Aida cloth (sometimes called Java canvas) is an open,
even-weave fabric
Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, and different types of fabric. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is no ...
traditionally used for
cross-stitch embroidery. This
cotton
Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
fabric has a natural
mesh that facilitates cross-stitching and enough natural stiffness that the crafter does not need to use an
embroidery hoop.
Characteristics
Aida cloth is manufactured with various size spaces or holes between the
warp and
weft to accommodate different thicknesses of
yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, used in sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery, ropemaking, and the production of textiles. '' Thread'' is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern ...
. These are described by the count. For example, a 10-count aida cloth would have 10 squares per linear inch. Typical sizes are 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 count, ranked from the coarsest to the finest count. Traditional colours are white and ecru, though black, grey, shades of tan and brown, and other brighter colors are also available. Aida cloth is sold in precut sheets or in bolts of 40" - 60" width at most craft stores.
Aida cloth has a tendency to fray and often needs
hemming before use. It should never be laundered prior to craft work and tends to contract when the finished item is washed in soap and water. Hand washing improves the appearance of finished cross-stitching because Aida cloth naturally contracts in specific areas where it is embroidered.
Pronunciation
The consensus from various discussions on Usenet group ''rec.crafts.textiles.needlework'' is that there are two ways to pronounce the word "Aida": either , as in
the opera by
Verdi, or . Since the name change from ''Java'' to ''Aida'' occurred not long after Verdi's opera was first performed, there has been some speculation that the cloth was renamed after the opera to take advantage of the opera's publicity.
Matty
Matty is a fabric similar to Aida. It is another material suitable for
embroidery. The fabric structure (open
plain weave) makes it convenient to count threads in
cross-stitch work. The material is used for various
linens.
Citations
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aida Cloth
Woven fabrics
Embroidery