Getly
A cross-stitch pattern is a small file that decides weeks of work. Buy the wrong one and you find out halfway through: the finished piece is too big for the frame you bought, a colour in the key does not match any floss you can get, or the chart is printed in colour blocks that are impossible to tell apart under a lamp. Almost all of it can be read from the listing before you pay, if you know which lines to look for.
We read the Cross-Stitch Patterns shelf on Getly, measured October 2026: 59 active listings with a median price of $7.00. One caution: a single shop holds 71.2% of that shelf, so the shares below mostly describe one seller's template. It is a thorough template, which makes it a useful example of what a good listing answers.
1. Stitch count: the number that decides everything
The stitch count is the width and height of the design in stitches, for example 140 x 100. It is the one number you need to work out how big the finished piece will be, how much fabric to buy and roughly how long it will take. On this shelf 88.1% of listings state it. If a listing does not, ask before buying: a pattern without a stitch count is a pattern you cannot plan.
2. Finished size: stitches divided by fabric count
Aida fabric is sold by count: the number of stitches per inch. The finished size is simply:
finished size in inches = stitches / fabric count
For a design of 140 x 100 stitches:
| Fabric | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 14 count Aida | 10.0 in (25.4 cm) | 7.1 in (18.1 cm) |
| 16 count Aida | 8.75 in (22.2 cm) | 6.25 in (15.9 cm) |
| 18 count Aida | 7.8 in (19.8 cm) | 5.6 in (14.1 cm) |
| 28 count evenweave, over two | 10.0 in | 7.1 in |
Then add fabric for the margin: at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) on every side if you plan to frame it, so the 14 count version above needs a piece of about 16 by 13 inches. Many listings state the finished size for one fabric only, usually 14 count; on this shelf 59.3% mention Aida at all. With the formula you can convert to whatever you stitch on.
3. The floss list: DMC numbers and skein counts
A good pattern lists every colour as a floss number, almost always DMC, sometimes with Anchor equivalents. Measured October 2026, 89.8% of listings on the shelf mention DMC. What to check:
- Number of colours. More colours mean a more realistic image and more thread changes. Forty colours on a small design is a sign of a converted photo; expect a lot of confetti stitches.
- Skein estimates. Some patterns say how many skeins of each colour you need. That saves a second trip to the shop.
- Blended or speciality threads. Metallic, glow-in-the-dark or two colours in one needle should be called out in the key.
4. Chart type: symbols, colour or both
Cross-stitch charts come in three styles: black and white symbols, colour blocks, and colour blocks with symbols on top. Colour-only charts look nice on screen but are hard to follow where two shades are close. Symbols are what you stitch from.
On this shelf 89.8% of listings mention symbols and 35.6% mention a colour chart or colour key. The best case is both: a symbol chart for working and a colour preview for checking you have the right shade.
5. Pattern Keeper and tablet stitching
Many stitchers now work from a tablet with Pattern Keeper, an app that reads PDF charts, lets you mark stitches as done and highlights one colour at a time. It only works well with PDFs built in a way the app can read, which is why sellers mention compatibility. 27.1% of listings on the shelf say they are Pattern Keeper compatible. If you stitch from a tablet, treat that line as essential; if you print, it does not matter.
6. Pages and what is in the file
The median PDF on this shelf has 6 pages. A typical pattern PDF contains a cover with the finished image, the floss key, the chart split across pages with overlap rows, and sometimes instructions for beginners. Check that large charts are split with an overlap: it saves miscounting at the page edges. About half of listings deliver a zip (52.5%) and the rest a single PDF (47.5%); a zip usually holds several chart versions, for example a symbol chart and a colour chart.
7. Previews and the license
Every listing on this shelf shows at least two images, usually a stitched or rendered preview and a piece of the chart. Look closely at the chart preview: it tells you more about readability than the finished photo does.
As for rights: of the listings that set a license type, 95.3% are personal use. That means you can stitch the pattern for yourself and as a gift, but selling finished pieces or sharing the PDF usually needs the seller's permission. If you stitch to sell at markets, ask first.
Checklist before you buy a cross-stitch PDF
- Stitch count stated?
- Finished size worked out for your fabric (stitches / count + 3 inches margin each side).
- Floss list with DMC numbers, colour count you are comfortable with.
- Symbol chart included, colour preview as a bonus.
- Pattern Keeper compatible, if you stitch from a tablet.
- License allows what you plan to do with the finished piece.
You can browse the shelf at Cross-Stitch Patterns. Payment is currently in USDT or USDC stablecoins, every purchase has a refund window of at least 30 days, and the PDF stays in your library if you need to download it again on a new tablet.
