How Many Strands for Cross Stitch? A Simple Chart

The very first question on almost every beginner’s list: how many strands for cross stitch? Embroidery floss comes as six thin strands twisted together, and you almost never stitch with all six. The right number depends on your fabric count.

The quick answer: use 3 strands on 11 count aida, 2 strands on 14, 16 and 18 count, and 2 strands on 28 or 32 count evenweave or linen stitched over two. For backstitch, use 1 strand on almost everything. These are starting points, so test a few stitches and adjust to the look you like.

For the bigger picture of how fabric count works, see my fabric count guide. And if you’re brand new, start with the beginner’s guide to cross stitch.

The quick chart: how many strands for cross stitch (by count)

Fabric	Cross stitch	Backstitch	Tapestry needle
11 count aida	3 strands	1 or 2	22
14 count aida	2 strands	1	24
16 count aida	2 strands	1	24 or 26
18 count aida	2 (or 1 for a lighter look)	1	26
28 count evenweave or linen, over two	2 strands	1	26
32 count evenweave or linen, over two	2 (or 1)	1	26 or 28
6-count Binca or 7-count plastic canvas	all 6 strands (or pearl cotton)	2 to 3	18 or 20

Every Hoop & Hearth pattern lists the strand count on the floss key, so you don’t have to guess. My beginner cheat sheet puts this chart on one printable page too.

What a “strand” is (6 strands in DMC floss)

A skein of DMC stranded cotton holds 8 meters (about 8.7 yards) of floss. Look closely at the end and you’ll see it’s made of six thin strands loosely twisted together. Anchor and most other brands are the same.

So when a pattern says “2 strands”, it means: take two of those six single strands and thread them through your needle together. One skein gives you lots of 2-strand lengths, which is why a single skein covers a surprising amount of stitching.

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How to separate floss without tangles

This is the trick that changed everything for me as a beginner:

1. Cut a length of about 18 inches (45 cm) from the skein.
2. Hold it near the top between your finger and thumb, and let it hang.
3. Pinch one single strand at the top and pull it straight up, slowly. The other five will bunch up below your fingers. That’s fine.
4. Let the bunched strands relax and untwist by themselves.
5. Pull out the next strand the same way.
6. Lay the strands you need side by side, smooth them, and thread them together.

Always pull out strands one at a time, even if you need two. Pulling two out together twists them around each other, and they won’t lie as flat. Separating them first and putting them back together gives fuller, smoother stitches.

How long to cut your thread

About 18 inches (45 cm), which is roughly the length from your elbow to your fingertips.

• Longer than that and the floss rubs through the fabric too many times. It gets fuzzy, thin and tangly.
• Shorter means re-threading all the time.
• For the loop start, cut a single strand twice as long (about 36 inches) and fold it. It’s explained in how to start cross stitch without a knot.

When to use more (or fewer) strands

The chart is a starting point, not a law. Here’s when I change it:

Use more strands when…	Use fewer strands when…
You want full, plump coverage with no fabric showing	You want a soft, delicate, airy look
You’re stitching on dark fabric and the color looks thin	You’re stitching on high-count linen for fine detail
Your floss is a pale color on a darker background	The stitches look crowded or the holes are stuffed
It’s a kids’ project on Binca or plastic canvas	You’re doing backstitch details or fine lettering

Test first. Stitch three or four crosses in the margin of your fabric with 2 strands and with 3, and pick the one you like. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of unpicking.

You can also blend colors by threading one strand each of two different colors together. It’s a nice way to make a softer, in-between shade.

Over-two stitching on evenweave and linen

Evenweave and linen don’t have the clear blocks that aida has. Instead, you usually stitch over two threads in each direction. That halves the stitch count:

• 28 count over two = 14 stitches per inch, the same size as 14 count aida, so use 2 strands.
• 32 count over two = 16 stitches per inch, like 16 count aida, so 2 strands, or 1 for a lighter look.
• Over one on 28 or 32 count (tiny stitches) usually means 1 strand.

My fabric count guide explains over one and over two with pictures, and you can check finished sizes for any count in the fabric size calculator.

Keeping strands from twisting

Every stitch twists your thread a tiny bit. After a while, it kinks, knots, or the strands lie on top of each other instead of side by side.

• Let the needle dangle every few stitches. Hold the hoop up, let the needle hang, and it’ll spin back the right way.
• Give the needle a small turn in the opposite direction as you stitch, if you notice you always twist one way.
• Use shorter lengths. Shorter thread has less to twist.
• Separate the strands properly (see above). Pre-twisted pairs twist more.
• Don’t pull too tight. Snug, not squeezed. Tight stitches twist and pucker the fabric.

If your stitches still look messy, there’s more help in how to fix cross stitch mistakes.

Practice with a small pattern

The easiest way to get a feel for strands is a small design on 14 count with 2 strands. My free beginner heart is 3 colors and takes an evening or two. When you’re ready for more, these beginner patterns all list the strand count on the floss key:

You’ll find more in the beginner-friendly patterns, and everything else about getting started in the complete beginner guide.

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