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Increase or decrease evenly calculator
To increase or decrease evenly, take the difference between your current and target stitch counts, then spread that many increases or decreases through the row. Going from 32 to 38 stitches is 6 increases, one about every 5 stitches; the calculator writes it as [(sc 4, inc) x2, sc 5, inc] x2 (38), with the leftover stitches mixed in evenly. It works for crochet and knitting, flat or in the round, and checks every instruction adds up.
6 increases: 32 stitches become 38, about one every 5.3 stitches. inc = 2 sc in the same stitch.
Worked examples
- Crochet, in the round, 32 to 38: 6 increases; 32 ÷ 6 = 5 rem 2, so the gaps are 4 or 5 stitches, mixed evenly:
[(sc 4, inc) x2, sc 5, inc] x2 (38). - Crochet, flat, 32 to 38: the same increases, but the row starts and ends with a half gap so both edges match:
sc 3, (inc, sc 4) x5, inc, sc 3 (38). - Knit, flat, 60 to 52: 8 decreases (k2tog); 52 stitches, 8 of them made from two:
k4, (k2tog, k5) x8 (52).
Each instruction is checked before it's shown: the stitches it works into must add up to your current count, and the stitches it makes must add up to the target.
Questions
How do I increase evenly across a row?
Subtract your current stitch count from the target to get the number of increases, then divide the current count by that number to see how often to increase. Going from 32 to 38 stitches is 6 increases, one about every 5 stitches. The calculator spreads any leftover stitches through the row so no two increases bunch up.
How do I decrease evenly in a round?
Subtract the target from the current count to get the number of decreases. Each decrease (sc2tog or k2tog) turns 2 stitches into 1, so 60 to 52 stitches is 8 decreases. For knitting, worked flat: k4, (k2tog, k5) x8 (52).
What does (sc 4, inc) x6 mean?
Work one single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches, then 2 single crochets in the next stitch, and repeat that 6 times. Each repeat uses 5 stitches and makes 6.
What if the numbers don't divide evenly?
Then some gaps are one stitch longer than others. The calculator mixes the longer and shorter gaps evenly through the round (or row), instead of piling all the extra stitches at the end, and it checks that the instruction really turns your count into the target.
Does it work for knitting?
Yes. Knit increases use M1 (make one) between stitches and decreases use k2tog. Choose Knit and whether you're working flat (rows) or in the round.
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