How to increase/decrease evenly!

How to calculate where to inc/dec when pattern says "inc/dec evenly" - You can use this lesson's tips both in knitting and crocheting:

Increase evenly:
The pattern tells you to increase a number of stitches evenly.

Example 1: You have 100 sts and you shall increase 16 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 100 divided by 16 and you will get 6.25.
The number you get should be rounded down to full or half number.
In this example we will round it down to 6. So you should inc after every 6th stitch like this: Work 6 sts, make 1st inc, work 6 sts, make 2nd inc, work 6 sts, make 3rd inc, work 6 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 16th increase you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 2: You have 140 sts and you shall increase 21 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 140 divided by 21 and you will get 6.66.
The number you get should be rounded down to full or half number.
In this example we will round it down to 6.5. So you should inc after alternating every 6th and 7th stitch like this: Work 6 sts, make 1st inc, work 7 sts, make 2nd inc, work 6 sts, make 3rd inc, work 7 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 21st increase you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 3: You have 48 sts and you shall increase 12 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 48 divided by 12 and you will get 4.
If you get an even number and you are working in the round, then it's easy and you can just inc with that number of stitches between each inc.
But if you are working rows back and forth and shall inc every 4th stitch like in this example, then you would have to make an inc after the last stitch on row, which you can't. To avoid this you work a couple less stitches before first inc like this:
Work 2 sts, make 1st inc, work 4 sts, make 2nd inc, work 4 sts, make 3rd inc, work 4 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 12th increase you will have 2 sts left on row to work.

Decrease evenly: The pattern tells you to decrease a number of stitches evenly.

Example 1: You have 100 sts and you shall decrease 16 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 100 divided by 16 and you will get 6.25.
If the number is less than .5 then always round the number down, so in this example we round it down to 6.
To make decreases in every 6th stitch, means that you work together every 5th and 6th stitch like this: Work 4 sts, K2tog (5th and 6th sts), work 4 sts, K2tog, work 4 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 16th K2tog you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 2: You have 140 sts and you shall decrease 30 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 140 divided by 30 and you will get 4.66.
When the number is more than .5 you will have to alternate your decreases between lower and higher number. In this example this means we will alternate dec in every 4th and 5th st, like this:
Work 2 sts, K2tog (3rd and 4th sts), work 3 sts, K2tog (4th and 5th), work 2 sts, K2tog, work 3 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 30th K2tog you will have 5 sts left on row to work.

Example 3: You have 48 sts and you shall decrease 12 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 48 divided by 12 and you will get 4.
In this example this means we will dec in every 4th st, like this:
Work 2 sts, K2tog (3rd and 4th sts), work 2 sts, K2tog, work 2 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 12th K2tog you'll have no sts left on row to work.

Comments (214)

Anu wrote:

Kavennusohje tasavälein kaventamiseen: 99 silmukkaa, 27 silmukan kavennus tasavälein, jotta jää 72 s.

28.04.2025 - 20:28

DROPS Design answered:

Hei, tee kavennukset seuraavasti: *Neulo 2 silmukkaa, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 9 kertaa ,*neulo 1 silmukka, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 9 kertaa, *neulo 2 silmukkaa, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 9 kertaa.

07.05.2025 - 16:50

Karoliina Jaatinen-Kulppi wrote:

Kavennus: neuleessa 87 silmukkaa, pitää kaventaa 15s tasavälein jotta jää 72 s.

18.04.2025 - 18:05

DROPS Design answered:

Tee kavennukset seuraavasti: *Neulo 4 silmukkaa, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 6 kertaa, *neulo 3 silmukkaa, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 3 kertaa, *neulo 4 silmukkaa, neulo 2 silmukkaa yhteen* 6 kertaa.

23.04.2025 - 12:42

Esther wrote:

Har 560 masker og skal felle 32 m på omg 10. Og felle 29 m på omgang 15. er også mønster. Skal man også felle på armene! Hvordan gjør jeg dette?

18.03.2025 - 19:37

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Esther. Hvilken oppskrift er dette, hvilken str. strikker / hekler du? Bruk gjerne vår nye Øke / Felle kalkulator, du finner ikonet nederst til høyre på oppskriftssiden eller under Instruksjoner. mvh DROPS Design

24.03.2025 - 07:22

Tupu wrote:

Hyvää iltaa. Ei mene jakeluun aloittelijalle, eli on102 silmukkaa ja pitäisi kaventaa tasaisesti 26 silmukkaa. Kiitos jo etukäteen ☺️

13.03.2025 - 20:47

DROPS Design answered:

Hei, kavenna neulomalla joka 3. ja joka 4. silmukka yhteen.

21.03.2025 - 17:30

Kathrine wrote:

Hvis der står 2-2-2-2-2-8 masker ud hvad gør jeg så? Jeg strikker salt sea air fra drops design. Hilsen Kathrine

11.03.2025 - 19:45

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Kathrine. Da skal du strikke 1 omgang der det skal økes masker jevnt fordelt (antall masker kommer an på hvilken str. du strikker. I str. XS til XL økes det 2 masker, mens i str. XXL økes det 8 masker). Husk å lese UD-/INDTAGNINGSTIPS øverst i oppskriften. mvh DROPS Design

17.03.2025 - 07:32

Annelise wrote:

Jeg har 50 Masker og skal tage 23 masker ud jævnt fordelt på en pind. Hvordan gør jeg det?

03.03.2025 - 19:08

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Annelise. Vi har nå nylig lansert en Tag ud/Tag inn kalkulator. Du finner den øverst i oppskriften, rett under Instruktioner. Velg Tag ud og skriv inn 50 under Antal masker på pindene og 23 Antal masker som skal tages ud - Beregn. Du får da en beskrivelse på hvordan du da kan strikke / tag ut jevnt fordelt. mvh DROPS Design

17.03.2025 - 07:13

Bjørg Ferstad Røvik wrote:

Jeg har 246 masker og skal felle 74.Når jeg deler får keg 3,3,skal jeg da strikke en maske og felle 2.og 3.maske sammen?

26.02.2025 - 10:27

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Bjørg. Du strikker flest ganger 2. og 3. masker sammen, men noen ganger må du strikke 3. og 4. maske sammen. mvh DROPS Design

03.03.2025 - 07:10

Johanne wrote:

Bonjour, Pourquoi dans la leçon: Comment répartir des augmentations/diminutions, vous ne mentionnez pas l'exemple d'une division qui égale: ,5? Vous avez un exemple pour plus que ,5 moins que ,5 et ,0. Le modèle fa-498 menionne: Pour diminuer dans cet exemple, on va tricoter ensemble à l'endroit alternativement chaque 7ème et 8ème maille et chaque 8ème et 9ème maille.

03.02.2025 - 13:10

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Johanne, si votre résultat tombe sur ,5, vous êtes dans l'exemple 2 où on arrondi à 6,5 pour les augmentations et pour les diminution à 4,5, vous devrez donc alterner en tricotant dans votre exemple ainsi (6 m end, 2 m ens à l'end (= la 7ème et la 8ème m), 7 m end, 2 m ens à l'end (la 8ème et la 9ème m)) jusqu'à ce que vous ayez diminué le nombre de mailles indiqué, puis tricotez les mailles restantes à l'endroit. Bon tricot!

03.02.2025 - 16:05

Tone Lillian Christiansen wrote:

Jeg har 85 masker og skal felle 15 masker. Når jeg dividere dette så får jeg 5,66666666666 Hva gjør jeg her?

28.01.2025 - 20:42

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Tone. Da kan du strikke 10 ganger med 4 masker mellom før du strikker 2 masker sammen og 5 ganger med 3 masker mellom før du strikker 2 masker sammen og da gjerne jevnt fordelt med 4 og 3 masker før 2 masker sammen. mvh DROPS Design

03.02.2025 - 08:26

Rachel wrote:

If I have 56 stitches and need to decrease evenly 16 times to end with 40 stitches how do I do this?

26.01.2025 - 06:04

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Rachel, if you need to divide 16 sts evenly in one single row to get 40 stitches from 56 stitches, calculate as indicated in this lesson: divide 56/16 = 3.5. So you use the instructions for "Decrease evenly", "Example 2". That is, alternate between working together every 2nd and 3rd stitches and every 3rd and 4th stitches. So, *work 1 stitch, knit 2 together, work 2 stitches, knit 2 together*, repeat from * a * until you have decreased 16 times in the row. Happy knitting!

26.01.2025 - 19:59

Elizabeth Dønnestad wrote:

Hei 😊Jeg har 323 m og skal felle 51 m som da blir 6,33Hvordan skal jeg felle her?

06.01.2025 - 17:18

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Elizabeth. Når tallet er mindre enn ,5 (du har ,33) skal det alltid avrundes ned, så her avrunder vi ned til 6. For å felle inn for hver 6. m strikker man 5. og 6.m sammen slik: Strikk 4 masker, strikk 2 masker sammen (5.og 6.m), strikk 4 m, strikk 2 masker sammen, strikk 4 masker, strikk 2 masker sammen, og fortsett slik. Men noen ganger (3-4 ganger) må du strikke 5 masker før du strikker 2 masker sammen. mvh DROPS Design

13.01.2025 - 07:16

Laura wrote:

Drops Design Summer End-neuleen hihan ohjessa on että lisätään tasavälein 35 silmukkaa, miten käytännössä tehdään kun silmukoita on alkujaan 32? Samassa kohdassa merkkilangan kiinnittämisen jälkeen on "Lisää SAMALLA keskelle hihan alle 7 cm välein 2 silmukkaa..." Käsittäisin että tarkoituksena lisätä silmukat molemmin puolin merkkilankaa, mutta en vain ymmärrä miten se tehdään tuon lisäysvinkki 2 mukaan, joss samaan silmukkaan neulotaan 2 silmukkaa?

22.12.2024 - 08:12

Laura wrote:

22.12.2024 - 08:11

Sabrina Barthe wrote:

Bonjour, je tricote un bonnet au point de sable et j'ai besoin de savoir comment répartir des diminutions avec ce point pour ne pas décaler le motif. Merci

23.11.2024 - 18:14

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Mme Barthe, tout va dépendre de votre tension / du nombre de mailles / de l'effet souhaité, vous pouvez vous inspirer d'un modèle similaire pour pouvoir adapter les diminutions en conséquence. Bon tricot!

25.11.2024 - 10:19

Nenette wrote:

Bonjour Pouvez vs m aider à résoudre ce problème J ai 125 mailles je dois diminuer de façon régulière dans le rang 8 mailles Répéter ces 8 diminutions tous les 4 rangs 10 fois merci pour votre réponse

20.11.2024 - 23:41

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Nenette, procédez comme indiqué ci-dessus: divisez votre nombre de mailles = 125 par le nombre de diminutions = 8 = 15, 6 = vous diminuerez en tricotant chaque 14ème et chaque 15ème maille jusqu'à ce que vous ayez diminué 8 fois = il reste 117 mailles, divisez par 8 = 14.6, tricotez ensemble chaque 13ème et chaque 14ème maille ensemble jusqu'à ce que vous ayez diminué 8 fois et ainsi de suite. Bon tricot!

21.11.2024 - 16:20

Anouk wrote:

Bonjour, je ne suis pas sûre de comprendre ces explications. En effet j'ai un patron pour lequel je dois faire 28 augmentations sur un rang de 92 mailles. En suivant votre calcul j'obtiens 3,29, arrondi à l'unité inférieure 3, ce qui me fait 30 augmentations au lieu de 28

05.11.2024 - 17:10

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Anouk, ne diminuez que 28 fois au total, vous pouvez également augmenter après 2 mailles de temps à autre. Bon tricot!

06.11.2024 - 09:18

Anette Törnkvist wrote:

Jag stickar tiny cloud cardigan har fått mönstret i present men förstår inte flyttningen av markörerna vid okökningen snälla hjälp mig

18.10.2024 - 12:43

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Anette. Flytt de 4 merkene fra ermeøkningen, slik at hver av de 4 merkene sitter i den ytterste masken i hver side på forstykket og bakstykket. Eller ta en titt på denne generelle videoen, den viser hvordan man flytter markørene (du finner hjelpevideoer til høyre for bildene eller under bildene). mvh DROPS Design

21.10.2024 - 09:27

Marianne Johansson wrote:

Vad betyder"gjenta fellingen annenhver cm" är det detsamma som att sticka 2cm (varv)o minska sticka ytterligare 2cm o minska osv.

05.09.2024 - 10:48

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Marianne. Da feller du av f.eks når arbeidet måler 2 cm, 4, cm, 6 cm, 8 cm osv. mvh DROPS Design

09.09.2024 - 07:36

Heather wrote:

Hi I am working on Purple Dawn pattern. I am on the all sizes section where I completed A.1 to A.3 in height once then complete this a total of 4 times. Should I be working the increased stitches evenly when I start A.1 again? Or work until the already placed stitch marker then increase? Thank you in advance!

12.08.2024 - 18:15

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Heather, you should re-start diagrams as before, ie A.2 and A.3 should be worked at the transition of each raglan (with the marker threads inbetween) and the stitches between these both diagrams (front, back pieces and sleeves) are worked in A.1 as before. Happy crocheting!

13.08.2024 - 11:15

Samantha wrote:

Hello! I am knitting the Blushing Rose Cardigan in size L and in the pattern for the yoke it says that I need to knit 181 sts and increase 28 sts evenly over them. When I divide 181 by 28 I get 6.46. In your lesson for increasing sts evenly it says to round down the numbers we get to full or half numbers. Should I round it to 6, because in your lesson it says to round it DOWN or round it to 6.5 because it's closer? Thank you for your time!

14.07.2024 - 22:06

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Samantha, you should round it down to 6, so that you have space for all stitches. The last few stitches will have no increases but otherwise you would be left without enough stitches to work the last increase. Happy knitting!

16.07.2024 - 19:41