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Determining
Size of Fabric
So, you have
a pattern you would like to stitch. How do you determine
the size of fabric to purchase?
First, look
at the Color Key or Instructions that come with your
pattern. A fabric type and count will be listed that the
model was stitched on. It will be indicated whether the
design is stitched 2 over 2 threads or 1 over 1 threads.
Also, listed will be the size of the design, in inches
and stitch count, when stitched on this
fabric.
Next, ask
yourself a few important questions:
Do you want
your finished piece to look exactly like the model in
size and color?
If the answer
is yes, and you don't plan on using mats when framing,
then the general recommendation is to take the design
size in inches and add 6 inches to the width and length
of the design size to determine the size you need your
fabric cut to. This will give you a 'margin' of 3 inches
on all sides of the stitched design.
Do you plan
on using one mat board or multiple mat boards when
framing?
When framing
with a mat board, you will need additional fabric to
accommodate the size of the finished framed piece. If
you are using one mat board, it would be a good idea to
add at least 8 inches to the width and length of the
design size, so that you will have a 4 inch 'margin' on
all sides of the stitched design.
The more mats
you plan to use, the more extra fabric you should allow.
Check with your LNS owner to see what she recommends if
you are using multiple mat boards for
framing.
Do you plan
to use the stitched piece for the center of a pillow or
quilt square?
If so, then
you will need to determine how much extra space you wish
to have surrounding the design when the pillow or quilt
square is completed. Add this amount, plus an extra
inch, to the design size listed in the color key. The
extra inch will allow for finishing of the edges and for
the seams needed to stitch the pillow or quilt
square.
Now, this
becomes more complicated if, say, you wish to stitch the
design on a different count than the pattern calls
for.
In your Color
Key you will see the Stitch Count of the design listed.
It will look something like this:
Design Count:
100 wide x 70 length
To determine
the size in inches of the stitched design when changing
the fabric count, you will need to do the
following:
Divide the
Design Count for the width and length of the design by
the count size of the fabric you intend to use. Remember
that if you are stitching 2 over 2 on linen, that the
count size will be 1/2 the count size of the fabric. So,
28 count linen will be 14 count when stitched, 32 count
linen will be 16 count when stitched and so
on.
So, for 28
count linen stitched 2 over 2 threads, you would divide:
Design Count
Width: 100 divided by 14 = 7.14 inches
wide
Design Count
Length: 70 divided by 14 = 5 inches
length
Take these
two numbers and add the extra 6 inches to the length
& width to give you a 3 inch margin on each side
(or the amount of extra fabric margin that you wish)
for framing and you will need to purchase the following
size fabric:
7.14 + 6 =
13.14 inches wide
5 + 6 = 11
inches length
You may
determine the finished design size and the size of
fabric to buy for any count by following this same
method. If you are stitching over one, then you will
divide by the actual count of the linen you are using.
If you are stitching on Aida, then you will divide by
the actual count of the Aida you plan on
using. | 
