Crochet Stitch Multiples: What are they? How do we use them?

Have you ever started a pattern and been stopped short by a note that says “Stitch Multiple is 3 + 1”? Have you ever wondered what crochet stitch multiples even are or what they’re used for? Have you ever wanted to make your own project from a stitch pattern but are confused by what this stitch multiple instruction means? Have you ever wanted to alter the size of a pattern to fit your needs but you aren’t sure how?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this blog post all about crochet stitch multiples is for you. We’ll go over what a stitch multiple is, why they’re important, how to use them and more.

What is a stitch multiple?

In simple terms, crochet stitch multiples are a way to tell you how many stitches you’ll need for the stitch pattern or pattern repeat you’re working.

The stitch multiple will provide you with the numbers you need to put into a basic math equation that will help you create a project that is your desired size.

The stitch multiple ensures our stitch pattern has enough room to work properly and will also ensure we have enough stitches that our stitch pattern also starts and ends in a way that is cohesive to the stitch pattern and keeps the sides straight.

Why are crochet stitch multiples in crochet stitches or patterns important?

Whether you’re making something on your own with a stitch pattern (like the Suzette Stitch or Arcade Stitch) or you’re looking to alter a pattern (like the length in my Casey Blanket), the stitch multiple and basic math equation will help you do that.

Designers include the specific stitch count for their pattern (or several stitch counts, if they’re offering several sizes). However, it’s really just not in the realm of ability to include a stitch count for every single measurement that’s possible.

So, you’ll have to do a little bit of math yourself to make your project the size you want if it’s outside of the sizes the designer offered.

Additionally, crochet stitches themselves require a stitch multiple. When you’re creating something just from a crochet stitch you like and not a pattern, you’ll need to do the math to figure out how many stitches you’ll need.

This is why crochet stitch multiples are important to both crochet patterns and crochet stitches.

Finding the necessary stitch count using crochet stitch multiples:
The math equation

Now that we know what a crochet stitch multiple is and what it’s used for, we can learn how to utilize it.

In crochet patterns or with crochet stitches (like the Moss Stitch or Treble Cross Stitch), you will often see a stitch multiple in either the pattern notes or under its own heading like this, for example: Multiple of 3 stitches + 1 stitch.

Let’s consider this as: Multiple of X stitches + Y stitch.

“Multiple of X stitches” is the amount of stitches required for the pattern repeat. This means if you want your project to be larger than just a single repeat, you will need to multiply X by how many times you want the stitch pattern to repeat in your project.

“Y stitches” is the amount of additional stitches that are needed on top of the multiple of stitches for the work to start and end properly.

To figure out how many stitches you’ll need for your project, you will multiply X stitches by the amount of times you want the pattern to repeat in your project and add Y at the end to ensure the work ends in a cohesive way that keeps the sides straight.

Your equation will look like this:

(X stitches x desired number of pattern repeats) + Y stitch = The number of stitches required for your stitch pattern to work properly and be repeated as many times as you want.

You will always multiply X before you add Y. If you add before you multiply, you’ll end up with the wrong stitch count.

Examples of crochet stitch multiples worked in equations:

Here are some examples of crochet stitch multiples plugged into the basic math equation to figure out how many stitches should be in each row.

Example: Multiple of 2 stitches.

Notice there is no “+ Y” here. That’s because this stitch pattern wouldn’t need it. In this case, you just need to make sure your stitch count (the total number of stitches worked in a row) is an even number.

Example: Multiple of 3 stitches + 1 stitch

Let’s say we’re working a pattern that requires a multiple of 3 stitches + 1 stitch. Let’s say we also want the stitch pattern (X) to be worked 12 times. Using our equation above, we can do the math.

(3 x 12 = 36) + 1 stitch = 37 stitches needed for the pattern to work properly all the way across the row.

Example: Multiple of 6 stitches + 3 stitches

Let’s say we’re working a pattern that requires a multiple of 6 stitches + 3 stitches. Let’s say we also want the stitch pattern (X) to be worked 7 times. Using our equation above, we can do the math.

(6 x 7 = 42) + 3 stitches = 45 stitches needed for the pattern to work properly all the way across the row.

Are the turning chains included in this?

Sometimes. It depends on the designer and how they prefer to write their stitch multiples. This is why it’s always important to read the pattern notes.

If the turning chains are included in the required stitch multiple, it will be in the “+ Y” portion and should be stated that it includes turning chains. If the notes do not say whether or not the turning chains are included, you can “reverse engineer” the stitch multiple. More on that below.

If the turning chains are not included in the required stitch multiple, designers should indicate this. You’ll usually see something like “Multiple of 3 stitches + 1 Stitch (not including turning chains)”. This means that this stitch multiple does NOT include the turning chains and you would need to add in turning chains yourself depending on the height of the first stitch worked in Row 1.

For example, many of my patterns can start with Foundation Stitches instead of chains, so I typically do not include the turning chains in the stitch multiple. I always write that the stitch multiple does NOT include turning chains and that you’ll have to add them in, if you decide to change the size AND use chains.

Some designers will break out the turning chains into the multiple for you, like this: Multiple of X + Y + Z turning chains. In patterns, this could look like this: Multiple of 3 + 1 + 2 turning chains.

If the turning chains aren’t included in the stitch multiple, how do I know how many to add?

We mostly know turning chains to be at the start of a row, such as “Chain 2, turn”. These turning chains create the height we need for the stitch we’re going to start the row with.

However, we also need them in our starting chains if we want our project to work properly and not look wonky if we use a long length of chains to start our project.

Almost all patterns that start with a long length of chains will require turning chains added to the length of chains to ensure your stitch count is correct. If the designer did not include the turning chains in their stitch multiple, you’ll need to add them yourself.

Here’s a general rule of thumb for how many turning chains you’d need to add based on the very first stitch of Row 1:

• If your row starts with a single crochet, you will add 1 chain.
  
• If your row starts with a half double crochet, you will add 1 or 2 chains (depending on your or the designers preference).
  
• If your row starts with a double crochet, you will add 2 or 3 chains (depending on preference and whether or not the turning chains count as a double crochet).
  
• If your row starts with a treble crochet, you will add 3 or 4 chains (depending on preference and whether or not the turning chains count as a treble crochet).

So, if the designer did NOT include the turning chains in their stitch multiple, you will add them yourself using the general rule of thumb above.

Turning chains are something most beginners should learn and understand. There’s several ways they’re used; whether they count or don’t count as a stitch, where to place your first stitch of the row if they do or don’t count, etc. Make sure to read the pattern notes on whether or not the turning chains count as a stitch.

Some patterns start with Foundation Stitches, such as Foundation Single Crochet or Foundation Double Crochet, which means that the additional chains are not needed because we aren’t working into chains at all. If your pattern starts with Row 1 and uses Foundation Stitches, you wouldn’t add any additional stitches beyond X + Y.

Does gauge matter with crochet stitch multiples?

You bet it does!

The good news is if you’re working a pattern, the designer has already given you the gauge. You just have to make sure you match the designers gauge before you start changing the stitch count.

If you’re making your own project from a stitch, like the Even Moss Stitch or the Block Stitch, you’ll want to make a small swatch to determine your gauge and then decide how many times you want that stitch pattern to repeat in the project you’re making.

Learn more about gauge, tension and how to make a gauge swatch with my tutorial.

Why do designers include the crochet stitch multiple in their patterns?

We include them because we want to give you the ability to alter the size of the project yourself.

While many of us will offer multiple sizes of a pattern, like my Casey Scarf that has 4 sizes, it may not be the size you want and we offer the stitch multiple to you so you can change it yourself.

Some designers may not include the stitch multiple, though, and that is their discretion.

Additionally, some designs may not work with one specific stitch multiple and therefore it isn’t an option to include it. This sort of design would be an intricate mandala blanket pattern that is worked in the round or something very involved with a lot of different stitches or in patterns such as my co-hosted Harmony or Serenity Blanket CALs because many different crochet stitch multiples are involved.

How long can a crochet stitch multiple be?

The truth is: a crochet stitch multiple is as long or as short as it needs to be.

It can be as low as 1 or much, much higher. While there isn’t a specific limit to how high a stitch multiple can be, I’ve seen some very long multiples such as 36 stitches + 8 stitches.

For example, placing 1 single crochet in each stitch across the row is technically a stitch multiple. The stitch multiple is 1 because we’re only placing 1 stitch in each stitch across.

And some patterns, like my Liana Table Runner, can be very involved and have longer crochet stitch multiples.

How can I figure out a crochet stitch multiple if it wasn’t included?

You’ll likely see this mostly in stitch tutorials but some patterns will not provide crochet stitch multiples (and in this case, it may be for a reason).

You can figure out the crochet stitch multiple by working one repeat of the pattern and then counting how many stitches that repeat was worked into.

Example:

A pattern using the Suzette Stitch would have row instructions that look like this: “Ch 1, turn. [ (1 sc, 1 dc) next st, sk 1 st]. Repeat inside brackets until 1 st remains. Place 1 sc in last st.”

The pattern’s repeat within brackets ( […] ) is where you will find the stitch multiple.

In this case, the (1 sc, 1 dc) are all worked into 1 stitch. Then, we skip 1 stitch. 1 + 1 = 2. This repeat has a stitch multiple of 2 stitches. This is your X number.

This pattern also requires us to put 1 single crochet in the last stitch. This is outside of the repeat and is not a part of the stitch multiple. This means the pattern requires + 1 additional stitch to work properly. This is your Y number.

This means the Suzette Stitch has a stitch multiple of 2 stitches + 1 stitch. When making our length of chains, we would add + 1 chain (Z) to our number so that we have our turning chain.

Multiple of 2 stitches (X) + 1 stitch (Y) + 1 turning chain (Z).

Now that we know the Suzette Stitch has a multiple of 2 stitches + 1 stitch, we can create our length of chains based on how many times we want the stitch pattern to repeat. Let’s say we wanted it to repeat 32 times.

(2 x 32 = 64) + 1 stitches = 65 stitches needed for the pattern to work properly all the way across the row. 65 stitches + 1 turning chain = 66 chains.

This means we would chain 66 and begin Row 1 by placing our (1 sc, 1 dc) in the second chain from the hook.

Making sure a crochet stitch multiple is correct

Finally, let’s talk about “making sure” a pattern’s stitch multiple is what the designer said it is.

If you don’t understand stitch multiples, turning chains or what any of this means, it definitely can be confusing to see crochet stitch multiples and starting chains that don’t seem like it will work out, especially if you don’t have a basic math equation to use to verify it.

And, if all of this is confusing, you might be unwilling to start a pattern without the designers input, to even start it at all or you might even think the pattern is wrong when it isn’t.

So, let’s go over how you can verify the stitch multiple and the starting amount of chains, if for some reason you feel you need to or if the starting chain requirements for the pattern is confusing based on the stitch multiple.

To “verify” the stitch multiple, we’ll do the math backward.

We will subtract the turning chains (Z), subtract the “+ Y” (if included) and then divide the resulting number by the stitch multiple X.

Total amount of chains – Z – Y = Result. Result divided by X = Stitch Multiple.

When we’re finding how many stitches or chains we’ll need for a project, we always multiply first and then add.

But when we’re making sure a stitch multiple is correct, we work backward by subtracting the turning chains, subtracting additional stitches and then dividing.

Example 1:

Let’s use my Heather Shawl as an example. In the notes, it is stated that this pattern requires “a multiple of 6 stitches + 1 stitch (not including turning chains)”. The pattern begins with 273 chains (or 271 Foundation Double Crochet).

We know that Row 1 begins with placing 1 double crochet in each chain across the row (if Foundation Double Crochet was not used). We also know from the pattern notes that the chain 2 to start any row does not count as a stitch.

So, will 273 chains work out to be a multiple of 6 stitches + 1 stitch (not including the turning chains)? Yep! Let’s work this backward.

273 chains – 2 turning chains (Z) = 271 (notice this number is the same amount of stitches you could work if you choose Foundation Double Crochet instead?).

271 stitches – “1 stitch (Y)” = 270. 270 divided by 6 (X) = 45. Because this resulting number is a whole number, this stitch multiple is correct.

Example 2:

Let’s use my Melody Rectangle Shawl as another example. In the notes, it is stated that this pattern requires “a multiple of 3 stitches + 1 stitch (not including turning chains)”. And the pattern begins with 306 chains (or 304 Foundation Double Crochet).

We know that Row 1 begins with placing 1 double crochet in each chain across the row (if Foundation Double Crochet was not used). We also know from the pattern notes that the chain 2 to start any row does not count as a stitch.

So, will 306 chains work out to be a multiple of 3 stitches + 1 stitch (not including the turning chains)? Yep! Let’s work this backward.

306 chains – 2 turning chains (Z) = 304 (notice this number is the same amount of stitches you could work if you choose Foundation Double Crochet instead?).

304 stitches – “1 stitch (Y)” = 303. 303 divided by 3 (X) = 101. Because this resulting number is a whole number, this stitch multiple is correct.

Example 3:

Let’s use my Liana Table Runner as another example. In the notes, it is stated that this pattern requires “a multiple of 9 stitches (not including turning chains)”. And the pattern begins with 37 chains.

We know that Row 1 begins with placing 1 single crochet in each chain across the row. We also know from the pattern notes that the chain 1 to start any row does not count as a stitch.

So, will 37 chains work out to be a multiple of 9 (not including the turning chains)? Yep! Let’s work this backward.

37 chains – 1 turning chain (Z) = 36.

36 divided by 9 (X) = 4. Because this resulting number is a whole number, this stitch multiple is correct.

If, when working backward like this, the final resulting number is not a whole number, then the stitch multiple or your math is not correct.

Final Thoughts on Crochet Stitch Multiples

Understanding crochet stitch multiples, what they are and why we use them is the key to altering the size of patterns or creating a project from a crochet stitch tutorial that you like.

While reading this blog post will give you the information you need, you will want to practice the math to make sure it clicks.

You can try using stitch tutorials and figure out how many stitches are needed based off of the stitch multiple.

You can also try altering patterns to be much smaller, like the size of a gauge swatch, to see if your understanding of the math is correct.

Additionally, you can practice “verifying” that the stitch multiple is correct by working the math backward as explained above. It may seem like the designer’s starting chains are totally wrong but when you do the math, you’ll find they’re actually correct.

If you’re further along in your skills and you understand how to pair stitches together, you can use stitch multiples to make sure that the different stitches you want to use will work together and figure out how many stitches you’ll need.

The reality is: Crochet stitch multiples are important for a multitude of reasons. Understanding crochet stitch multiples, how they work and how to use them yourself will absolutely increase your crocheting skill level.

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