1. What is Even Increase in Knitting?

Even increases in knitting allow you to add stitches uniformly across your work, creating symmetrical shaping. This technique is essential for projects like sleeves, hats, and shawls where you need gradual, consistent expansion.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the even increase formula:

Where:

• \( Old\ Stitches \) — Current number of stitches
• \( Increase\ Amount \) — Total stitches to add
• \( Intervals \) — Number of increase rounds/rows

Explanation: The formula calculates how many stitches to add in each interval to distribute the increases evenly.

3. Importance of Even Increases

Details: Properly distributed increases prevent puckering, maintain fabric drape, and create professional-looking results. Uneven increases can cause visible "ladders" or uneven shaping.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your current stitch count, total stitches to add, and how many times you'll work the increases (typically every round/row or every other round/row). All values must be positive integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my increase amount isn't divisible by intervals?
A: The calculator provides decimal results - you can alternate between rounding up and down to distribute the remainder.

Q2: How do I space the increases?
A: Divide your total stitches by the new stitches per interval to find how often to increase (e.g., "every 5.5 stitches" means alternate between every 5 and 6 stitches).

Q3: Can I use this for decreases?
A: Yes! The same principle applies - just subtract instead of add.

Q4: What's the best way to track increases?
A: Use stitch markers to separate intervals, or write out your increase sequence before starting.

Q5: Does this work for both circular and flat knitting?
A: Yes, though flat knitting requires accounting for edge stitches that might not be increased.