I'm not sure Aida has a right or wrong side. Our Aida stitcher, SYagel, will certainly answer you.

I am an Aida fabric stitcher and have never found a right or wrong side for it. Both sides are the same to me, and never seen any articles that say anything about a right or wrong side in all the years I have been stitching. I always wash my Aida fabric on gentle in my washing machine and use fabric softener before I use it. I hang it up on a pants hanger to air dry. This makes it more comfortable to use especially with the very large projects I do.

I've been cross stitching on Aida for two years now and never thought about it having a right or wrong side. So I agree, I don't think it matters. I do like my Aida to be stiff when I stitch, so I do not wash it first, but wash it after I am all done, even if it is still on the stiff side after. I think it is whatever you are comfortable stitching--that's the important part. Maybe that is why I prefer Aida and have never tried anything else. I did have someone tell me that Aida is only for beginners because it is easy to use. This lady, whom I knew slightly from my library, was sort of implying that advance stitchers would never use Aida (she kind of had her nose up in the air, minus the clothes pin, when she talked about stitching on Aida). I ignored her, and I'm happy other bloggers here see nothing wrong with Aida, no matter what your stitching level. And I found that if I need to do quarter stitches on Aida to just change to a sharper needle to push through the middle.

Yah, you get that a lot on Aida Cloth & even Cross Stitching itself. Some like to feel superior. I got it from a few in The Embroiderer's Guild, but most were really nice. Also, Americans seem to be more into linen, neat backs, & "beginners" needlework, than others.

I have always used Aida and just love it especially if I have to do partial stitches. Since I use a sharp needle it is so easy to do partial stitches. Don't pay attention to those "snooty" people who think they are so right. Most of the people that I know use Aida fabric for all their stitching. You use what ever you want. It is your choice. One thing I do with my projects when I am done is to press fusible interfacing on the back of my projects. This makes the back stitches hold nice before I frame it.

Thanks everyone! I did find an article late last night that asserted that the "right side" of ANY cloth can be determined by the pinholes on the selvage - neat, smooth holes = right side. I was so frustrated that I decided to go with my own gut feel, and started over on the opposite side from how I originally started. You can guess I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, but since I'm stitching the project for myself, I figured I should do it the way I'll enjoy it best, even if I had to start over.

Love it, so many aida stitchers. I have stitched many years and have never considered changing from aida. It is so versatile and user friendly with many different looks plain color, fiddler, fabric composition (cotton, poly blend, etc), and counts. I have no interest in straining my eyes to work on linen and trying to count threads particularly since I stitch predominantly at night. Like everyone else here, I have never noticed a difference in one side over the other except for an occasional imperfection in the weave and always try to look at the entire fabric piece carefully before I start a project and will turn it to the other side if I notice a blemish. The only thing I have noticed with fiddler's fabric if you look at it carefully, the pattern usually runs horizontally or vertically so you may want to turn the direction of your fabric before you cut it to size for your project in order to achieve the look you want or to better accomodate a project that may have alot of vertical or horizontal stitching. Happy stitching everyone.

I haven't noticed a difference on any of the fabrics as to right or wrong. I just stitch away. A shop owner told me the same story about Aida being beginner's fabric. I realize now that she wanted to sell her linens, etc. She also told me that you can tell right from wrong by the way the cloth is folded just like any fabric on the bolt. So basically the right side is the outside. I wish I could draw a picture because I am not explaining this well. Since her advice about Aida was wrong, I don't know if the rest is true. One of the other stitcher's mentioned that it could be determined by the selvage - that makes more sense. Problem is that some pieces don't have selvage.
Sorry, that you had to start over but I understand, some things bug me too until I "set them right". Good luck.