Knitting Calculator
Three calculations every knitter hits eventually — evenly spaced decreases, cast-on counts from your gauge, and yarn estimates sized for knitting, not crochet.
1 · Space decreases & increases evenly
Your row, written out
*k8, k2tog; rep from * 10 times — 100 sts become 90.
That's one k2tog every 10.0 stitches on average. If the last k2tog lands on the final stitch and your edge looks untidy, shift the whole sequence one stitch in from the edge.
2 · Cast-on count from your gauge
Cast on
180 sts
for 40.0 in wide
No swatch yet?
Measure yours with the Knitting Gauge Calculator — it turns any swatch into stitches per inch.
Round the count to your stitch pattern's multiple (plus edge stitches) before casting on.
3 · How much yarn will it take?
Knitting uses about 25–30% less yarn than crochet for the same fabric — these estimates are knit-specific.
Estimated yardage
≈ 1,150 yd
≈ 1,052 meters
Skeins to buy
6
at 220 yd per skein — add one for safety
All math runs in your browser from the numbers you enter — nothing is uploaded. Yardage estimates are stockinette ballparks; cables and colorwork use more, lace uses less. Buy one extra skein in the same dye lot. 💕
Keep planning: measure your gauge · turn a photo into a knitting chart · hook & needle sizes
"Decrease 13 stitches evenly across the row" is the instruction that sends knitters hunting for scrap paper. This knitting calculator answers it properly: enter the stitches on your needles and how many you need to lose (or gain), and it writes the row out for you — *k6, k2tog; rep from * 9 times, k4 — with the stitches distributed so no bunching shows on one side.
The same page handles the other two planning questions: cast-on counts computed from your actual gauge in either inches or centimeters, and yarn estimates built for knitting. Because knitting uses about 25–30% less yarn than crochet for the same fabric, crochet yardage tables oversell you a skein or two — these numbers are knit-specific.
What you get
Even decrease calculator
X stitches, Y decreases → a written row with k2togs spread evenly, plus a visual segment strip so you can see the rhythm before you knit it.
Even increase calculator
Same engine, other direction — m1s spaced across any stitch count, with the remainder placed at the end of the row where it won't show.
Cast-on from your gauge
Stitches per 4 in or 10 cm plus a target width gives the cast-on count — with a reminder to round to your stitch repeat.
Knit-specific yarn estimates
Hats through queen blankets, all six yarn weights — computed with the ~28% less yarn knitting actually uses compared to crochet.
Skein conversion built in
Enter the yards per skein on your label and get a shopping count, with the standing advice to buy one more.
Free, private, no sign-up
Everything computes in your browser. Your stitch counts never leave your device.
How to use the knitting calculator
Space your decreases or increases
Enter the stitches on your needles and how many the pattern tells you to decrease or increase "evenly". Copy the written row it generates straight into your project notes.
Get your cast-on count
Enter your swatch gauge and target width — inches or centimeters, the toggle converts. Round the result to your stitch pattern's multiple before you cast on.
Estimate the yarn
Pick the project and yarn weight, enter the yards per skein from your label, and get a skein count that already accounts for knitting using less yarn than crochet.
Calculator vs. the scrap-paper method
| Knitting calculator | Envelope math & hope | |
|---|---|---|
| Spacing decreases | Written instruction with k2togs distributed evenly, remainder handled | Dividing in your head and bunching three k2togs at one end |
| Cast-on counts | Your gauge × target width, in cm or inches | Casting on 100 because that's what the pattern's smallest size says |
| Yarn estimates | Knit-specific — accounts for knitting using 25–30% less yarn than crochet | Crochet tables that oversell you two skeins |
| When it goes wrong | Impossible decrease counts flagged before you start the row | You find out at stitch 87 of 100 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I decrease stitches evenly across a row in knitting?
Divide your stitch count by the number of decreases to find the spacing, then work a k2tog at the end of each segment. For 100 stitches and 10 decreases: each k2tog consumes 2 stitches, leaving 80 plain stitches across 10 segments — so *k8, k2tog; rep from * 10 times. The calculator above writes this out for any numbers, including awkward ones where the remainder has to be spread between segments.
How do I increase stitches evenly across a row?
Divide the stitches on your needle by the number of increases and work an m1 after each segment: 100 stitches, 10 increases → *k10, m1; rep from * 10 times. Use m1L or m1R for a nearly invisible increase, or kfb if the pattern doesn't mind a small bump. The increase tab above handles the math and places any remainder stitches at the end of the row.
How many stitches do I cast on for a blanket or scarf?
Multiply your stitches-per-inch by the target width: at 4.5 sts per inch, a 40-inch baby blanket needs 180 stitches. No swatch yet? Measure one first — the Knitting Gauge Calculator (linked above) turns any swatch into stitches per inch or per cm, which is exactly the number this calculator needs.
How much yarn does a knitted sweater take?
An adult medium in worsted weight runs about 1,100–1,300 yards in stockinette — roughly 25–30% less than the same sweater crocheted. Cables add 10–20%, colorwork adds more, lace uses less. Use the yardage tab above with your exact yarn weight, and buy one extra skein in the same dye lot.
Why does knitting use less yarn than crochet?
Crochet stitches are thicker and more three-dimensional — each single crochet wraps more yarn than a knit stitch covering the same area. The community-standard figure is that crochet uses about 25–30% more yarn for the same fabric, which is why this calculator's knit estimates are crochet baselines scaled by about 0.72.
Is this knitting calculator free?
Yes — free with no sign-up, and all three tools run entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded or stored anywhere.