if you're a beginning counted-x-stitcher i recommend you start with aida cloth. it's woven so that you can easily see where to poke the needle through for even stitches. once the project is done you have to option of washing it to shrink those little holes. they all but disappear and you almost have the look of linen or even-weave.
if you choose to wash, make sure to stitch a little hem around the edges to prevent fraying. if you throw it into the dryer to maximize shrinking, you'll need to wet it again so you can block it back into shape.