PROJECT PLANNING · NOTE 02
Leave room for the finish, before the first stitch.
The stitched dimensions are only the middle of your piece. The fabric outside them gives you somewhere to hold the work, secure the edges and finish the project. Decide what that space must do before you cut.
One margin, four edges
In this planner, “margin per edge” means the same blank distance above, below, left and right of the design. If the stitched area is 8 × 10 inches and the margin is 2 inches, the fabric rectangle is 12 × 14 inches. Add the margin twice to each dimension.
That distinction matters. Adding 2 inches to the width and 2 inches to the height would leave only 1 inch around a centred design. Conversely, a request for “4 inches extra overall” is equivalent to a 2-inch margin on each edge. Write the per-edge value in your project notes to avoid ambiguity.
Let the intended finish set the allowance
There is no single margin that fits every project. A framed piece may need cloth for mounting and lacing beyond the area visible through the frame. A cushion needs a construction plan and seam allowances. An ornament may use a different backing or folding method. A hoop display needs fabric to wrap and secure around the back.
Check the instructions for your chosen finish or ask your framer what cloth they need before selecting the margin. The planner starts at 2 inches per edge as an editable example, not a universal recommendation. If several processes use the same edge area, consider their combined requirements rather than assuming that one allowance covers everything.
Keep the cut measurement practical
A calculated minimum may be an awkward fraction. A 100 × 150-stitch chart on 14-count Aida with 2 inches around it requires approximately 11.1429 × 14.7143 inches. Buying or cutting only 11 × 14 inches would be too small for that plan.
Choose a piece that meets or exceeds both dimensions. If you prefer whole-inch measurements, rounding each dimension up gives 12 × 15 inches for this example. This is a purchasing and cutting decision; the tool displays the calculated size without silently adding a rounding allowance. Check the unrounded value in the print sheet when precision matters.
A simple check before the scissors
Lay the cloth flat and confirm the usable rectangle after accounting for any damaged or uneven edge. Identify the centre of both the chart and the fabric, then check the remaining space to all four edges. A correct total size cannot compensate for starting far off centre.
If washing is part of your process, follow the care instructions for the fabric and every thread used. The calculator does not predict shrinkage, fraying or distortion. Any additional reserve for those factors belongs in your own planning.
- Confirm the full chart dimensions rather than a partial page of the chart.
- Confirm the Aida count on the actual cloth.
- Write down the margin as a distance on each edge.
- Check the requirements of the frame, hoop or sewn finish.
- Measure the usable fabric before cutting, and keep the project note with it.