How to Increase and Decrease Evenly Across a Row – The Perfect Formula for Knitting & Crochet

Description

How To Increase and Decrease Evenly Across A Row – The Perfect Formula
… works for both knitting and crochet …

There are two versions of this tutorial.

Part I  is two tutorials, one on Increasing Evenly, one on Decreasing Evenly with hows and whys explanations after each numbered step.

Part II is a quicker version of Part I, no tutorial, just the steps.

You may jump to Part II but still refer back to Part I if you feel the need.  So, here goes!
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The pdf download (scroll down past abbreviations) includes a Bonus third version, the briefer, quicker, dirtier version so that you may  ‘Knit ‘er Done’ …

Part 1, Increasing –  How to Increase Evenly Across a Row – The Perfect Formula
1) Example – 149 sts inc by 34 = 183 sts.   First do the math:  149 ÷ 34 = 4.38

2)  Discard  the fraction (always use the whole number before the decimal; the rem fraction works in later): 149 ÷ 34 now = 4.

3)  Now we know that for 34x, we will inc one st for ea set of 4 sts.

4) Identify patt rep.  For evenly spaced inc and symmetrical row ends, we want to begin and end with an inc, so the patt rep will be a multiple of 4 sts plus 1: (x = inc 1 st, o = k)  xooo / xooo / xooo / x

5)  In #4 we have added an inc to the total number of inc. Now we will take one away from the 34 sets of 4 sts, to make 33 sets of 4 in order to get back to a total of 34 inc.

6)  So, how many sts are we going to use?  Answer:  33 sets of 4 = 132 + 1 = 133.

7)  Next, how many sts are leftover?  Answer:  149 – 133 = 16 sts.  Split them In half and put them on either side of the 133 sts (beg and end of row now balanced).  For uneven number, e.g. 7, wk as 3 on one end and 4 on other.

8)  Wk row as:  k8, inc 1 st in next st, (k3, inc 1 st in next st)33x, ending k8.
k ___, inc 1 st in next st (k ___, inc 1 st in next st) ___# of times, end w/k___

PROOF – Upon completion, read row (rs facing) right to left:
8 + 1 + (33×4) + 8 = 149 + 34 sts inc = 183.

Part I, Decreasing  – How to Decrease Evenly Across a Row – The Perfect Formula
1) Example – 149 sts decreased by 34 = 115 sts.  First do the math:    149 ÷ 34 = 4.38

2)  Discard the fraction (always use the whole number before the decimal; the rem fraction works in later): 149 ÷ 34 now = 4.

3)  Now we know that for 34x, we will dec one st for ea set of 4 sts.

4)  Identify patt rep.  For evenly spaced dec and symmetrical row ends, we want to begin and end with a dec, so the

patt rep will be a multiple of 4 sts plus 2:  xxoo / xxoo / xxoo / xx      (xx = k2tog, o = k)

5)  In #4 we have added a dec to the total number of dec. Now we will take one away from the 34 sets of 4, to make 33 sets of 4 in order to get back to a total of 34 dec.

6)  So, how many sts are we going to use?  Answer:  33 sets of 4 = 132 + 2 = 134.

7) Next, how many sts are leftover?  Answer:  149 – 134 = 15 sts.  Split them in half and put them on either side of the 134 sts ( beg and end of row now balanced ). For uneven number, e.g. 7, wk as 3 on one end and 4 on other.

8)  Wk row as:  K7, k2 tog, (k 2, k2 tog)33x, end w/k8
k ___, [k2 tog,  (k ___, k2 tog) ___# of times, end w/k___

PROOF – Upon completion, read row (rs facing) right to left:  
                   7 + 2 + (33×4) + 8 = 149  – 34 dec = 115 sts of dec row.

Part II, Increasing – To Inc Evenly Across Row – Always Follow These Steps
Example:  149 sts to be inc by 34 sts = 183
1)  149 original number of sts divided by 34 inc  =  4.38 and drop all fractions  = 4
sts in ea inc set of sts. Patt rep is multiple of 4 plus 1.
2)  Take the number of inc and subtract 1:   34 – 1 = 33
3)  33 inc sets of 4 sts ea  = 132 total sts; add 1 st to total:  132 + 1 = 133 sts of
original number on needle to be used.
4)  149 original sts on needle minus 132 total sts used = 16 unused sts
5)   Divide leftover sts by 2 for number of sts to wk on ea end:  16 ÷ 2 = 8 sts.
For uneven number, e.g. 7, wk as 3 on one end and 4 on other.
6)  Wk row as:  k8, inc in next st, (k3, inc 1 in next st)across to last 8 sts, k8.
7)  Proof/Read completed row below right to left:
8 + 1 + 132 (34 sets of 4) + 8 = 149 original sts plus 34 inc made = 183
___ / ______________________________  / 1  / ______
8         165  [33  sets of 4 (k3, inc 1)across]  2 (1 inc).  8   =  183

Part II, Decreasing  – To Dec Evenly Across A Row – Always Follow These Steps
Example:  149 sts to be dec by 34 sts = 115
1)  149 original number of sts divided by 34 dec  = 4.38 and drop all fractions  = 4
sts in ea dec set of sts. Pattern rep is multiple of 4 plus 2
2)  Take the number of dec needed and subtract 1:   34 – 1 = 33
3)  33 inc sets of 4 sts ea  = 132 total sts; add 2 st to total:  132 + 2 = 134 sts of
original number on needle to be used
4)  149 original sts on needle minus 134 sts used = 15 unused sts
5)  Divide leftover sts by 2 for number of sts to wk on ea end:  15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 8;
for uneven number, e.g. 7, wk as 3 on one end and 4 on other
6)  Wk row as:  k7, k2 tog, (k2, k2tog)across to last 8 sts, k8.
7)  Proof/Read completed row below right to left:
7 + 2 + 132 (34 sets of 4) + 8 = 149 original sts plus 34 dec made = 115
__/ _______________________________  /  2   / ________
8    99   [33 sets of 4 (k2, k2tog)across]     1(k2tog)   7  = 115

click the pdf for Part III and abbreviations list.