Use your own swatch
Gauge is a count of stitches over a measured width. Enter both numbers from a washed and finished swatch in your project’s stitch pattern. Measure inside the edges. A project worked in the round needs a representative round-worked gauge; flat tension can differ.
If you count 20 stitches over 4 inches, the gauge is 5 stitches per inch. A 20-inch finished width or circumference would therefore use 100 stitches before any pattern-repeat restriction.
This tool plans a knitting cast-on count. It does not calculate crochet foundation chains, turning chains, or extra stitches needed by a particular cast-on technique.
Choose the measurement and ease once
Ease is the difference between a body/reference measurement and the fabric size you want. Positive ease makes it larger; negative ease makes it smaller. This tool applies ease as a percentage of the entered reference measurement.
Use 0% when you have already entered a desired finished size. For a 20-inch body measurement, choosing −10% sets an 18-inch fabric target; at 5 stitches per inch that is 90 stitches before repeat adjustment. The amount that fits depends on your pattern, fiber and stitch structure. No fit percentage is assumed by default.
Fit the pattern repeat
A pattern saying “a multiple of 6, plus 2” needs a total of 6 × whole repeats + 2. Enter 6 as the repeat and 2 as the extra stitches. The extra is added once; if it includes two edge stitches at each side, enter 4, not 2. Use repeat 1 and extra 0 if any positive count is allowed.
Extra stitches are part of the total width, so the tool subtracts them before choosing how many repeats fit, then adds them back once. At the 100-stitch target above, a multiple of 6 plus 2 gives 98 stitches with nearest rounding, or 104 when rounding up. Their expected widths are 19.6 and 20.8 inches, respectively.
Nearest rounding chooses the higher repeat at an exact tie. Round up stays at or above the target; round down stays at or below it. At least one whole repeat is required. If none fits below the target, round down reports that instead of returning a partial pattern.
Check the result in fabric
The result shows expected width and the difference caused by rounding. It is a gauge-based estimate, not a garment-grading or fit guarantee. It does not adjust later shaping, estimate yarn or choose a cast-on method. Recheck your fabric after a few rows and after the finishing your project will receive.