YOUR GUIDE TO CREATING
YOUR CROSS STITCH
From choosing your photo to selecting
the right size,fabric and colours.
Choosing Your Photo
Choosing the right photo is the first step to creating a beautiful personalised cross stitch. Clear, high-quality photos with good colour, contrast and detail will produce the best results. Avoid photos that are very dark, blurry or heavily shadowed, as these details can be difficult to capture in stitches. We can brighten and sharpen your image where needed, but the better the original photo, the better your finished cross stitch will be.
14, 16 Or 18 Count Aida?
Aida fabric is available in different counts, which refers to the number of holes per inch. The most common options are 14, 16 and 18 count. The higher the count, the more stitches fit into each inch, allowing for greater detail in your finished cross stitch.
For beginners, 14 or 16 count Aida is generally a good choice. If you want a smaller design with more detail, 18 count can be a great option.
What Size Should My Cross Stitch Be?
The size of your cross stitch has a big impact on the amount of detail in the finished design. Larger designs contain more stitches, allowing us to capture more detail from your original photograph.
We generally recommend a design of at least 10 x 8 inches for a detailed result, although larger designs can provide even more detail.
If you need your design to fit an existing frame or have a specific size in mind, just let us know. We can adjust the design and recommend the most suitable Aida count to help maintain the detail.
We'll also consider the shape of your original photograph so that we can avoid stretching or distorting the image. If you want us to keep the whole photograph or focus on a particular person or subject, simply tell us when you request your preview.
Thread and Colours
We use high-quality DMC stranded cotton to create your cross stitch designs. DMC has a huge range of colours, allowing us to carefully match the colours in your original photograph.
Your photograph may contain thousands of different shades, so we select the colours that give the best balance of detail, colour and stitchability. Most of our designs use around 40-60 DMC colours, depending on the photograph and size of the finished design.
How Much Detail Will My Cross Stitch Have?
The amount of detail we capture depends mainly on the size of your design and the Aida count you choose.
A larger design gives us more stitches to work with, while a higher-count Aida provides more stitches per inch. Together, these allow us to capture finer details from your photograph.
For example, 14-count Aida gives you 196 stitches per square inch, which 18-count gives you 324 - around 65% more stitches.
More stitches can mean more detail, but they also mean a longer stitching time. We'll help you choose the right combination for your photograph and the finished result you want.
Not Sure What's Best for Your Photo?
Every photograph is different, and choosing the right size, Aida count and colours can make a big difference to the finished result,
If you're unsure, don't worry - we're here to help. Send us your photograph and we'll advise you on the best options before you order.
