How to increase a stitch while knitting
Creating beautiful knitted garments and accessories requires mastering a variety of techniques, including increasing stitches. Increasing stitches is essential for shaping the fabric and adding decorative elements such as lace patterns or cable designs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter, learning how to increase a stitch can take your knitting to the next level.
There are several methods for increasing stitches in knitting, each with its own unique properties and applications. One of the most common techniques is the “knit front and back” increase, also known as the KFB increase. This method involves knitting into the front and back of the same stitch, effectively creating two stitches where there was previously one. The new stitch sits on the right-hand needle, ready to be worked on the next row.
Another popular technique is the make-one increase (M1). This method involves using the yarn between two stitches to create a new stitch. The M1 increase can be worked in different ways, such as using a backward loop, lifting the yarn over the needle, or knitting into the strand between two stitches. Each variation creates a slightly different look, so it’s worth experimenting to find the one that best suits your project.
When increasing stitches, it’s essential to consider the type of fabric you’re working on and the desired effect. For example, in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side), using a KFB increase can create a visible V-shaped stitch. In contrast, using a M1 increase can result in a nearly invisible increase that seamlessly blends into the fabric. This understanding allows you to choose the most appropriate increase for your design.
Tips for Increasing Stitches in Knitting
Increasing stitches in knitting can be a useful technique to create shaping in your project. Whether you’re working on a sweater, a hat, or any other pattern, here are some tips to help you increase stitches with ease:
1. Make a Yarn Over Increase
A yarn over (YO) increase is the simplest way to add a stitch in your knitting. To make a YO increase, simply bring the yarn from the back to the front, creating a new loop on the right-hand needle. When you come across the yarn over on the next row, knit or purl it as any other stitch.
2. Use the Make One (M1) Increase
The make one (M1) increase is another popular method to increase stitches in knitting. There are various ways to work a make one increase, such as the make one left (M1L) or make one right (M1R). These increases involve creating a new stitch by lifting the strand of yarn between two stitches and knitting into it in a specific way.
It’s important to remember that there are different techniques to work a make one increase, so be sure to follow your pattern’s instructions or choose the method that yields the desired result.
By practicing these simple techniques, you can easily increase stitches in your knitting and achieve the desired shaping in your project. So go ahead and give it a try!
The Basic Increase Stitch
When knitting, it is often necessary to increase the number of stitches in your work. This can be done in a variety of ways, but the basic increase stitch is one of the most commonly used methods. Here is how to do it.
Step 1: Identify the stitch
Before you can increase a stitch, it is important to identify the stitch you want to work on. In most cases, you will be increasing the stitch in the row immediately below the one you are currently working on.
Step 2: Lift the working yarn
To increase a stitch, start by lifting the working yarn with your right-hand needle. Insert the right-hand needle from front to back into the stitch and place it on the left-hand needle.
Step 3: Knit into the back of the stitch
Next, knit into the back of the lifted stitch on the left-hand needle. This will create a new stitch and increase the stitch count by one.
Step 4: Complete the stitch
Finally, slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle, leaving the newly created stitch on the right-hand needle.
Repeat these steps for each stitch you want to increase, until you have reached the desired stitch count. The basic increase stitch is a simple and effective way to add stitches to your knitting project.
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the stitch you want to increase. |
| 2 | Lift the working yarn with your right-hand needle. |
| 3 | Insert the right-hand needle from front to back into the stitch and knit into the back of the lifted stitch. |
| 4 | Slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle. |
Make One (M1) Increase
A common method for increasing stitches in knitting is the Make One (M1) increase. This increase is used to create a new stitch by picking up the strand of yarn between two stitches on the knitting needle and working it as if it were a regular stitch.
To create a Make One (M1) increase, follow the steps below:
- Insert the right-hand needle tip from front to back under the strand of yarn between the last stitch you knitted and the next stitch on the left-hand needle.
- Place this strand of yarn onto the left-hand needle, creating a new stitch.
- Knit or purl this new stitch as instructed in the pattern.
A Make One (M1) increase can be used to add stitches in various situations, such as shaping sleeves, creating decorative increases, or adding stitches for increased width.
It is important to note that there are different variations of the Make One (M1) increase, with different effects on the appearance and tension of the knitted fabric. Some common variations include Make One Left (M1L) and Make One Right (M1R), which result in slightly different angles of the increased stitch.
Practice this increase on a swatch before using it in a project to become comfortable with the technique and to ensure consistency in your knitting.
Overall, the Make One (M1) increase is a useful technique to have in your knitting repertoire, allowing you to easily add stitches and shape your knitting without disrupting the overall pattern or design.
Yarn Over (YO) Increase
The yarn over (YO) increase is one of the simplest ways to increase a stitch while knitting. It creates a decorative hole in the fabric and is often used in lace designs to add texture and interest.
To perform a yarn over (YO) increase, follow these steps:
- Insert your right-hand needle into the next stitch as if you were going to knit it.
- Instead of knitting the stitch, bring the working yarn from the back to the front of your work, creating a new loop on the right-hand needle.
- Continue knitting the next stitch as usual.
At this point, you have increased your stitch count by one and created a yarn over (YO) on the right-hand needle. The newly created loop will appear as a small hole in your fabric.
When you come across the yarn over (YO) on the next row, simply knit or purl it like any other stitch. This will close the hole and create a decorative eyelet.
Yarn over (YO) increases are often used in patterns to create decorative edges, lace patterns, or to increase the number of stitches you have on your needle. Practice this increase technique to add depth and variety to your knitting projects.
Increasing with Lifted Increase Stitches
One way to increase a stitch while knitting is to use the lifted increase technique. This technique is often used when you want to add stitches to your work in a visually subtle and seamless way.
To perform a lifted increase, follow these steps:
- Insert the right-hand needle into the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle from the back to the front.
- Knit into this stitch, creating a new stitch that will be added to your row.
By knitting into the stitch below, you are essentially creating a new stitch without leaving a noticeable hole or gap in your work.
Here are some considerations when using lifted increase stitches:
- Make sure to knit the lifted stitch through the front loop. This will create a neater increase.
- Keep in mind that this increase method uses one stitch from the previous row, so you will need to adjust your stitch count accordingly.
- Lifted increases are commonly used in patterns that require evenly spaced increases or in shaping garments.
Practice the lifted increase stitch on a swatch before incorporating it into a project. Experiment with different gauges and yarn weights to find the best technique for your specific project.
Remember that practice makes perfect, and with time and experience, you will become more comfortable with increasing stitches in your knitting projects using various techniques.
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