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Firstly, get your mind out of the gutter anyone who went there I ordered the threads for my Train of Dreams this weekend and was looking at fabric. I have a piece of 25ct evenweave in a drawer but its half an inch shorter in length than my fabric calculator advises. The design will fit on it, it's the border left for framing that will be missing the half inch. Would that be a problem if I wanted it framed?

What size border will you have?
The fabric calculator which i use suggests a 2 inch border, but i have had a piece framed with only a 1 inch border a that turned out ok.

If you're going to use a mount or you don't mind the frame coming right up to the design, I can't see that being a problem. It's a bit tighter than I would normally advise, but it's doable!

The fabric calculator I used recommended a 3 inch border. With a 2 inch border the fabric I have is definitely big enough.

I've just laced a piece with a slightly-less-than-2"-border and that was OK

Sarah83 wrote:Firstly, get your mind out of the gutter anyone who went there

Must admit my first thought was: "depends on the problem..."

My experience with fabric calculations are that they are often very generous. Half an inch less won't make much difference, I wouldn't have thought. But make sure you stabilise your edges really securely so you don't lose more with fraying.

Half an inch really shouldn't be a problem. Just finish the edges of your piece and it should be fine. I normally add on a 3 inch border and half an inch doesn't really matter as long as you make sure your pattern is centered properly!

Thanks everyone, I'll go ahead and use the fabric I have then. I'll grid it first and make sure the design actually fits and see how much is left each side, if it's not enough I'll just have to buy a bigger piece. I'll make sure to secure the edges somehow too. Off to find ways of doing that now!

When I bought the fabric for the cross stitch I have just finished, the sales assistant accidentally gave me a 28 count linen instead of the 32 count it called for. The fabric had been cut for the smaller count. I didn't realize the mistake until I was half way through the project. The border was going to end up about 1/2 inch smaller.
Everything I was reading was telling me there should be a 3inch border, so I got into a bit of a tizzy over it. (Stupid, I know.)
I phoned the wonderful lady that was going to frame it for me and she calmed me right down and told me it wouldn't be a problem at all.
So, in other words, go for it!

That must have been a scary time until you got her reassurance that it would be OK!

Probably not a problem as all seem to agree, but I don't know if anyone suggested you be sure and find your center so that both sides are lacking a quarter inch, so that it is even less of a problem.

I've had a piece of fabric that turned out to be a bit short on one side when I went to frame it. I just had my mum sew on a piece of white fabric before I laced it up. I can't tell you how the finished product looks (I'm still waiting for my mum to cut the mat for it 6 months later) but the fabric will be hidden behind the mat so I'm not worried.