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Knitting Increase and Decrease Calculator

Pattern says “increase 10 stitches evenly across”? Enter the stitches on your needle and how many to add or remove, choose flat or in the round, and get the exact row instructions with stitch counts that add up.

Last updated: October 24, 2026

I want to

IncreaseDecrease

Stitches on needle now

Number to increase / decrease

Or target stitch count

Optional: overrides the number above and sets increase or decrease for you.

Knitting

FlatIn the round

Increase stitch

Decrease stitch

Spacing style

Enter your values to see the result.

How to use the Knitting Increase and Decrease Calculator

Choose increase or decrease and enter the stitches on your needle now.
Enter how many stitches to add or remove, or type the target stitch count.
Pick flat or in the round and the increase or decrease stitch you use.
Press Calculate spacing to get the row instructions such as K3, [M1, K6] × 9, M1, K3.
Follow the section table and check the running total as you knit.

The maths behind evenly spaced shaping

Increases (M1 or YO) do not use stitches, so all current stitches are spread into sections: section size = stitches ÷ increases.
KFB increases use one stitch each: plain stitches = stitches − increases.
Decreases (K2tog, SSK) use two stitches each: plain stitches = stitches − 2 × decreases, and each section is K(plain), K2tog.

Example in the round: 120 stitches, decrease 12. Plain stitches = 120 − 24 = 96; 96 ÷ 12 = 8, so work [K8, K2tog] × 12 to end with 108 stitches. Example flat: 64 stitches, increase 10 with M1. 64 ÷ 10 = 6 remainder 4, so four sections of 7 and six of 6. One 7-stitch section is split as K4 at the start and K3 at the end: K4, [M1, K7] × 3, [M1, K6] × 6, M1, K3, giving 74 stitches.

Common shaping stitches

Abbreviation	Meaning	Stitches used	Effect
M1 / M1L	Make one (left-leaning) from the bar between stitches	0	+1, almost invisible
M1R	Make one right-leaning	0	+1, mirrors M1L
KFB	Knit into front and back of the same stitch	1	+1, small purl bump
YO	Yarn over	0	+1, leaves an eyelet
K2tog	Knit 2 together	2	−1, leans right
SSK	Slip, slip, knit the 2 slipped stitches together	2	−1, leans left
P2tog	Purl 2 together	2	−1, used on purl rows

Tips

Place stitch markers at the start of each repeat on long rows so you can count as you go.
Count after the row: the new stitch count shown should match exactly before you move on.
On wrong-side rows of flat work, purl the plain stitches and use a purl increase (M1P) or P2tog.

Frequently asked questions

How do I increase evenly across a row?

Divide the stitches on the needle by the number of increases to find how many stitches go between each one. For 64 stitches and 10 increases, 64 ÷ 10 = 6.4, so the stitches are split into sections of 6 and 7 with one increase after each. In flat knitting the first section is split between the two ends of the row so no increase lands on the edge stitch.

How do I decrease evenly in the round?

Each K2tog uses two stitches, so subtract twice the number of decreases first. For 96 stitches and 8 decreases: 96 − 16 = 80 plain stitches ÷ 8 = 10, so work [K10, K2tog] eight times. You end with 88 stitches.

Why is flat knitting different from knitting in the round?

A round has no ends, so it is divided into as many equal sections as there are increases or decreases. A flat row has two edges, and spreading the shaping evenly means leaving about half a section at each end, which keeps the selvedge stitches clean for seaming or picking up.

What does [K6, M1] × 9 mean?

Work the stitches inside the brackets, then repeat the bracket the number of times shown: knit 6, make one, nine times in a row. It is the same as the “*K6, M1; rep from * 8 more times” style used in many patterns.

Which increase should I use?

M1 (make one) is nearly invisible and does not use up a stitch. KFB (knit into the front and back) is easy and sturdy but leaves a small bar and uses one stitch per increase. A yarn over makes a deliberate eyelet, useful in lace and decorative yokes.

What if the numbers do not divide evenly?

That is normal. The calculator gives some sections one extra stitch. With the Grouped style the larger sections come first so the instructions are short; with the Mixed style they are spread through the row for the most even shaping.

Can I decrease more than half my stitches in one row?

Not with K2tog, because each decrease uses two stitches; the most you can remove is half. For bigger reductions use K3tog, or spread the decreases over two or more rows.

Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?

Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.

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