Calculate crochet stitch decreases by finding current stitches, stitches to decrease, or remaining stitches after a decrease from any two values.
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Crochet Decrease Formula
The crochet decrease calculator uses simple stitch-count subtraction and addition. It can solve for the current stitch count, the number of stitches decreased, or the number of stitches remaining after the decrease.
- C = current number of stitches before the decrease
- D = number of stitches to decrease
- A = stitches after the decrease, also called remaining stitches
If you enter the current number of stitches and the number of stitches to decrease, the calculator finds the remaining stitches with A = C – D.
If you enter the current number of stitches and the stitches remaining after the decrease, the calculator finds how many stitches were decreased with D = C – A.
If you enter the number of stitches decreased and the stitches remaining after the decrease, the calculator finds the original stitch count with C = D + A.
Common Crochet Decrease Counts
Use this table to check common decreases for a round or row.
| Current stitches | Stitches to decrease | Stitches after decrease |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 4 | 20 |
| 36 | 6 | 30 |
| 48 | 8 | 40 |
| 60 | 10 | 50 |
| 72 | 12 | 60 |
Decrease Terms and What They Mean
| Pattern wording | What to enter as stitches to decrease | Stitch-count effect |
|---|---|---|
| Decrease by 1 stitch | 1 | Final count is 1 stitch fewer |
| Decrease by 6 stitches evenly | 6 | Final count is 6 stitches fewer |
| sc2tog once | 1 | Two stitches are worked into one, reducing the count by 1 |
| sc2tog 8 times | 8 | Final count is 8 stitches fewer |
Examples
Example 1: Find stitches after decrease
You have 48 stitches and need to decrease by 8 stitches.
You will have 40 stitches after the decrease.
Example 2: Find how many stitches to decrease
You have 72 stitches and the pattern says the next round should end with 60 stitches.
You need to decrease 12 stitches.
FAQ
What does “stitches to decrease” mean?
It means the total number of stitches removed from the stitch count. For example, if a row starts with 30 stitches and ends with 24 stitches, the number of stitches to decrease is 6.
Does sc2tog decrease by 1 or 2 stitches?
A single sc2tog decreases the stitch count by 1. You work 2 stitches together and turn them into 1 stitch, so the total count goes down by 1.
Can the stitches after decrease be greater than the current stitches?
No. A decrease lowers the stitch count. If the remaining stitches are greater than the current stitches, the numbers describe an increase, not a decrease.
