Why do the longer gaps come first?

When the rows do not divide evenly, a few gaps get one row more. Putting them first means the sleeve widens slowly near the cuff and a little faster towards the top, as most patterns do.

Where do the increases go on a shaping row?

They are spread evenly across the row, with as many stitches at each end, and the row is counted stitch by stitch before it is shown. If you would rather increase in the edge stitches, work the same number in the first and last stitch.

What if the stitches do not go into the number each time?

Then there is no even plan: 20 to 25 stitches cannot be reached 2 at a time. The calculator says so instead of rounding, so change the stitches at the end or the stitches each time.

Does it work for decreases and for rounds?

Yes. Enter fewer stitches at the end than now to decrease, and choose 'In the round' for a sleeve worked in rounds. The rounds are labelled Rnd instead of Row.

Free crochet calculator

Increases up a crochet sleeve

Enter the stitches now, the stitches at the end and over how many rows. You get which rows to shape on, and each of those rows written out and checked.

Stitch

Stitches now

Stitches at the end

Stitches each time

Usually 2: one at each side.

Over how many rows

Increase

Rows between	Times
5	4
4	6

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How to work it out yourself

Example: a sleeve from 40 to 60 stitches, 2 at a time, over 44 rows of single crochet.

60 − 40 = 20 stitches to add, 2 at a time, so 10 increase rows.
44 rows ÷ 10 = 4 with 4 left over. The 4 extra rows go to the first gaps: every 5th row 4 times, then every 4th row 6 times (4 × 5 + 6 × 4 = 44).
So you increase on rows 5, 10, 15, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44. The rows in between are worked plain, one sc in each stitch.
Each increase row is spread evenly: on row 5 that is 10 stitches at each end and 18 between the two increases.

Row 5: 10 sc, 2 sc in next st, 18 sc, 2 sc in next st, 10 sc (42 sts) Row 44: 14 sc, 2 sc in next st, 28 sc, 2 sc in next st, 14 sc (60 sts)

Decreasing works the same way from the other end: enter 60 stitches now and 40 at the end.

Questions

Why do the longer gaps come first?: When the rows do not divide evenly, a few gaps get one row more. Putting them first means the sleeve widens slowly near the cuff and a little faster towards the top, as most patterns do.
Where do the increases go on a shaping row?: They are spread evenly across the row, with as many stitches at each end, and the row is counted stitch by stitch before it is shown. If you would rather increase in the edge stitches, work the same number in the first and last stitch.
What if the stitches do not go into the number each time?: Then there is no even plan: 20 to 25 stitches cannot be reached 2 at a time. The calculator says so instead of rounding, so change the stitches at the end or the stitches each time.
Does it work for decreases and for rounds?: Yes. Enter fewer stitches at the end than now to decrease, and choose 'In the round' for a sleeve worked in rounds. The rounds are labelled Rnd instead of Row.

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