How to Increase a Stitch in Knitting: Techniques and Methods

Knitting is a versatile craft, and one of its most important aspects is the ability to increase stitch counts to achieve the desired shape, size, or design. There are various ways to increase a stitch, each yielding a slightly different appearance. Whether you're working on a lace pattern, a raglan sweater, or a personalized project, mastering these techniques will help you enhance your knitting skills.

Popular Methods for Increasing Stitches

Increase and decrease techniques are crucial in knitting, as they allow you to shape your projects as you knit. Here are some of the most common methods:

Knit into the Front and Back of the Same Stitch (KFB)

The KFB or knitting into the front and then the back of the same stitch technique is a simple yet effective method. It creates a visible bump on the right side of your knitting.

How to Perform KFB:

Insert your knitting needle into the next stitch on your left-hand needle, as you would for a regular knit stitch. Pull the yarn through as usual, but instead of letting go of the stitch on the needle, bring the needle back through the same stitch again, as if to knit it again. You will now have a new stitch on your needle, creating an increase.

Here is a YouTube tutorial that demonstrates this method along with a couple of other more complex methods.

Yarn Over (YO)

A Yarn Over (YO) is a technique that creates a hole in the work, making it ideal for lace patterns. To perform a yarn over, simply bring the working yarn to the front of the work and then over the needle to the back.

How to Perform YO:

Move the working yarn to the front of the work without knitting it. Wrap the yarn around the needle from back to front in a clockwise direction. Insert the needle into the next stitch as you would to knit, but just hook the yarn without pulling it through the stitch. The working yarn will now create a new loop on your needle, increasing your stitch count.

Here is a YouTube guide that provides a step-by-step demonstration of the YO technique.

Lifted Increase (M1) or Make One

The M1 or Make 1 technique creates a seamless increase, making it perfect for paired increases in raglan shaping, sleeves, or other parts of a garment.

How to Perform M1:

Insert the knitting needle into the front or back loop of the next stitch on your left-hand needle, as if to knit. Twist the yarn over the needle and drag it through the stitch, creating a new loop on your needle. Knit into this new loop to complete the increase.

The M1 comes in two versions: right-leaning (M1R) and left-leaning (M1L). For a seamless result, choose the leaning version that matches the adjacent stitches. Here is a YouTube tutorial that illustrates both the right-leaning and left-leaning versions of the M1 technique.

Make 1 Below (M1B)

The M1B or Make 1 Below technique is a very nice and invisible increase. It is ideal for creating clean edges without visible bumps.

How to Perform M1B:

Insert the needle into the stitch below the last stitch you have just worked, as if to knit. Twist the yarn over the needle and drag it through the stitch, creating a new loop on your needle. Knit into this new loop to complete the increase.

Here is a YouTube guide that provides a step-by-step demonstration of the M1B technique.

Conclusion

With these techniques, you can master the art of increasing stitches in your knitting projects. Whether you opt for a simple KFB increase or a seamless M1B, each method has its own unique benefits and applications. Experiment with these techniques to discover which ones work best for your knitting style and desired project outcome.

Remember to practice, and don't be afraid to try different combinations of these techniques to create unique patterns and designs. Happy knitting!