How to increase or decrease stitches evenly

Do you need to increase or decrease stitches evenly across your work? We show you how to do it in easy steps below. Remember, DROPS also has its own increase/decrease calculator that gives you the answer directly.

Increase stitches evenly

Example: Increase 21 stitches evenly across 140 stitches on the needle. Result: 161 stitches on the needle.

Step 1: Calculate the spacing
Use a calculator and divide the total stitches (140) by the number of increases (21): 140 / 21 = 6,66

Step 2: Round to whole or half stitches
The calculation says to increase before every 6,66 stitch. This number is rounded down to 6,5 since this is a number that is easier to work with. To get as close as possible, alternate increases after 6 stitches and 7 stitches.

Step 3: Work the increases
Here’s how you can do it:

• Work 6 stitches, then increase 1 stitch before the next stitch (for example, by making a yarn over or picking up a stitch).
• Work 7 stitches, then increase 1 stitch before the next stitch.
• Continue alternating until you have made 21 increases. After the last increase there are 4 stitches left on the needle. Work these without increasing.

Decrease stitches evenly

Example: Decrease 21 stitches evenly across 140 stitches on the needle. Result: 119 stitches on the needle.

Step 1: Calculate the spacing
Use a calculator and divide the total stitches (140) by the number of decreases (21): 140 / 21 = 6,66

Step 2: Round to whole or half stitches
The calculation says to decrease every 6,66 stitch. This number is rounded down to 6,5 since this is a number that is easier to work with. To get as close as possible, alternate decreasing the 6th stitches and 7th stitch.

Step 3: Work the decreases
Here’s how you can do it:

• Work 4 stitches, work 2 stitches together.
• Work 5 stitches, work 2 stitches together.
• Continue alternating until you have made 21 decreases. After the last decrease there are 4 stitches left on the needle. Work these without decreasing.