Increase and decrease evenly calculator
Work 4 groups of 7 plain stitches and 3 groups of 8, with one increase or decrease after each group. You end with 58 stitches, 11.6 in wide.
Result
Plain stitches in each shorter group
Number of shorter groups
Plain stitches in each longer group
Number of longer groups
Stitches when the row is done
Plain stitches in the row
Stitches used by the increases or decreases
Width before
in
Width after
in
Change in width
in
How it works
A pattern says to increase stitches evenly across a row and leaves the arithmetic to you. The tool takes away the stitches the technique uses, splits what is left into groups and hands the leftover stitches out one at a time, so the groups differ by one stitch at most and nothing bunches up at the end. Work one increase or decrease after each group; worked flat, the last group simply ends the row. To decrease evenly across a row pick knit two together, and for evenly spaced increases in the round pick in the round: there the last increase sits at the end of the round. Mix the longer and shorter groups along the row instead of working all of one kind first.
Formula
plain stitches = stitches on the needle − stitches the technique uses × number of changes (make one uses 0, knit front and back 1, knit two together 2). Groups = number of changes when working in the round, one more when working flat. Each group gets plain stitches ÷ groups, rounded down, and the remainder is handed out one stitch at a time, so that many groups are one stitch longer. Width = stitches ÷ stitches per inch.
Worked example
The calculator opens with this example; the result above is computed from it.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Stitches on the needle | 52 |
| Stitches to increase or decrease | 6 |
| Technique | Increase: make one |
| Worked | Flat, in rows |
| Gauge: stitches | 20 |
| Gauge: measured over | 4 in |
| Plain stitches in each shorter group | 7 |
| Number of shorter groups | 4 |
| Plain stitches in each longer group | 8 |
| Number of longer groups | 3 |
| Stitches when the row is done | 58 |
| Plain stitches in the row | 52 |
| Stitches used by the increases or decreases | 0 |
| Width before | 10.4 in |
| Width after | 11.6 in |
| Change in width | 1.2 in |
Common cases
| Case | Starting values | Plain stitches in each shorter group | Number of shorter groups | Plain stitches in each longer group | Number of longer groups | Stitches when the row is done | Plain stitches in the row | Stitches used by the increases or decreases | Width before | Width after | Change in width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribbing to sweater body, in the round | Stitches on the needle 180; Stitches to increase or decrease 20; Gauge: stitches 20; Gauge: measured over 4 in | 9 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 200 | 180 | 0 | 36.0 in | 40.0 in | 4.0 in |
| First decrease round of a hat crown | Stitches on the needle 88; Stitches to increase or decrease 8; Gauge: stitches 20; Gauge: measured over 4 in | 9 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 80 | 72 | 16 | 17.6 in | 16.0 in | 1.6 in |
| Cuff to sleeve with knit front and back | Stitches on the needle 48; Stitches to increase or decrease 6; Gauge: stitches 24; Gauge: measured over 4 in | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 54 | 42 | 6 | 8.0 in | 9.0 in | 1.0 in |
| Border to blanket body, worked flat | Stitches on the needle 197; Stitches to increase or decrease 41; Gauge: stitches 20; Gauge: measured over 4 in | 4 | 13 | 5 | 29 | 238 | 197 | 0 | 39.4 in | 47.6 in | 8.2 in |
| Decrease row after a wide rib | Stitches on the needle 82; Stitches to increase or decrease 14; Gauge: stitches 20; Gauge: measured over 4 in | 3 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 68 | 54 | 28 | 16.4 in | 13.6 in | 2.8 in |
Questions and answers
How do I increase evenly in the round?
With 180 stitches on the needle and 20 to add with make one increases, work 20 groups of 9 plain stitches, each followed by an increase. You end the round with 200 stitches.
How do I decrease evenly across a row?
To take 14 stitches off 82 with knit two together, the decreases use 28 stitches and leave 54 plain. Split those into 6 groups of 3 and 9 groups of 4, with a decrease after each group but the last, and you end with 68 stitches.
How do I increase evenly when the stitches do not divide?
For 41 make one increases across 197 stitches worked flat, use 13 groups of 4 plain stitches and 29 groups of 5, mixed along the row, with an increase after each group but the last. That makes 238 stitches.
Assumptions and limits
- The tool gives the group sizes, not their order. Alternate longer and shorter groups as evenly as you can.
- Worked flat, a group of plain stitches sits at each edge, so no increase or decrease lands on an edge stitch.
- Other techniques fit one of the three: a yarn over or a lifted increase counts like make one, a purl front and back like knit front and back, and any single decrease like knit two together.
- The widths assume your gauge holds in this stitch pattern. Ribbing pulls in, so measure a swatch of the fabric that follows.
The result is an estimate for planning, not professional advice.
Sources
- Modern Daily Knitting, Kate Atherley: Less evenly across? (dividing stitches by increases and spreading the remainder, in the round and flat)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Berroco: Decreasing gracefully (each decrease uses two stitches; subtract them before dividing)retrieved 2026-10-13
- YarnSub: knitting increase calculator (make one uses no stitch, knit front and back uses one)retrieved 2026-10-13
Last updated:
Method in depth: Spacing increases and decreases evenly
Cite this page: Knit Math, “Increase and decrease evenly calculator”, https://knit-math.pages.dev/stitch-counts/increase-and-decrease-evenly-calculator/ (updated 13 October 2026).
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