Cross stitch chart paper

Square cross stitch chart paper with a heavier line every ten squares — the standard counting convention on every published cross-stitch chart.

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Why every tenth line is darker

Cross-stitch charts are counted, not measured. The heavier line every ten squares lets you find your place without counting from the edge each time, exactly like the printed charts in pattern books. Losing your count is the single most common way a design goes wrong, and the ten-square rule is the standard defence against it.

Matching your fabric count

Aida cloth is sold by count — 14 count means 14 stitches per inch. If you want your chart printed at the same scale as the finished piece, set the spacing to 1/14 inch for 14 count, 1/16 for 16 count, and so on. Most designers prefer to work larger than the finished size, though, since it leaves room to write symbols in the squares.

Charting for backstitch

Backstitch outlines run along the grid lines rather than filling squares, so a clean, light grid with well-defined intersections helps. Keep the line weight low; if the grid is heavy you will not be able to see your outline against it.

Printing it accurately

This only measures correctly if your printer doesn't rescale the page. In the print dialog set Scale: 100% — not "Fit to page" or "Shrink oversized pages". If you're not sure it worked, print the calibration page, measure the ruler on it with a real ruler, and it will tell you exactly what your printer is doing to the page.