x stitch count

[lyndy48]

I purchased a counted x stitch chart a few years ago as I liked the design, I decided to start the project but when I went to order the floss to use I was, and am still, confused as to the amount of floss I actually need because of instead of telling me how many skeins I'd need it states how many counts. For example one colour says I need 1227 count and another 117 count??
The picture is 160 stitches wide and 220 in depth. Can anyone advise me on how to calculate the amount of floss I'd need.
Many thanks Lyn

[rcperryls]

Hi lyndy! Welcome to the forum from SC. How much thread you need will depend on the size and type of fabric that you stitch the design on, as well as how tight or loose your stitches are, how many strands you are using to stitch with. If you have no thread to start with then you will have to get at least one skein for each color. You could contact the company that you purchased the chart from and ask them how many skeins you will need. One of our more mathematically adept members probably knows the calculation but I think it depends greatly on the conditions I mentioned above. I did find this web page HINTSANDTRICKS and I found a system which takes your own stitching style into account at Classic Cross Stitch..

Good luck! I hope that you will stick around and show us your project as you are stitching it. We love pictures!

Carole

[Allyn]

I think what it's telling you is how many stitches are in that particular color. Both of the links Carole gave you offer general guidelines as to how many stitches you can expect to get from a skein of floss. If the 1227 number is the highest number on any one color, I'd order a skein of each color for any any that you don 't already have in your stash.

[lyndy48]

Thanks for your reply, I just wish I'd noticed sooner, I think I will have to just buy a couple of skeins at a time and hope that the colour doesn't vary too much, trying to calculate how much I actually need would need a masters degree in maths as the colour changes every couple of stitches. Regards Lyn

[Allyn]

I'm not clear on why it seems so complicated. The chart gives you the number of stitches for each color. If 1227 is the highest number, one skein should be enough. If it's that confetti-heavy, slight variations in the dye lots won't really matter. It's usually noticeable when you have a large area of a single color, so confetti areas hide differences in dye lots.

[cairee]

I agree with Allyn. you should be fine with one skein of each color if 1227 is the highest number.