Our previous blog posts covered getting started with knitCompanion, basic app customizations, and more advanced app customizations. Today, we’re going to dive into the knitting calculators available on both Android and Apple versions of the knitCompanion app using Very Pink Knits illustrative videos as a helpful guide.

knitCompanion has a variety of knitting calculators that compute the complicated increases, decreases, and more that knitting patterns often call for without being explicit about how to execute the instructions. For example, if a pattern says something like, “Increase 12 stitches evenly across the row,” knitCompanions knitting calculator will perform the heavy lifting, deciphering exactly how to perform the increase. 

The knitting calculators are one of our newest features. We can’t wait to keep expanding its options! If you have a calculator you’d love to see in your knitCompanion, drop us a line at support@knitCompanion.com.

Quick Jump Links

Jump down to any topic in this post with the links below:

• Finding the Calculator
• Overview of Calculator Functions
• Increase Evenly
• Decrease Evenly
• Blanket Sizer
• Taper Calculator

Finding the Calculator

First, find the knitting calculator by selecting the button at the top right of the screen that enables the Project Information menu on the lower half of the screen. 

Inside the lower menu, select the Project Information menu (the bottom button), then select it again to bring up the timer, ruler, and calculator. Select the calculator to begin.

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Overview Calculator Functions

There are several calculator functions available to choose from with the app. Each performs a specific function: increasing evenly, decreasing evenly, sizing a blanket, increasing a sleeve taper, and decreasing a sleeve taper. 

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Increase Evenly

Select the Increase Evenly function to calculate evenly spaced increases across a row or a round. The calculator offers versions for both flat and in-the-round knitting. Enter the starting number of stitches, followed by the number of increases called for in the pattern.

Select calculate, then select Copy to Project Info to embed the instructions into the Project Info menu at the bottom of the app.

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Decrease Evenly

Select the Decrease Evenly function to calculate evenly spaced decreases across a row or a round. The calculator offers versions for both flat and in-the-round knitting. Enter the starting number of stitches, followed by the number of decreases called for in the pattern.

Select calculate, then select Copy to Project Info to embed the instructions into the Project Info menu at the bottom of the app.

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Blanket Sizer

The Blanket Sizer calculator enables you to modify the size of any blanket. For example, if you want to change a lap blanket into a baby blanket, or a baby blanket into a queen-sized blanket. 

You can also create any sized blanket in your desired gauge. This is especially helpful if your gauge doesn’t match a pattern’s gauge; the calculator will help you determine the number of stitches to cast on and the number of rows to knit to achieve your desired size.

First, select Blanket Sizer. Next, select whether to work in Inches or Centimeters. Enter the pattern gauge: Rows per 4 inches and Stitches per 4 inches. Enter the Desired Blanket Length and Desired Blanket Width. Finally, click calculate to generate the results. Select Copy to Project Info to embed the instructions into the Project Info menu at the bottom of the app.

As Very Pink Knits notes below, if your blanket pattern calls for a pattern stitch repeat, simply modify the stitch count to reflect the repeat number. For example, if the calculator determines a cast on of 97 stitches but you are working with a 10-stitch repeat, round up your cast on to 100 stitches to reflect the proper stitch repeat. 

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Increase or Decrease Taper

While this is called a Sleeve Taper, it will work anytime you have symmetrical increases or decreases along each side of a piece of knitting. So along with sleeves you can use it to adjust body shaping and necklines.

The Inc Sleeve Taper calculator calculates the taper of a sleeve and modifies the sleeve length to be longer. The calculator computes the sleeve length as if you were starting at the cuff and knitting up to the shoulder.

Use the Inc Sleeve Taper calculator when modifying the length and taper of the sleeve in a bottom-up sweater or a sweater knit in pieces. 

The Dec Sleeve Taper calculator calculates the taper of a sleeve and modifies the sleeve length in a pattern to be shorter. The calculator computes the length and taper of the sleeve as if you were starting at the shoulder and knitting down to the cuff. Use the Dec Sleeve Taper in a top-down or raglan sweater.

The calculators for Inc and Dec Sleeve Tapers require the same inputs.

Consult your pattern to determine the entries in the calculator. Enter the Rows per 4 inches. Then, enter the starting and ending stitch counts. As all the decreases and increases are mirrored and worked on the underside of the arm, the ending stitch count must be an even number—the app will flag your entry if it is an odd number.

Measure and input the length of your arm. Remember to leave off the length of your cuff if you would like to work a ribbed cuff. The instructions will calculate the exact length you input, without taking into account the change to ribbing, or style of cuff you might want to work.

For Inc Sleeve Taper, enter the measurement in the Length cuff end to underarm field.

For Dec Sleeve Taper,  enter the measurement in the Length underarm to cuff start field.

Select calculate, then select Copy to Project Info to embed the instructions into the Project Info menu at the bottom of the app.

We hope this helps illuminate the different calculators available in the knitCompanion app!