Cross Stitch Calculator

Over One vs Over Two in Cross Stitch

Stitching over one means each cross covers one thread of evenweave or linen in each direction; over two means it covers a square of two threads by two. Over two halves the effective count, so 28-count over two gives 14 stitches per inch, the same size as 14-count Aida. Over one makes the design half that size, with finer detail.

A cross stitched over one thread next to a cross stitched over two threads On the same evenweave grid, the over-one cross spans one thread each way and the over-two cross spans two threads each way, so it is twice as wide. Over one thread Over two threads
The same fabric, two stitch sizes: over two covers twice the width and height of over one.

What does stitching over two mean?

Stitching over two means each cross stitch spans two threads of the fabric horizontally and two vertically. It is the usual way to work cross stitch on evenweave and linen, which are woven from single threads rather than the blocks of Aida. Each stitch is twice as wide as a stitch over one, so the number of stitches per inch is the thread count divided by two.

What does stitching over one mean?

Stitching over one means each cross covers a single thread in each direction. On 28-count fabric that is 28 stitches per inch, so the design is half the size of the same chart worked over two. Over one is used for very small, detailed work, and many stitchers use a single strand for it.

Over one and over two on common counts

The table shows the stitches per inch, the size of a 100-stitch line and the strands our sources list for each common evenweave and linen count, over one and over two.

FabricOver one: per inchOver two: per inch100 stitches over twoStrands over two
25-count25.012.58.0 in (20.3 cm)2
28-count28.014.07.1 in (18.1 cm)1–2
32-count32.016.06.3 in (15.9 cm)1–2
36-count36.018.05.6 in (14.1 cm)Not stated by our sources
40-count40.020.05.0 in (12.7 cm)Not stated by our sources
 Strands from Colonial Needle’s table. 100 stitches over one is half the length shown.

How do you stitch over two?

  1. Find the centre of the fabric and the chart, as for any counted design.
  2. Count two threads across and two threads up for every stitch, so each cross covers a square of four thread crossings.
  3. Keep every stitch on the same grid: if one stitch starts on an odd thread, the next one starts two threads along.
  4. Check your count often in the first rows; once a few stitches are placed, the rest follow them.

When should you use over one or over two?

Does over two change how much fabric you need?

Yes. Over two doubles the size of each stitch compared with over one, so the design and the fabric are larger. Use the cross stitch calculator with "stitched over" set to 2 to get the exact fabric to cut, or the fabric count converter to compare over one and over two.

Can you stitch over two on Aida?

Yes, but it is uncommon. Each cross then covers four Aida blocks, which halves the count: 14-count Aida over two works like 7-count. It is sometimes used to make a large, quick piece from a small chart.

Is 28-count over two the same as 14-count Aida?

Yes, in size. Both give 14 stitches per inch, so a chart comes out the same size on either. The look differs: linen and evenweave give a smoother, flatter finish than the visible blocks of Aida.

Sources: Colonial Needle, how many strands of embroidery floss to use. Every formula and default is explained on the methodology page.

Published by Cross Stitch Calculator; maintained by Fahad Shoaib. Method version 1.1. Last updated . Found a wrong number? Tell us.