Introduction
Knitting is a beloved craft that allows individuals to create beautiful and functional pieces of clothing and accessories. One important technique in knitting is increasing stitches. Increasing is essential for shaping your project, such as creating a flared skirt or shaping the crown of a hat. In this article, we will discuss various methods to increase in knitting and the best practices to ensure your increases are neat and even.
Methods of Increasing in Knitting
1. Yarn Over (YO):
– Yarn over is a common method of increasing in lace knitting.
– To yarn over, simply wrap the yarn around the needle once before knitting the next stitch.
– This creates a small hole in your knitting and increases the stitch count by one.
2. Make One (M1):
– Make one is a nearly invisible increase that is great for shaping projects.
– To make one, lift the bar between the stitches from front to back with the left needle and knit into the back loop of the lifted bar.
– This creates a new stitch on your needle without leaving a hole.
3. Knit Front and Back (KFB):
– Knit front and back is another common method of increasing.
– To KFB, knit into the front of the stitch as usual, but before slipping the stitch off the left needle, knit into the back loop of the same stitch.
– This creates two stitches out of one, increasing your stitch count by one.
4. Lifted Increase:
– The lifted increase is a simple and tidy way to increase a stitch.
– To do a lifted increase, knit into the stitch below the next stitch on your left needle, then knit into the next stitch.
– This method creates a new stitch without leaving a hole in your knitting.
Best Practices for Increasing in Knitting
1. Consistency:
– Consistency is key in knitting, especially when increasing stitches.
– Make sure to use the same method of increase throughout your project to maintain a uniform look.
2. Tension:
– Pay attention to your tension when increasing stitches to ensure your gauge remains consistent.
– Avoid pulling too tightly or too loosely when making increases to prevent puckering or gaps in your work.
3. Placement:
– Consider the placement of your increases in relation to your project.
– For shaping, increases can be placed evenly or asymmetrically depending on the desired effect.
4. Practice:
– Like any skill, increasing in knitting takes practice.
– Try swatching different methods of increasing on a small piece of fabric to see which technique you prefer and to improve your skills.
Common Mistakes When Increasing in Knitting
1. Forgetting to Increase:
– It’s easy to get caught up in the rhythm of knitting and forget to make your increases.
– Double-check your pattern to ensure you are increasing at the correct intervals.
2. Adding Extra Stitches:
– Sometimes beginners accidentally add extra stitches when increasing by not working into the correct part of the stitch.
– Pay close attention to where you need to make your increases to avoid this mistake.
3. Uneven Increases:
– Uneven increases can result in a lopsided or misshapen project.
– Count your stitches regularly and adjust your increases as needed to ensure they are spaced evenly.
Conclusion
Increasing in knitting is a fundamental skill that allows you to shape your projects and add design elements to your work. By mastering various methods of increasing and following best practices, you can create beautifully crafted pieces with even and neat increases. Remember to practice and be mindful of your tension and placement to achieve professional-looking results in your knitting projects.
