Are you talking about individual holes or the piece of fabric? Either way it should not make a difference. You can stitch an 8 INCH BY 10 INCH. You can have it 8 across and 12 down or 12 across and 8 down

If I stitched a square of cross stitches, would one side be longer than the other? I know it shouldn't be, but I think one of my patterns which should have been the same width was wider the second time I made it. Not by much, but it didn't fit the same frame.

Each "X" stitch is the same size depending on the count fabric you are working on. So on 14 count, there are 14 same size x's to the inch, for example. Just make sure if you are new to cross stitch that you have the fabric the right direction for the size of the design you are working on. If it is 8" wide by 10" high, make sure the longer part of the fabric is being used for the height and the smaller for the width (otherwise you will run out of fabric for the stitching if it is the wrong direction). Maybe you used a different count fabric? I hope that answers your question.

Ibcatlovr001 is correct. The size of the squares are the same no matter which way you stitch. Just be sure the height of the fabric matches the height of the pattern and is vertical and the width of the fabric matches the width of the pattern and is horizontal. It should be all right then. Don't forget to add 3 inches per side when determining the size of fabric you will need to use.

It has no right or wrong sides, that I know of. It's a basketweave with 4 threads each way, 2 over, 2 under. I once had some that was printed on one side to look like hand dyed linen. That made a difference, since the back was white.

clara-page
I know what you are talking about.. I had the same thing happen..
made 2 birth samplers from the same pattern; bought 2 matching frames... it was not really noticeable, but there was about 1/8th" difference from the finished pattern to the inside edge of the frame.

My friend who helped me frame, & I counted squares, etc & still numbers matched..

go figure..

another thought..
is it possible brands of aida could be the difference, etc. Charles Craft vs say Michael's store brand?

Weird! Maybe fabric makers aren't standard. Like women's clothing: A 16 at Target & a 12 at Macy's.

Is there a chance, with the two same pictures. that one was cross stitched just a hair tighter thus pulling the fabric in? Just a thought, but that is strange. Does anyone have a preference as to what they think is the best Aida. Or does it matter? Anyone have a brand they don't like?

I only ask because most of my Aida has been from the Dimension kits. I have not had a chance to compare. Adele

For Adele: I have often found that the fabric in many kits is of lesser quality and you are never given more than 2" perimeter instead of the recommended 3" perimeter for framing. If you visually look at kit aida and compare it to name brand aidas such as Charles Craft, Zweigart, Wichelt, etc, you will notice it is a thinner weight and appears more transparent (you can actually see through it somewhat because it is a thinner fabric) this is at least what I have found. If I really like a design in a kit, I often upgrade the fabric to a name brand and increase the perimeter to the recommended 3" for framing. I save the kit aida and mark it "kit fabric" and use it for free web patterns, ornaments, and the like.