Fashion Design Calculators
Designer Calculators
Use these tools to plan your patterns, fit, and pricing. All values are in inches and U.S. dollars unless noted.
1. Sleeve Fullness Calculator
Measures fullness for fitted, bishop, balloon and flared sleeves.
2. Bodice Ease Calculator
Calculates finished garment measurements for woven and knit.
3. Knit Gauge Conversion
Converts stitch & row counts between gauges.
4. Elastic Cut Length
Calculates waistband or cuff elastic length.
5. Panel Expansion
Adds extra room for hips/butt across panels.
6. Flounce / Ruffle Calculator
Calculates inner/outer radius + length.
7. Yardage Estimator
Simple yardage calculator for garments.
8. Dart Intake Calculator
Calculates dart depth & distribution.
9. Drop-Shoulder Knit Calculator
Calculates cast-on + row count for sweaters/dresses.
10. Pricing Calculator
Materials + labor + overhead + profit.
11. Circle Skirt Calculator
360°, 180° and 90° circle skirt radius + cutting layout.
USM Machine Calculators
Tools for the Ultimate Sweater Machine / Bond. Enter body measurements and your gauge (stitches and rows per inch) for Big Twist or any yarn.
USM 3-Panel Skirt
Front + 2 back panels. Uses hip for panel width and shapes to the waist.
USM 3-Panel Dress
Tubular dress from bust to hem in 3 panels (front + 2 backs).
USM Sleeve
Tapered sleeve from upper arm to wrist with regular decreases.
USM Crop Sweater Body
Simple drop-shoulder crop panel (front or back).
USM Pants Leg
One leg panel (knit 2 and seam). Uses hip and hem widths.
How to Use Your USM Machine Calculators
These tools are designed for the Bond America / Ultimate Sweater Machine. Always work from your own gauge swatch and your client’s real body measurements for best results.
Check Your Gauge First
Knit a small swatch on your machine in the yarn and tension you plan to use. Measure:
- Stitches per inch (count stitches across, divide by width).
- Rows per inch (count rows up, divide by height).
Enter these numbers into each USM calculator where it says “Gauge – stitches per inch” and “Gauge – rows per inch.”
Use Real Body Measurements
Measure your body or your client with a soft tape:
- Bust: Fullest part around the chest.
- Waist: Smallest part of the torso.
- Hip: Fullest part of the hip/seat.
- Bicep, wrist, thigh, hem, inseam, rise as needed.
Type those numbers into the matching fields on each calculator.
Reading the USM Skirt Calculator
The USM 3-Panel Skirt gives you:
- Each panel hip width in inches and stitches – how many needles to cast on for one panel at the hip.
- Each panel waist width in inches and stitches – how many stitches you should have at the waist after shaping.
- Total rows for skirt length – how many rows to knit from waist to hem.
- Decrease rows – how often to work decrease rows to taper from hip to waist.
Knit 3 panels (1 front, 2 back), seam side seams and center back, then finish waistband and hem.
Reading the USM Dress Calculator
The USM 3-Panel Dress tells you for each panel:
- Stitches at bust, waist, and hip – panel widths at each level.
- Rows for bodice – shoulder to waist length.
- Rows for skirt – waist to hem length.
- Decrease schedule from bust to waist.
- Increase schedule from waist to hip.
Work shaping as suggested, knit 3 panels, sew together, then add neckline and armhole finishes as desired.
Using the USM Sleeve Calculator
The USM Sleeve calculator gives you:
- Upper arm stitches: how many needles to cast on at the armhole.
- Cuff stitches: how many stitches you should end with at the wrist.
- Total rows for sleeve length.
- Decrease spacing: how often to work decrease rows from bicep to wrist.
Knit two sleeves the same, then sew into the armholes of your sweater or dress.
Using the USM Crop Sweater Body Calculator
The USM Crop Sweater Body calculator tells you for one panel:
- Panel width in inches and stitches (front or back).
- Rows from hem to underarm for your chosen crop length.
Knit 1 front and 1 back panel, seam shoulders and sides, then add sleeves and neckline.
Using the USM Pants Leg Calculator
The USM Pant Leg calculator gives you, for one leg:
- Thigh stitches – how wide to start each leg.
- Hem stitches – how narrow the ankle should be.
- Total rows for rise + inseam.
- Decrease spacing from thigh to hem to taper the leg.
Knit two identical legs, seam inseams and outer seams, then add a waistband with elastic.
Test, Try On, Adjust
Every body and yarn behaves a little differently. Use these calculators as a strong starting point:
- Try on panels or tube pieces as you go.
- Add or remove a few stitches at cast-on if you need more or less ease.
- Add or subtract a few rows if you need more or less length.
Once you dial in your favorite gauge and fit, you can repeat your favorite formulas again and again for fast, reliable USM projects.