How to Increase or Decrease Evenly in Crochet

“Increase 12 stitches evenly across the row” is one of the most common lines in a pattern, and the trickiest to work out in your head. Our increase and decrease calculator writes the row for you.

How to use it

1. Type how many stitches you have now, and how many to add (or take away).
2. Choose in a row or in a round, and your stitch.
3. Follow the written row. Place a stitch marker at each increase to check the spacing.

Rows and rounds are different

In a round, the increases go at the end of equal groups, so the shape grows evenly all the way round. In a row, the calculator puts half a group at each end, so both edges match and nothing sits on the very first or last stitch.

When it doesn't divide exactly

80 stitches with 12 increases doesn't divide evenly, so some groups get one stitch more. The calculator mixes the longer and shorter groups through the row so no side bulges.

Increasing to make a flat circle? The flat circle calculator writes every round.