holes per inch of the fabric. 14 count Aida fabric is commonly used by beginners. Other count sizes include 11, 16, 18, and 20.
Generally, the higher the count size, the more challenging the fabric will be to work with. Thus, the 16, 18, and 20 count fabrics are often used by experienced cross stitchers looking to create detailed cross stitch projects.
There’s also a 6 count Aida fabric called Herta, which is used for teaching children how to cross stitch or for big-stitch projects.
When working with Aida fabric, one square on a chart corresponds to one block on the fabric. Aida comes in a wide variety of colors and counts.
The fabric can be stitched with a hoop or without one. Since Aida fabric is starched, it tends to be fairly stiff. The fabric is very easy to work with and is likely going to be the option you go for if you’re learning to cross stitch.
On the downside, Aida fabric isn’t the best choice for more advanced cross stitch patterns that make use of fractional stitches such as the ¼ or ¾ stitches. It also tends to have a coarser finish than evenweave or linen fabrics due to its large open weave. However, many people love Aida fabrics for that very look and feel.
Evenweave Fabric
Evenweave fabrics have the same number of stitches per inch both horizontally and vertically. The term evenweave means that the warp and weft thread count of the fabric per inch is the same. Most cross-stitch fabrics have an even weave.
Today, evenweave fabrics are made from fibers that have the same width. Thus, with evenweave fabrics, you hardly have to contend with slubs and inconsistencies.
Evenweave fabrics usually have higher counts than Aida fabrics. They are commonly available in 25, 28, and 32 counts.
Evenweave fabric is typically stitched over two, although it can also be stitched over one. Unlike Aida fabric, evenweave fabrics are ideal for advanced cross stitch pattens and for working with fractional stitches. They’re also great for learning how to stitch over two, thanks to their consistent texture.
There are different types of evenweave fabrics. Some of these include Davos, Fiddlers Cloth, Floba, Hardanger, Jobelan, Linda, and Lugana. These fabrics are typically blends of cotton and rayon or linen. Some, however, are made from 100% cotton.
Evenweave fabrics are not as widely used or available as Aida or linen cross stitch fabrics. They tend to have a more refined look than Aida fabrics. Some evenweave fabric can also be quite stiff.
Linen Fabric
Linen fabric is typically more expensive and harder to work with than Aida fabrics. It’s often used by experienced cross stitchers due to its higher thread count, soft hand, and crisp feel. Linen fabrics are ideal for detailed designs.
Linen is a natural fabric made from flax fibers. It often has an uneven weave and natural irregularities which make it a challenge to work with but also give it a unique look and character. Linen fabrics are often used to make cross stitches with an antique, traditional look and feel.
Linen fabric is usually stitched over two, especially in the higher counts. It requires more skill to cross stitch on linen fabrics as the stitcher must control the tension of the thread to ensure even stitches.
Linen is available in a wide variety of thread counts. 28 and 32 count fabrics are the most commonly used.
Linen fabrics also come in a wide range of colors including hand-dyed colored fabrics, and novelty prints. Some linen fabrics are woven with thicker fibers while others feature loose weaves with large gaps between the fibers.
The Top 5 Cross Stitch Fabrics You Can Buy
Having gone through the different types of cross stitch fabrics you can buy today, let’s now take a look at some of the best products available on the market.
Rank | Brand | Description |
---|---|---|
1. | Caydo Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric | White Aida cloth (cotton) |
2. | Similane Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric | White Aida cloth (cotton) |
3. | Pllieay Big Size Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric | White Aida cloth (cotton) |
4. | Caydo Linen Needlework Fabric | Bright colors (linen) |
5. | Vidillo Natural Linen Needlework Fabric | Earthy colors (linen) |
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re looking for nice fabrics for more advanced projects, be sure to check out the options reviewed below.
1. Caydo Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric
This Caydo Classic Reserve Aida Cloth fabric is an excellent option to consider if you’re new to cross stitching.
It is a 14 count fabric with a size of 12 inches by 18 inches, which is the most commonly used size. The Aida fabric is made from 100% cotton. It’s ideal for both hand and machine embroidery.
The package includes 4 pieces of the Aida fabric and comes in at an affordable price. The fabrics come in white. They are large enough for more ambitious projects or can be cut into smaller pieces for amateur projects.
2. Similane Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric
The Similane Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric is another great option to consider if you’re a beginner.
The package comes with 6 pieces of 14 count, 12 inch by 18 inch Aida fabric, which is ideal for cross stitch and other types of needlework. The fabric is made of cotton and comes in a white color.
The Similane Aida Cloth Fabric comes in at an affordable price. It’s a great deal for anyone looking to get some high-quality Aida fabrics for cross stitch purposes.
3. Pllieay Big Size Aida Cloth Cross Stitch Fabric
Next up, we have another Aida cross-stitch fabric – the Pllieay 14 Count Big Size Aida Cross Stitch Fabric.
Unlike the first two options, this fabric comes in large sheets: 59 by 39 inches. This makes it more versatile as it can be used for large designs or cut up into smaller pieces for smaller sized cross stitch projects. There’s a lot of material to work with in this set.
The Pllieay Aida fabric is made from 100% cotton and comes in the white color. It’s a high quality 14 count fabric that offers a lot of value for money. Again, 14 count fabrics are great for beginners, but still popular among experienced cross stitchers so you won’t be sorry with this choice.
4. Caydo Linen Needlework Fabric
If you’re looking for the best non-Aida cross stitch fabric you can find, the Caydo 9 Pieces Linen Needlework Fabric is an excellent choice.
This package includes 9 linen fabrics which come in 9 different colors: white, pink, red, beige, yellow, navy, black, light green, and sky blue. The linen material is also suitable for other applications besides cross stitch.
The Caydo linen fabric comes in a square size of 19.6 by 19.6 inches. The count is unlisted, but it appears to be large enough to make cross stitching fairly do-able.
As long as you’re experienced enough to work with linen fabrics, this bundle will be ideal for more advanced cross stitch projects.
5. Vidillo Natural Linen Needlework Fabric
This linen fabric product is another nice option to consider. The package includes 4 pieces of linen fabric, which also come in different colors and in the same 19.6 inches by 19.6 inches fabric size as most other linen fabrics.
The large size makes it suitable for various projects and designs. This set also cost-effective as the package comes in at a decent price. The fabric is also a vegan, chemical-free material, so it’s as natural as it looks.
This fabric is made from a blend of cotton and linen. The fabric has a soft hand and nice feel and can be used for other needlework crafts. It’s a light to medium weight fabric that is ideal for cross stitch embroidery.
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