Working in the round is by far the easiest way to make crocheted hats but sometimes it can be a pain to figure out how to increase and decrease to the number you want without having to guess and then possibly rip out some of your work. Especially when creating things like Elf Hats or umbilical cord hats, or any hat where the diameter needs to changed rapidly.
The formula is quite easy when you are working in multiples of 10 or even 5.
Simply take the first number at the beginning of the round you are on (20 for example would be 2) and increase in the corresponding stitch (every 2nd st) of the next round to get ten more stitches (30 in this case)
If you want 5 more you would take that number (2) and add it to itself (4). Place two stitches in the 4th st in the next round to get 35.
But what about when you need to jump between say 12 and 15 in one round? The answer is also simple… here is the formula. Take the number of stitches you are at (12) and subtract it from the number of stitches where you want to be (15). Take the difference (3) and divide it into the number of stitches that you are currently at (12) The answer (4) is where you would increase your stitches to get to your desired amount of stitches.
When you work with even numbers this is easy, but it can be more difficult if the numbers don’t evenly divide into each other. Lets use this example. You are at 38 stitches but you need to get to 42 stitches. The difference is 4. So you would take 4 and divide it into 38, well this gives us an un-even # (9.5)… it is really just as easy. You would put one increasing st in the 9th sp and put the next increasing sp in the 10th sp working around the piece in this fashion… and this will give you your desired amount of stitches.
They way I can easily remember where to put my increasing stitches is by counting in my head in this way… When needing to increase in every 4th stitch I say 1, 2, 3, 4, 4… and that way I remember to increase in every 4th st. After I finish with my 4, I start at one again, 1,2,3, 4,4. Very helpful when you need to put an extra st in different spaces around- 1,2,3,4,4, then 1,2,3,3. Etc. Etc.
I hope this helpful hint helps you out along your crochet journey. If you have any questions please comment below or on our fb page.
Have fun and happy hookin’!
Coming next week to our weekly Series Helpful Hints and Tricks…. Secrets to Decreasing in the Round
