Sweater Ease Calculator
Garment size is the body measurement plus ease, not the body measurement. Adding 8% to a 96 cm chest gives a finished circumference of 103.7 cm, which is 228 stitches at 22 sts per 10 cm. Set the ease to −5% and you get 91.2 cm, close-fitting — knitted fabric stretches, so negative ease is a real choice.
Your numbers
Finished circumference
103.7cm
Stitches
228sts
Formula
Finished circumference = Chest (cm) × (1 + Ease ÷ 100)
A pattern size chart usually lists the finished bust, not the body it is meant for. Mixing the two puts you a whole size out. Ease also varies by area: a sweater with 8 cm at the chest rarely wants more than 4 cm at the upper arm.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Chest (cm)Chest at its widest, measured just under the armpits. | 96 | 40 and up |
| Ease (%)What you add to the body measurement, or take off if negative — the gap between body and garment. | 8 | -20 ~ 40 |
| Stitches per 10 cm (sts/10 cm)Stitches in 10 cm. If you measured over 5 cm, double it before entering. | 22 | 1 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Chest (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Chest (cm) | Finished circumference (cm) | Stitches (sts) |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | 51.8 | 114 |
| 72 | 77.8 | 171 |
| 96 | 103.7 | 228 |
| 144 | 155.5 | 342 |
| 192 | 207.4 | 456 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Finished circumference (cm)The garment measured flat and unstretched, right round — not the body it fits. | 103.7 |
| Stitches (sts)Stitch count, measured across. | 228 |
Common mistakes
A pattern size chart usually lists the finished bust, not the body it is meant for. Mixing the two puts you a whole size out. Ease also varies by area: a sweater with 8 cm at the chest rarely wants more than 4 cm at the upper arm.
Glossary
- Chest (cm)
- Chest at its widest, measured just under the armpits.
- Ease
- What you add to the body measurement, or take off if negative — the gap between body and garment.
- Stitches per 10 cm
- Stitches in 10 cm. If you measured over 5 cm, double it before entering.
- Finished circumference
- The garment measured flat and unstretched, right round — not the body it fits.
- Stitches
- Stitch count, measured across.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Sweater Ease Calculator calculated?
Finished circumference = Chest (cm) × (1 + Ease ÷ 100) — Garment size is the body measurement plus ease, not the body measurement. Adding 8% to a 96 cm chest gives a finished circumference of 103.7 cm, which is 228 stitches at 22 sts per 10 cm. Set the ease to −5% and you get 91.2 cm, close-fitting — knitted fabric stretches, so negative ease is a real choice.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Chest (cm) 96, Ease 8%, Stitches per 10 cm 22sts/10 cm, the answer is Finished circumference 103.7cm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Chest (cm), Ease, Stitches per 10 cm. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Chest (cm) moves the answer to Chest (cm) 48 → Finished circumference (cm) 51.8 and Chest (cm) 192 → Finished circumference (cm) 207.4. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
A pattern size chart usually lists the finished bust, not the body it is meant for. Mixing the two puts you a whole size out. Ease also varies by area: a sweater with 8 cm at the chest rarely wants more than 4 cm at the upper arm.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.