1. What is Stitch Increase in Knitting?

Stitch increasing is a fundamental knitting technique used to widen your work by adding stitches to your needle. This calculator helps you determine how many stitches you'll have after planned increases.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses a simple formula:

Where:

• Old Stitches — Current number of stitches on your needle
• Increase Amount — Number of stitches you plan to add
• New Stitches — Total stitches after increasing

Explanation: This basic arithmetic helps knitters plan their projects and maintain proper stitch counts.

3. Importance of Stitch Counting

Details: Accurate stitch counting ensures your knitting project maintains the correct shape and size. Increases are commonly used in shaping garments, creating lace patterns, and designing various knit items.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your current stitch count and the number of stitches you plan to increase. The calculator will show your new total stitch count.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are common increase methods?
A: Popular methods include knit-front-back (KFB), make-one (M1), yarn overs (YO), and lifted increases.

Q2: How often should I increase stitches?
A: This depends on your pattern. Common increase intervals are every other row or at specific stitch counts.

Q3: Can I decrease stitches using a similar method?
A: Yes, decreases work similarly but subtract stitches. Common decrease methods include knit-two-together (K2tog) and slip-slip-knit (SSK).

Q4: What if my stitch count doesn't match the pattern?
A: Double-check your increases and count stitches after each increase row to catch mistakes early.

Q5: How do I distribute increases evenly?
A: Divide your total stitches by the number of increases needed to determine spacing (e.g., increase every X stitches).