Buttonhole Spacing Calculator

How to use

1. Enter the total number of stitches in your buttonband.
2. Enter how many buttonholes you want, and how many stitches each buttonhole uses (2 is typical for a yarn-over buttonhole).
3. Read the worked row — for example K10, [BH, K9] × 4, BH, K10, where BH means "make one buttonhole".
4. Work straight across following it; the buttonholes come out evenly spaced with matching margins at both ends.

Good to know

• The end margins are made equal to (or one stitch larger than) the gaps between buttonholes, so the top and bottom buttons are not crowded against the edge.
• When the stitches do not divide evenly, the leftover stitches are added to the outer gaps — a one-stitch difference that is invisible in wear.
• A standard buttonhole uses about 2 stitches (yarn over, knit two together). Set the width to 1 if you use a single-stitch eyelet, or higher for a wide horizontal buttonhole.

FAQ

How do I know how many stitches my buttonhole uses?

A common one-row buttonhole (yarn over + knit two together) uses 2 stitches and leaves the count unchanged. Count the stitches your chosen buttonhole method spans and enter that.

Why are the end gaps sometimes bigger?

When the plain stitches do not divide evenly, the extra stitches go to the two end gaps. This keeps the first and last buttonhole a comfortable distance from the edges.

Does this work for spacing buttons instead of buttonholes?

Yes. Set the width to 1 and treat each "BH" as a button position — the spacing math is the same for marking where buttons go on the opposite band.