- Stitches per skein
- ≈ 2,191
- Skeins to buy
- 2
- Floss used
- ≈ 9.1 m of 6-strand
Estimate assumes 8 m skeins and about 25% allowance for starting and finishing. Buy one extra skein of colours you use heavily — dye lots vary.
The formula, in words
The estimate works out how much thread one full cross stitch uses, then how many of those stitches a skein can make.
A cross stitch has two diagonal passes across the square and some travel on the back between stitches. Together that is about (2 × √2 + 2) times the width of one square, or roughly 4.83 square-widths of thread. The calculator then adds 25 percent for starting and finishing tails. The width of one square comes from the fabric count: 25.4 mm divided by the count.
A skein is 8 metres of six-strand floss. If you stitch with two strands, you get three two-strand lengths of 8 metres from it, or 24 metres of working thread. Dividing that by the thread per stitch gives stitches per skein. The number of skeins is your stitch count divided by stitches per skein, rounded up to whole skeins.
Worked example
Suppose a chart has 3,500 stitches of one colour, worked on 14-count Aida with two strands.
- One square is 25.4 ÷ 14, about 1.81 mm wide.
- Thread per stitch is 4.83 × 1.814 mm, about 8.76 mm, plus 25 percent, which comes to about 10.95 mm of two-strand thread.
- A skein gives 8 m × (6 ÷ 2) = 24 m, or 24,000 mm, of two-strand thread.
- Stitches per skein is 24,000 ÷ 10.95, which is 2,191 stitches.
- 3,500 ÷ 2,191 is about 1.6, so you need 2 skeins.
Thread used is 3,500 × 10.95 mm, about 38.3 metres of two-strand working thread. That is equivalent to roughly 12.8 metres of the full six-strand skein, comfortably within two skeins.
Stitches per skein at common settings
| Fabric count | 1 strand | 2 strands | 3 strands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3,444 | 1,722 | 1,148 |
| 14 | 4,383 | 2,191 | 1,461 |
| 16 | 5,009 | 2,504 | 1,669 |
| 18 | 5,635 | 2,817 | 1,878 |
| 22 | 6,888 | 3,444 | 2,296 |
Notice the pattern: going to a finer count makes each stitch smaller, so a skein stretches further, while adding strands makes it run out sooner. Two strands on 14-count, at about 2,200 stitches per skein, is a handy figure to keep in mind.
Tips for buying floss
- Buy dye-lot-matched skeins for big areas. If a background colour needs four or five skeins, buy them together. Slight dye-lot differences can show across a large block of one colour.
- Round up for scattered colours. A colour spread across the chart in small patches uses more thread for tails than the same number of stitches in one solid area.
- Allow for your own habits. If you use a loop start, park threads, or tend to leave long tails, your real usage can be higher than the estimate. After one project, compare the estimate with what you used and adjust.
- Check the shade before you buy. The DMC® colour chart lets you look up codes, and the guide to choosing thread colours helps when a near match looks wrong in real light.
- Plan the fabric at the same time. The fabric size calculator tells you how much Aida or linen to cut for the same design.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a skein of embroidery floss?
The calculator assumes 8 metres of six-strand floss per skein, which is the usual length for the common cotton embroidery skeins. Because you separate the strands, one skein gives you 8 metres of each of the six strands to combine as you like.
Why does using more strands use up a skein faster?
Each stitch takes the same length of working thread whatever the strand count, but with three strands you use three of the six strands at once, so one skein gives you only two full-length threads instead of three with two strands.
Does the estimate include waste?
It adds 25 percent to the thread a stitch actually needs, to cover the tails you leave when starting and finishing. Heavy confetti or lots of short colour runs use more than that, so round up for busy charts.
What about backstitch, French knots and half stitches?
The calculation is for full cross stitches. Backstitch outlines and knots usually take far less thread, and half stitches use roughly half, so an extra skein of your outline colour is normally plenty.
Where do I find the stitch count for each colour?
Patterns made with CraftPatterns list the count for every colour in the key, along with a skein estimate already worked out. Many published charts include the stitch count in their key as well.
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