To decrease evenly across a row, subtract your target stitch count from your current count to get the number of decreases, divide the stitches by that number, and work one decrease at each gap. Any stitches left over go at the edges of the row. The pattern line only tells you how many to lose, such as "decrease 8 stitches evenly across the row", and leaves the spacing to you. This guide shows the arithmetic with worked examples, and it works the same for knitters on a row and for crocheters on a round. More like this is in our knitting guides.
What does "decrease evenly across a row" mean?
You choose where the decreases fall, and spacing them out keeps the fabric smooth. Each decrease, such as k2tog (knit two together) or ssk (slip, slip, knit), takes two stitches and leaves one, so it removes exactly one stitch from the row.
First work out how many to make: current stitches minus the stitch count the pattern wants. If you have 72 stitches and the pattern says 64, you need 8 decreases. If you are new to the stitch itself, start with how to knit two together (k2tog).
How do you find the spacing?
Divide your current stitch count by the number of decreases. Lion Brand gives the same rule: divide the current number of stitches by the number to be decreased, and the result is the gap between decreases.
Take 72 stitches in the round, going down to 64. That is 8 decreases, and 72 ÷ 8 = 9. Each gap is 9 stitches, and the decrease uses the last two of them, so you knit 7 and then k2tog. The pattern line reads: (k7, k2tog) 8 times. Check it: 8 gaps of 9 stitches use all 72 stitches, and 8 decreases leave you with 64.
| Stitches | Decreases | Gap | Pattern line | Stitches left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 8 | 9 | (k7, k2tog) 8 times | 64 |
| 80 | 10 | 8 | (k6, k2tog) 10 times | 70 |
| 100 | 10 | 10 | (k8, k2tog) 10 times | 90 |
| 60 | 5 | 12 | (k10, k2tog) 5 times | 55 |
In every row the gap is the stitch count divided by the decreases, and the plain knit count is two less than the gap.
What if the numbers do not divide evenly?
Work a whole number of plain stitches between the decreases and put the leftover stitches at the edges of the row. Berroco's method is to multiply the decreases by two, subtract that from your stitch count, and spread what remains.
Here is a worked example. You have 80 stitches on a flat row and the pattern says decrease 12 evenly, leaving 68.
- 12 decreases use 12 × 2 = 24 stitches.
- 80 − 24 = 56 plain stitches are left over.
- 56 ÷ 12 is about 4.7, so work 4 plain stitches before each decrease. That is 12 × 4 = 48.
- 56 − 48 = 8 stitches remain. Put 4 at each end.
The line reads: k4, (k4, k2tog) 12 times, k4. Count it: 4 + (12 × 6) + 4 = 80 stitches worked, and 68 left.
Berroco's own example does the same with 82 stitches going down to 68. The 12 leftover stitches are split unevenly, 4 at the start and 8 at the end, and the line reads k4, (k3, k2tog) 14 times, k8. The other option is to make a few gaps one stitch longer. Lion Brand says you can fudge it a little, because the right number of decreases with roughly even spacing matters most. If you end a stitch or two off, Berroco's advice is to even it out on the next row.
Does it change on a flat row or in the round?
A little. In the round, divide the stitches by the number of decreases and you are done. On a flat row, 10 Rows a Day suggests you divide by the number of decreases plus one, so the decreases sit toward the middle of the row and the last one does not land right at the end.
Their example: 80 stitches with 10 decreases. 80 ÷ 11 is about 7.3, so the gaps are 7 stitches wide. 11 gaps of 7 is 77, leaving 3 extra stitches, which go 2 at the start and 1 at the end. You work 2 stitches, then (5 stitches, k2tog) 10 times, then 7 stitches and 1 stitch. That is 2 + 60 + 7 + 1 = 70 stitches.
Crochet follows the same arithmetic. Crocheters count the stitches in the round, divide by the number of decreases, and work a decrease such as single crochet two together at each gap.
How do you work each decrease and keep count?
Work to the last two stitches of each gap, then decrease. Place a stitch marker at each decrease spot before you start. Each time you reach a marker, you should have used exactly one gap, so a miscount shows up early.
If you want the decreases to lean toward the middle of a flat piece, work ssk on the left half of the row and k2tog on the right half. The gaps stay the same either way. Keep the first and last decrease a stitch or two in from the edge so a seam is easy to work later.
Try it in Row & Round
Row & Round keeps your place while you work the line. Tap +1 on the row counter once per row or round, and the highlighter bar moves to the next line of your pattern. For a repeated section such as (k4, k2tog) 12 times, a repeat counter can be set up to count the 12 repeats, and linked counters reset the stitches-in-the-gap count each time the repeat goes up. Row & Round is coming soon to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Bottom line
Count the decreases, divide the stitches by that number, and work one decrease per gap. Leftover stitches go at the edges, split between the two ends. Mark the spots first, and a stitch or two of difference is easy to fix on the next row.
Questions
- How do I decrease 10 stitches evenly across 100 stitches?
- In the round, 100 divided by 10 is 10, so work knit 8, k2tog, ten times. That uses all 100 stitches and leaves 90. On a flat row, divide by 11 instead and put the few leftover stitches at the edges.
- Where do the leftover stitches go?
- Put them at the edges of the row, split between both ends, or make a few of the gaps one stitch longer. A stitch or two of difference between gaps is hard to see in the fabric.
- Does the same method work in crochet?
- Yes. Count the stitches in the row or round, divide by the number of decreases, and work a decrease such as single crochet two together at each gap. Crocheters usually work in the round, so the direct division applies.
- What if I lose count partway across?
- Place a stitch marker at each decrease spot before you start, or check the count against your pattern line as you reach each marker. If you finish a stitch or two off, you can even it out on the next row.
- Should I use k2tog or ssk?
- Use whatever the pattern names. If it only says decrease, k2tog works. Using ssk on the left half and k2tog on the right half makes the decreases lean toward the middle.
