Cast On Stitch Calculator
Calculate stitches to cast on based on your gauge swatch and desired width.
Includes ease adjustments and rounding to any stitch pattern multiple.
Getting Your Gauge Right
The gauge swatch is the most important step beginners skip. Knit a 6 by 6 inch swatch in your actual pattern stitch, wash and block it the way the finished piece will be treated, then measure stitches over a 4-inch span in the center. Edge stitches distort, so never count from the first or last stitch.
The Cast-On Formula
Stitches = (desired width + ease) x (gauge / 4)
Ease is the extra width built into a garment for movement and comfort. Close-fitting sweaters use 1 to 2 inches of positive ease. Oversized pieces use 4 to 6 inches. Socks and gloves often use 0 ease or even negative ease, where the fabric stretches slightly to fit.
Rounding to a Stitch Multiple
Most stitch patterns have a repeat that needs a specific stitch count multiple. Ribbing in 2x2 needs multiples of 4. Seed stitch needs multiples of 2. Most cable patterns need multiples of 8, 12, or 16. Round your raw stitch count to the nearest multiple of your pattern requirement before casting on.
Why Gauge Matters More Than You Think
A difference of just 1 stitch per 4 inches seems small. On a 200-stitch sweater cast-on, being off by 1 stitch per 4 inches makes the finished piece about 3 inches wider or narrower than planned. That is the difference between a well-fitting garment and one that goes in the donation pile.
Typical Gauge by Yarn Weight
Lace: 28 to 32 sts per 4 in. Fingering/sock: 24 to 28. Sport: 22 to 26. DK: 20 to 22. Worsted: 16 to 20. Bulky: 12 to 15. Super bulky: 8 to 11. These are guidelines; your personal gauge always wins over the yarn band label.