Material guide
Embroidery thread and counted fabric
Coordinate fabric density, chart scale, strand count and needle before cutting the ground.
Separate before recombining
For stranded cotton, remove one strand at a time and then combine the number required. Pulling several at once encourages tangles and uneven tension. Strand count changes coverage, texture and how easily the thread passes through the ground.
Count controls scale
A denser ground makes the same chart smaller. Stitching over two fabric threads changes the effective grid, so record both fabric count and whether each chart square spans one or two intersections.
Make a system sample
Use the actual ground, needle and colour family. Check coverage in intended light, movement through the holes, distortion, the reverse side and the result after the planned finish.
How it behaves
Starting point
Ground density and stitching span set motif scale; strand count, twist and colour set visible coverage and texture.
Useful for
Counted cross stitch, evenweave work and geometric embroidery transferred from a fixed chart.
Care
Secure sample edges and test thread and ground together for colour transfer, distortion and the intended washing or finishing method.
Sources and provenance
- DMC — using stranded embroidery threadManufacturer · Checked 27 Aug 2026
- DMC — Mouliné SpécialManufacturer · Checked 27 Aug 2026
- Zweigart — Aida fabricsManufacturer · Checked 27 Aug 2026






