18 Count Vintage Gray Aida Cloth Precut Cross Stitch Fabric 19x21 in by Zweigart 3793/7729

Stitch on Vintage Gray, an 18 count Aida cloth by Zweigart: a soft gray Aida with gentle, cloudy hand-dyed style mottling. The marbling is printed onto the cloth, so you get the look of hand-dyed fabric with an even, reliable weave.

A little stitcher's folklore: stitchers used to dip new linen in tea or coffee to give a sampler an antique look; a printed vintage fabric gives the same aged effect without any risk of the colour running.

Why this fabric: 18 count Aida gives fine detail and a smooth look for portraits, small motifs and ornaments, and it matches charts written for 36 count linen worked over two. This shade suits primitive, country and seasonal samplers.

In the pack: one precut piece of Zweigart Aida, 100% cotton, 18 count (7 squares per cm), in Vintage Gray. Not included: chart, floss, needle and hoop, sold separately.

Getting started: overcast or tape the edges, fold to find the centre and stitch one cross over each block with a size 26 tapestry needle, using one or two strands of floss. The marbling is printed, so each piece varies a little; buy enough for a whole project at once, and test a corner before washing a finished piece.

Size: 48 x 53 cm (19 x 21 in). Stitched one cross per block with a 2 in margin all round, it fits a design of about 265 x 300 stitches. Pair it with a chart and floss for a ready-to-start stitching gift.