What is Mesh Count?

Mesh count is the number of holes (or threads) per inch on your needlepoint canvas. It determines the size of each stitch and how much detail you can achieve in your design.

A higher mesh count means smaller stitches and more detail. A lower mesh count means larger stitches and a faster project.

Common Mesh Counts

How Mesh Count Affects Your Design

The mesh count you choose directly affects the physical size of your finished piece. For example, a design that is 100 stitches wide will be:

This means the same pattern looks larger and bolder on 10 mesh canvas, or smaller and more detailed on 24 mesh canvas.

Choosing the Right Mesh Count

Here are some guidelines to help you decide:

• New to needlepoint? Start with 10 or 13 mesh. The larger stitches are easier to see and work with.
• General projects? 13 or 18 mesh gives you a good balance of detail and stitching speed.
• Detailed designs or portraits? 18 mesh is the most popular choice for designs that need fine detail.
• Miniatures or very fine work? 24 mesh gives you the most detail, but stitches are very small.

Setting Mesh Count in Stitch A Lot Studio

You choose the mesh count when creating a new canvas:

1. Go to File > New
2. In the New Project dialog, set the Mesh Count field
3. The canvas size (in stitches) updates automatically based on your mesh count and physical dimensions

You can choose any mesh count from 7 to 24 per inch.

Changing Mesh Count After Creating a Canvas

If you need to adjust the mesh count on an existing canvas, go to Tools > Canvas Layout. This lets you change the mesh count without starting over.

Tip: If you are unsure, start with 18 mesh. It is the most versatile and works well for most designs.