Knitting is a versatile and creative craft that allows crafters to produce beautiful and functional pieces such as scarves, sweaters, hats, and more. As you progress in your knitting journey, you may encounter the need to increase stitches to shape a garment, add decorative elements, or work on intricate stitch patterns. In this article, we will explore various techniques on how to increase a stitch in knitting to help you expand your repertoire and take your knitting projects to the next level.
Why Increase Stitches in Knitting?
There are several reasons why you may need to increase stitches in your knitting project:
- Shaping: Increases are commonly used to shape the fabric, such as creating sleeves on a sweater or shaping a neckline.
- Lace and Decorative Stitch Patterns: Many lace patterns and decorative stitches require increasing stitches to create intricate designs.
- Buttonholes: Increasing stitches can create spaces for buttonholes in cardigans, shawls, and other garments.
Basic Increase Techniques
There are several techniques for increasing stitches in knitting, each with its unique look and purpose. Here are some basic increase techniques commonly used in knitting:
Knit Front and Back (KFB)
Knitting twice into the same stitch is known as the knit front and back increase. This increase creates a small bar running diagonally between the two stitches.
- Insert the right needle into the next stitch on the left needle as if to knit.
- Knit into the stitch but do not remove it from the left needle.
- Insert the right needle into the back loop of the same stitch and knit into it.
- Slip the stitch off the left needle.
The knit front and back increase is a simple and subtle increase that is great for shaping and adding a little bit of texture to your knitting.
Make One (M1)
The make one increase is a technique that involves creating a new stitch by lifting the bar between two stitches.
- Insert the left needle from front to back under the bar between the stitches.
- Knit into the back of the loop to twist the stitch and prevent a hole from forming.
The make one increase is virtually invisible and is perfect for creating a seamless look in your knitting projects.
Knit into the Front and Back Loop (K1FB)
Similar to the knit front and back increase, the knit into the front and back loop increase involves knitting into the front and back loops of the same stitch to create two new stitches.
- Knit into the front of the stitch as you normally would.
- Without removing the stitch from the left needle, knit into the back loop of the same stitch.
- Slip the stitch from the left needle.
This increase technique creates a more pronounced bar between the two stitches and adds texture to your knitting.
Advanced Increase Techniques
As you become more experienced in knitting, you may want to explore advanced increase techniques to add complexity and depth to your projects. Here are some advanced increase techniques to consider:
Double Increase (Double Increase)
The double increase involves creating two new stitches from one stitch, resulting in a more pronounced increase.
- Knit into the front, back, and front of the same stitch.
This increase technique adds a unique decorative element to your knitting and is commonly used in lace patterns and intricate designs.
Yarn Over (YO)
A yarn over increase involves wrapping the yarn around the needle to create a new stitch.
- Bring the yarn to the front of the work.
- Wrap the yarn around the right needle counterclockwise.
- Continue knitting the next stitch as usual.
Yarn overs are commonly used in lace patterns to create decorative eyelets and holes in the fabric.
Choosing the Right Increase Technique
When choosing an increase technique for your knitting project, consider the following factors:
- Visibility: Decide whether you want the increase to be visible or invisible in your project.
- Texture: Some increase techniques create more texture and depth in the fabric.
- Function: Consider the purpose of the increase and how it fits into the overall design of your project.
Experimenting with different increase techniques can add interest and variety to your knitting projects and help you develop your skills as a knitter.
Practice Makes Perfect
Increasing stitches in knitting may seem daunting at first, but with practice and patience, you can master these techniques and incorporate them into your projects with confidence. Remember to swatch and practice the increase techniques on scrap yarn before applying them to your actual project.
Whether you are shaping a garment, working on a decorative stitch pattern, or experimenting with new techniques, mastering the art of increasing stitches will open up a world of possibilities in your knitting journey.
Happy knitting!
