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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.
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With over 40 years in knitting and crochet design, DROPS Design offers one of the most extensive collections of free patterns on the internet - translated to 17 languages. As of today we count 320 catalogues and 12102 patterns translated into English (UK/cm).
We work hard to bring you the best knitting and crochet have to offer, inspiration and advice as well as great quality yarns at incredible prices! Would you like to use our patterns for other than personal use? You can read what you are allowed to do in the Copyright text at the bottom of all our patterns. Happy crafting!
Goededag! Ik begrijp niet precies hoe het zit met het meerderen na de eerste 6 cm breien. Er staat dat er rondom de gemarkeerde steken telkens 1 steek gemarkeerd moet worden (dus 2) en vervolgens na elke 5 cm. Als ik in 4 keer totaal moet meerderen kom ik niet op het juiste aantal steken uit. Maat M
06.07.2025 - 22:42