I have never done one but it was my understanding that these could be done on any cloth to look like cross stitch. I'm not sure the holes would line up no matter how carefully it was hooped. If you try and it works let us know
Bev

Gosh I don't think I'd even attempt it, I'd go grey before my time .. hope you manage to do it though, I'll cheer you on :) xXx

I have done a few small projects and didn't worry about the holes,just made sure it was hooped squarely. They came out looking remarkebly like hand counted cross stitch.

Why would you want to? Aida cloth is a fairly recent invention for those who can't be bothered to count threads (rather like me now my eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be.) If you want a true vintage cross stitch look you should use evenweave linen and it will look fabulous.

I agree with Sue to use a natural fiber than to attempt to line up the Aida cloth. Copy and pasted as to how long the Aida Cloth has been around: Aida fabric is used by many thousands of cross stitchers all over the world. Aida cloth was invented by the Zweigart company in 1890 and was an immediate success because it was so easy to work and made counting the stitches very easy.

I realise that "quite recently" means different things in different parts of the world. Counted cross stitch was around in Europe from Elizabethan times and propbably before. To us, the end of the 19th century is "quite recent". LOL
I learned to do various counted thread techniques as a teenager and when I discovered Aida fabric it seemed like cheating. I use it now though!

I've done many project on different sizes of Aida cloth, and it really does look like it's by hand. Even if every stitch isn't exactly in the hole, it's really hard to tell. Just be sure the cloth is straight. These bibs still look new.

Forgot to tell you--you don't need any stabilizer, and don't prewash the cloth :)

Forgot to tell you--you don't need any stabilizer, and don't prewash the cloth :)

Wow.. this sounds like a great idea. and I love the bibs that daisy has done... they look fabulous. Please let us know how you go. I might give it a try myself - thanks for inspiring me :)

give it a try, you've got nothing to lose. I have done redwork on Aida and it looked nice, used bright colours and one was just in black thread. I would have liked thicker thread than 40, but didn't have any.

Hope you get to try this fab aida fabric for your Xst. It looks fab and the fabric is lifelong good quality, (and very expensive)
Happy stitching