Expert: Kris - 3/1/2010

Question
Help!!  I accidently used 14 ct aida instead of the 18ct recommended by the pattern.  How will this affect my piece?  I am making a stocking for a new baby in my family and it is important to me that the piece look perfect.  Should I just go back through with extra threads or should I scrap the whole thing and start again?  I am not terribly far into it so Im grateful for that.  What about size?  If I continue with the 14ct will that increase the size?  I only have a 18x24 piece of cloth and the finished size of the stocking is supposed to be 16" long (on the 18ct) so I'm worried I will get done with the piece and then run out of room on the cloth.  Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Ashley,

I will be happy to help you with this problem. Working on 14 or 18 count, you usually use 2 strands of the fiber, so that should be fine. As far as the size goes, if you stay with the 14 count, the stocking will be larger. You said that the finished stocking is supposed to be 16" long on 18 count. That means your stitch count is about 288 stitches. (18 count means 18 stitches per inch) To determine fabric size, divide your stitch count by your fabric size and add enough for finishing (usually 2 to 4 inches for stockings, pillows and bellpulls and 4 to 6 inches for framing). So if you divide 288/18 = 16 inches. Now if you do the same with the 14 count fabric 288/14 = 20.6" That leaves just over 3 inches left over for finishing. With a stocking that should be more than enough. But if you have done other stockings for the family, this would be larger.

I would keep working it, if the larger size is not an issue. And 14 count is easier to see than 18 count! I hope this helps answer your question!

Happy Stitching!
Kris