Increase / Decrease Evenly Calculator

How to use

1. Choose Increase or Decrease depending on what your pattern asks for.
2. Enter the number of stitches currently on your needle, then how many stitches the pattern wants you to add or remove.
3. Read the instruction — for example [K12, M1] × 8 means “knit 12, make 1” repeated 8 times across the row.
4. The line below the instruction confirms your final stitch count so you can check it against the pattern.

Good to know

• When the numbers do not divide evenly, the calculator spreads the remainder across the row — some segments are one stitch longer, which is invisible in the finished fabric.
• M1 (make one) is used for increases and K2tog (knit two together) for decreases, but the spacing works the same for any increase or decrease you prefer — including crochet stitches.
• Each K2tog uses two stitches, so you need at least twice as many stitches as decreases.

FAQ

What does “increase evenly across row” mean?

The pattern wants the new stitches spread out at regular intervals instead of bunched together, so the fabric grows evenly. This calculator computes those intervals for you.

Does this work for crochet too?

Yes — the "Written in" toggle rewrites the instruction in crochet terms. The spacing shifts slightly too: a crochet inc works twice into an existing stitch, so 96 sts with 8 increases is [11 sc, inc] × 8 in crochet against [K12, M1] × 8 in knitting.

Why are some segments one stitch longer than others?

When stitches do not divide evenly by the number of increases, the leftover stitches are distributed one per segment. The difference of a single stitch is not visible in the finished piece.

Should the increases land at the very start or end of the row?

This calculator places each increase after a segment of plain stitches, which keeps the first and last shaping stitch away from the very edge — where increases are hardest to work and easiest to see.