Knitting Math - How to Calculate Buttonhole Spacing

The spacing of buttonholes can be done mathematically or with a buttonhole gauge that stretches to mark the placement of each hole. Gauges can be purchased where sewing supplies are sold. A gauge is more accurate than mathematical placement due to the pickup ratio of stitches to rows.

To calculate spacing on a band that is picked up and worked out from the garment mathematically, determine the total number of stitches. 

Subtract the sum of the stitches above the first buttonhole and below the last buttonhole from the total number of stitches.

Then, multiply the number of stitches to create each buttonhole and the number of buttonholes, and subtract this total from the previous sum.

What is left over is the number of stitches to be divided, to determine how many stitches go in the spaces between the buttonholes.

The number of spaces is one less, than the number of buttons.

As an example:

The button band has 100 stitches

3 stitches at top and bottom (6 stitches) = 94 stitches.

94 - [7 buttonholes times 4 stitches] (28 stitches), 94 - 28 = 66 stitches.

66 stitches / 6 spaces = 11 stitches per space.

If the amount is not even, vary the stitches by 1 or 2 in each space.

The button band has 110 stitches

3 stitches at top and bottom (6 stitches) = 104 stitches.

104 – [7 buttonholes times 3 stitches] (21 stitches), 104 - 21 = 83 stitches.

83 stitches / 6 spaces = 13.83 stitches per space.

In this example, put fourteen stitches in every space and thirteen in one space for a total of eighty-three stitches. Put the thirteen stitch space in between any of the buttonholes on the garment.

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