Free printable resources · Original practice
Design on readable square cells, then calculate stitched dimensions from fabric count. Keep paper spacing, chart size and occupied motif size separate.
Design on readable square cells, then calculate stitched dimensions from fabric count. Keep paper spacing, chart size and occupied motif size separate.
Choose US Letter or A4 for prepared downloads. Original PDF and SVG files, worksheets and reference answers are free without signup. Collection packs contain the same individual pages in order.
Original blank grid. Letter or A4. Free PDF and SVG.
Original blank grid. Letter or A4. Free PDF and SVG.
The complete collection
Use the student pack first, then compare the reference or answer. Packs are PDFs; individual sheets below also include editable SVG files. The paper choice applies to every download.
Original task with a separate reference answer. Letter or A4.
Original task with a separate reference answer. Letter or A4.
| Motif | Chart cells | Occupied stitch span | Cross counts | 14-count motif size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS01 | 16 × 16 | 14 × 15 | A 76 / B 30 / total 106 | 1.0000 × 1.0714 in |
| XS02 | 20 × 12 | 16 × 10 | A 28 / B 41 / total 69 | 1.1429 × 0.7143 in |
The 4 mm and 5 mm design grids emphasize every ten cells and number those divisions. Their paper spacing is convenient for drawing a symbol. It does not select the fabric count. For Aida over one square, divide the occupied motif width and height by crosses per inch. The answer calculates both 14-count and 16-count sizes before any finishing margin.
The two original motifs use the letters A and B as redundant symbols for two muted colors. A dot in the source matrix means no cross; the printed chart leaves those cells empty. Count by row, sum each symbol, and compare the total with the answer. The charts do not match commercial thread numbers, estimate skein use or prescribe a fabric-cut size. No stitched sample or external craft-user test is claimed.
| Watch for | Check instead |
|---|---|
| Assuming the four millimeter paper grid spacing corresponds to a specific fabric count. | Recognize that paper cell size is a drawing convenience only. Calculate final dimensions using the motif stitch count divided by the actual fabric count. |
| Expecting DMC colour numbers to be matched automatically in the legend. | Use the provided colour and symbol legend as written. The files contain original symbols and colours without external brand matching. |
| Believing the printed paper size determines the final stitched project size. | The final size depends on the fabric count. Use the formula stitched width equals motif width in stitches divided by fabric count. |
Print the PDF matching the paper in your printer at Actual size / 100% if you want to retain the millimeter dimensions defined in the file. Turn off Fit and Shrink when those dimensions matter. Uniform resizing preserves relative image proportions and angles but changes physical lengths. Unequal resizing can distort both. SVG editors and browser print dialogs can also change scale, so measure a physical calibration span when the task relies on size.
These files have digital geometry and layout checks. Physical printer testing has not been completed. Complete a student page before comparing the worked answer or reference illustration. A geometric or counting result can be exact, while a hand drawing can vary in its marks and interpretation. The original resources use CC BY 4.0: credit Zumola, link the license and indicate changes.
No. The files contain two original symbol motifs with row and column addresses. They are not copied from commercial patterns and do not include external brand references.
No. The resource provides digital charts and counting review tools. There are no claims regarding stitched samples or human craft-user testing results.
All original pattern files are free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. This allows for broad use provided attribution is given to the source.
Yes. Every linked original worksheet, answer, PDF and SVG is free without signup. Individual SVG sheets stay editable; collection packs are PDF files. Analytics consent is not required to use the resources.
Fabric count is usually quoted per inch in one direction, but the two directions must be entered and checked independently. If a fabric is 14 stitches per inch across and 14 rows per inch down, one cell is one stitch in both directions and the grid stays square. If you enter 14 across but 18 down, the chart becomes taller than it is wide for the same number of cells, and every motif will look stretched when stitched.
Write both numbers down before drawing anything. Then confirm the grid aspect: a motif 20 cells wide and 10 cells tall on equal densities should measure twice as wide as tall in stitches. If your planned chart shows the opposite, the densities were swapped.
Choose a small palette first, then assign one symbol per colour. Fewer colours make the chart easier to follow and reduce the chance of misreading similar symbols. Simplify the picture by grouping nearby tones into the nearest chosen colour rather than trying to reproduce every shade.
Keep symbols visually distinct: a filled square, an open circle, a cross and a triangle are easier to tell apart than two similar dots. Place the symbol in the centre of each cell so the grid lines remain visible. Record the palette beside the chart with the symbol next to each colour.
The paper border is not part of the design. Count only the cells that contain a stitch, then add any deliberate empty margin you want around the motif. A motif occupying 42 cells across at 14 stitches per inch is 3 inches wide; 28 cells down at 14 rows per inch is 2 inches tall.
Add a seam or framing allowance separately if you need one, and state the assumption. Keep the chart's cell count, the fabric density and the finished size as three distinct figures so a mistake in one does not hide in another.
A picture is charted on a 30 by 18 cell grid with 12 occupied cells across and 9 occupied cells down. Fabric is 14 stitches per inch across and 14 rows per inch down. What is the finished size of the motif?
Width = 12 ÷ 14 ≈ 0.86 inches. Height = 9 ÷ 14 ≈ 0.64 inches. The equal densities keep the grid square, so the motif is wider than tall, matching its 12 by 9 cell shape. The 30 by 18 paper grid is not counted.
Because a chart can be stretched or flipped if the two directions differ and are not checked. Entering them separately lets you confirm the grid aspect before stitching.
Divide occupied cells across by stitches per inch for width, and occupied cells down by rows per inch for height. Count only stitched cells, not the paper border.
There is no fixed number. Choose a small palette whose symbols stay clearly distinct at reading size, and group nearby tones into the nearest chosen colour.
