Armhole Shaping Calculator
Underarm bind-off plus even decreases to curve a set-in armhole.
Result
Bind off 3 sts at the start of the next 2 rows, then decrease 1 st at each end every 2nd row, 3 times, then every 3rd row, 2 times.
3 bound off + 5 decreased = 8 sts removed at each edge. Front and back are usually shaped the same.
This spaces the decreases evenly. Traditional set-in armholes front-load them — bind off 2, then 1, then decrease every RS (right-side) row — for a rounder curve. Use these as a starting point.
Calculated at fibercalc.site/armhole-shaping — free knitting & crochet calculators.
How to use
- Enter how many stitches to remove at each armhole edge — the difference between your body width and the width above the armhole, per side.
- Enter the armhole shaping depth in rows (from the underarm to where shaping ends).
- Enter the underarm bind-off — the straight stitches bound off at once at the base of the armhole (about 2.5 cm / 1 in worth).
- Read the instruction: bind off at the underarm, then the even decreases to work at each edge up the armhole.
Good to know
- A set-in armhole binds off a few stitches straight at the underarm, then decreases the rest gradually to curve — this calculator spaces those decreases evenly, the same way the Sleeve Taper does.
- The underarm bind-off is usually about 2.5 cm (1 in) of stitches; the rest is decreased over the first few centimetres of the armhole.
- Front and back armholes are normally shaped identically. Pair this with the Sleeve Cap once you know the armhole depth.
FAQ
- How many stitches should I remove at each armhole?
- The difference between your body stitch count and the shoulders-plus-neck width, divided by two (one armhole each side). Your pattern or a schematic gives the target width above the armhole.
- How big is the underarm bind-off?
- Usually about 2.5 cm (1 in) worth of stitches, bound off straight at the base of the armhole so the sleeve seam sits neatly. The remaining shaping is decreased gradually above it.
- Do I shape the front and back the same?
- For most pullovers, yes — the front and back armholes match. The front then adds neck shaping higher up, which the Neckline Shaping calculator handles.