Aida Band

Aida fabric is a fabric widely used for counted cross stitch. The name Aida comes not from the opera by Guiseppe Verdi but from the weaving method. The characteristic of this weaving method is the resulting gap after every fourth thread lenghtwise and across creating small holes in the fabric. This makes cross stitching easy. You don't have to count the single threads but simply stitch from one hole to the other.
Aida Band is this kind of fabric in shape of a band. Usual widths range from less than 1 inch up to 12 inches. Aida Band comes endless from the loom and is sold either by the length or precut in length of one meter or yard.
The main advantage of Aida Band is the time and work saving because you don't have to sew the open edge. But there are not only simple straight or slightly scalloped edges. Although these edges can have a different color than the band, there are a lot more design alternatives. Edges can have a pattern (e.g. stars or roses), be scalloped or different on both sides of the band.