What are balance stitches in lace?

Balance stitches are extra stitches added after the last full repeat so the pattern looks symmetrical. For example, a lace pattern that starts with k3 before the repeat section may need those 3 stitches added at the end too. Your pattern will specify these.

How do edge stitches affect lace repeats?

Edge stitches (selvedge stitches) sit outside the lace pattern at each side of the work. They are usually 1–3 stitches per side worked in garter or stockinette for a neat edge. You must subtract them from the total before calculating repeats.

What if my width does not fit whole repeats?

You have three options: adjust the total width slightly to fit whole repeats, choose a larger or smaller number of repeats and accept the width change, or adjust your needle size to change gauge and fit your target repeat count.

Do I need to swatch lace separately?

Yes. Lace gauge often differs from stockinette gauge because yarn overs and decreases change the fabric tension. Always swatch in the lace pattern and block the swatch before measuring, as lace opens up significantly after blocking.

Lace Repeat Calculator — Free Stitch Patterns Tool

Lace Repeat Calculator

Calculate stitch count adjustments for lace pattern repeats across different widths.

Target Width

Desired finished width of the piece

Stitch Gauge (per 10cm)

Stitches per 10cm in your lace pattern

Pattern Repeat Width

Number of stitches in one pattern repeat

How We Calculate This

This calculator finds how many whole lace pattern repeats fit across a given width, accounting for edge stitches and balance stitches.

The formula

Raw stitches = Target width × (Gauge ÷ 10)

Available stitches = Raw stitches \u2212 (Edge stitches × 2) \u2212 Balance stitches

Full repeats = round(Available ÷ Repeat width)

Total stitches = (Full repeats × Repeat width) + Edges + Balance

The calculator also shows the nearest smaller and larger options so you can pick the best fit for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard yarn weights and gauge. Results may vary with individual tension, yarn brand, and needle size.

Lace Repeat Calculator

How We Calculate This

The formula

Frequently Asked Questions

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