The Aida cloth started in 1890 by a German company called Zweigart. The even-weave cloth was first termed as Java. There are two accepted pronunciations of Aida. The first is “Ah-ee- dah” (ɑːˈiːdə) with emphasis on the second syllable. This is the same as the opera in Verdi. This has three syllables. The second accepted pronunciation is “Eiy-dah” (eɪdə). This has two syllables. Aida cloth is no doubt a great fabric to use for your cross-stitch projects. This fabric is helpful to novice stitchers because of its even weave and stiffness. This fabric is also the most common and inexpensive cloth for your projects. When you use Aida, make sure you understand its size or fabric count. It is not difficult to understand this concept. The key point is the higher the fabric count, the smaller the “X” stitches you can make. The lower the fabric count, the bigger the “X” stitches you can make. The fabric count is the number of stitches that fit within one inch of the Aida cloth. In simple terms, the 14-count Aida fits in 14 “X” stitches in every inch of the cloth. Once you have understood this concept, cross-stitching will be easier and more enjoyable.