Knitting Increases: Adding to your Enjoyment

 

by Tiffany Landres

Here at The Nook, we love knitting everything from basic knit-purl scarves, to cozy sweaters, to intricate shawls, and everything in between. One of the constants in almost any pattern (unless you are knitting a straightforward piece like a scarf) is knitting increases or decreases.

Most times, patterns come with specific instructions on what type of increase is called for. This is because each type of increase creates a different look on a piece. Some of the differences are subtle and some are obvious.

Sometimes patterns opt to let you choose your own increase. These patterns usually just say something like "increase 1 stitch", "make one", or "increase evenly across row". Which increase is most appropriate in these situations? To help our fiber buddies, we are going to detail some of the most used increases, and let you know when you might use each increase.

Every garment pattern form lace shawls to sweaters has increases and decreases

Make one increases

There are several make one increases. These increases are helpful if you want the stitches to obviously lean to the left or right. They can be used in conjunction with decreases such as knit two together and slip, slip, knit. I see a lot of these increases in top-down sweater knitting.

These increases all make a similar looking stitch. The M1A increase and M1T increase create slight holes in the work, so if you are interested in a slightly lace looking pattern they are great for that. The M1R and M1L increases tend to be less visible. If you want to hide your increases as much as possible, these are the way to go.

Make One Away (M1A)

Use a backwards loop cast on. The working yarn will face the back of the work. This increase leans to the left.

Make One Towards (M1T)

Using a loop cast on method, twist end with the working yarn in the front of the work. This increase leans to the right.

Make One Right (M1R)

This increase involves the bar between the stitch you just worked and the next stitch. With your left needle, pick up the in between bar from the back to the front, knit into the front of the stitch. This creates a right leaning increase.

Make One Left (M1L)

This increase also involves the bar between the stitch you just worked and the next stitch. With your left needle, pick up the bar up from the front to the back, and knit into the back of the stitch. This creates a left leaning stitch. Sometimes it can be hard to insert your needle to knit into the front of this stitch, but it helps to make sure you aren't pulling at your work.

The Bar Increases

These increases don't lean as much left or right, but they are great for when you are working in knit purl patterning and need a certain increase to look like a purl.

Knit Front Back

In my opinion, this is the easiest increase. You simply knit into the front of the stitch and before dropping the stitch off the needle, knit into the back loop of that same stitch. This creates a look where the purl bump comes after the knit. You can also do this with a purl front and back of the stitch.

Moss increase

Knit into the front of the stitch, and before dropping the stitch off the needle, pull your yarn around to purl into the front of that same stitch. This also creates a look where the purl bump comes second, but the bump is more pronounces and looks like it is leaning more.

Previous Row Knitting Increases

These are increases I have personally only knit once or twice in all my time knitting. They are very specialized and not called for often. The only time I have ever seen them, is when two increases are next to and need to mirror each other (I think the couple I worked were on a plushie in between the eyes). I had to look these ones up here to even remember they existed. It might be fun to create a piece with this, because it is a somewhat distinct look.

Knit Right Loop

Knit into the back of the stitch below the stitch on your left needle. This leans to the right.

Knit Left Loop

With your left needle pick up the stitch 2 rows down on your right needle, and knit into the back loop of that stitch. This leans to the left.

Yarn Over Increases

These increases create a large hole. They are used in lace knitting as a primary way to create the openwork look. You can do this on a knit row or a purl row.

Purl YO

On a purl row, bring the yarn to the back and purl the next stitch as normal.

Knit YO

On a knit row, bring the yarn to the front of the work and knit the next stitch as normal.

There are other increases, of course, but these are the ones we encounter most often in patterns. If you can't decide, do the one you love to work the most. Have fun, and play with these in a free form knit and see what you might like best. Do you have a favorite increase? Let us know in the comments!