The short version
Divide the stitches you have by the number of increases or decreases. That tells you how many stitches go into each "group". Work the plain stitches of each group, then the increase or decrease. When the division does not come out even, make some groups one stitch longer.
Step by step: increasing in knitting
A make-one increase (M1) is worked between stitches, so it does not use any stitches up.
- Divide your stitches by the number of increases: 92 ÷ 7 = 13, with 1 left over.
- So you have 7 groups: 6 groups of 13 stitches and 1 group of 14.
- In the round, knit each group and make one after it: K14, M1, [K13, M1] 6 times. You end with 99 stitches.
- Worked flat, split one group between the start and end of the row so no increase sits on the edge: K7, M1, [K13, M1] 6 times, K7.
If you prefer kfb (knit front and back), remember it is worked into a stitch: knit one stitch fewer before each kfb.
Decreasing evenly
A k2tog uses two stitches and turns them into one. So first take 2 stitches per decrease off the total, then divide what is left.
- 92 stitches, 7 decreases: 92 − 14 = 78 plain stitches.
- 78 ÷ 7 = 11, with 1 left over: one group of 12 and six groups of 11.
- Result in the round: K12, k2tog, [K11, k2tog] 6 times, leaving 85 stitches.
Crochet is slightly different
A crochet increase ("inc" = 2 sc in the same stitch) is worked into a stitch, so it uses one. A decrease (sc2tog) uses two. Take those off before dividing. For a classic round of 36 sc with 6 increases: 36 − 6 = 30, 30 ÷ 6 = 5, so [sc 5, inc] 6 times, giving 42 stitches.
Worked examples
| Situation | Instructions | Stitches after |
|---|---|---|
| Knitting, in the round: 92 sts, increase 7 | K14, M1, [K13, M1] 6 times | 99 |
| Knitting, flat: 92 sts, increase 7 | K7, M1, [K13, M1] 6 times, K7 | 99 |
| Knitting, in the round: 92 sts, decrease 7 | K12, k2tog, [K11, k2tog] 6 times | 85 |
| Knitting, flat: 120 sts, decrease 12 | K4, k2tog, [K8, k2tog] 11 times, K4 | 108 |
| Crochet, in the round: 36 sc, increase 6 | [sc 5, inc] 6 times | 42 |
| Crochet, flat: 40 sc, decrease 5 | sc 3, sc2tog, [sc 6, sc2tog] 4 times, sc 3 | 35 |
Tips for neat results
- Place a stitch marker after every group the first time you work a shaping row. It makes counting easy.
- When you work several increase rounds (a hat crown, a yoke), stagger the start point each time so increases do not stack into a visible line.
- Count your stitches at the end of the row. If you are one off, the error is almost always a missed or doubled increase.
Questions
What does "increase evenly across" mean?
It means spreading the increases out so the same number of stitches sits between each one, instead of bunching them at one end.
What if the stitches do not divide evenly?
Make some groups one stitch longer than the others. Spread the longer ones around or put them first, as the calculator does.
Do I count the edge stitches?
Yes, count every stitch on the needle. The flat method keeps the first and last stitches plain automatically.