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CHAPTER 1
Neutral Increases
Neutral increases are those that do not lean to the left or the right, but are neutral, or vertical, in appearance. These can be used when you don't need paired or mirror-image increases, such as when you want to increase a number of stitches evenly across a row.
OPEN NEUTRAL INCREASES
Open Yarnover Increases
Known in knitting language as a "yo," the stand-alone yarnover increase is formed by wrapping the yarn over the right needle between two stitches. A yarnover is most commonly used in lace or other openwork knitting as part of a decorative pattern, but it can also be used to increase stitches. For example, you can place a yarnover after the first and before the last stitch on every other row to form a triangle, as for a shawl. When used for increasing, the yarnover is most commonly used before a knit stitch. When used in lace, the yarnover can be used before a knit or a purl stitch.
Characteristics
Forms decorative hole.
Formed with working yarn between stitches.
Uses
Decorative increasing.
Eyelets and lace patterns.
Open Yarnover (yo) before a Knit Stitch
1. Bring the yarn to the front between the needles.
2. Move the yarn up and over the right needle to the back, in position to knit the next stitch.
3. Knit the next stitch.
4. When you come to this strand on the next row, you may either knit or purl the strand, depending on the pattern.
Open Yarnover (yo) before a Purl Stitch
1. Bring the yarn up and over the right needle to the back.
2. Bring the yarn between the needles to the front, ready to purl the next stitch.
3. Purl the next stitch.
4. When you come to this strand on the next row, you may either purl or knit the strand, depending on your pattern.
OPEN NEUTRAL INCREASES
Open Bar Increases
This increase, like the yarnover (see here), will form a decorative hole in the work and can be used wherever that effect is desired. It is worked into the strand that lies between two stitches, and it looks the same as a yarnover except that the hole may be slightly smaller. You can also use an open bar increase if you forgot to perform a yarnover in the previous row.
Characteristics
Forms a decorative hole, slightly smaller than a yarnover hole.
Formed with strand between two stitches.
Uses
Decorative increasing.
Eyelets and lace patterns.
Replaces forgotten yarnover.
Open Bar Increase on a Knit Row
1. Insert the right needle under the bar or running thread between the stitch that is on the right needle and the stitch that is on the left needle from front to back.
2. Wrap the yarn under, then over the right needle.
3. Pull a loop through the picked-up strand, creating a new knit stitch.
Open Bar Increase on a Purl Row
1. With yarn in front, insert the right needle under the bar or running thread between the stitch that is on the right needle and the stitch that is on the left needle from back to front.
2. Wrap the yarn over, then under the right needle.
3. Push the yarn through the picked-up strand, creating a new purl stitch.
CLOSED NEUTRAL INCREASES
Backward Loop Increases
This is the same technique that is sometimes used to cast on stitches. While the stitch is vertical, the right leg of the increased stitch will cross the left when added on a knit row, then purled on the next row; and the left leg will cross the right when added on a purl row, then knitted on the next row. The increase is completely neutral when worked in garter stitch.
Characteristics
Forms tiny gap between stitches below.
New stitch is vertical with left or right leg in front.
Formed with working yarn between stitches.
Uses
Adds unpaired extra stitch between existing stitches.
Adds paired stitches to the beginning and end of a widening piece.
Backward Loop on a Knit Row
1. Make a loop of working yarn around your left index finger from back to front.
2. Insert the right needle from front to back into the front of the loop.
3. Remove your finger and tighten the loop to create a stitch on the needle.
4. Knit or purl the stitch on the next row, depending on the pattern.
Backward Loop on a Purl Row
1. Make a loop of working yarn around your left index finger from front to back.
2. Insert the right needle from back to front into the back of the loop.
3. Remove your finger and tighten the loop to create a stitch on the needle. Knit or purl the stitch on the next row, depending on the pattern.
Backward Loop to Add Stitches to the End of a Row
Proceed as above, working the number of knit or purl stitches needed.
CLOSED NEUTRAL INCREASES
Closed Yarnover Increases
These increases begin the same as the open yarnover increases, but rather than allowing them to form a hole, you twist the stitches on the following row. You may use these in combinations as paired increases, but the differences are subtle.
Characteristics
Nearly invisible with tiny hole below the new stitch.
New stitch is vertical with the left or the right leg in front.
Formed with working yarn between stitches.
Uses
Adds unpaired extra stitch between existing stitches.
Pair knit versions 1 and 2.
Pair purl versions 1 and 2.
Pair knit version 1 and purl version 2.
Pair knit version 2 and purl version 1.
Closed Yarnover (yo) Increase on a Knit Row, Version 1
This begins the same as the knitwise open yarnover increase.
1. Bring the yarn to the front between the needles.
2. Move the yarn up and over the right needle to the back in position to knit the next stitch.
3. Knit the next stitch.
4. When you come to this strand on the next row, purl the strand through the back loop.
In the new stitch formed, the left leg crosses the right leg.
Closed Yarnover (yo) Increase on a Knit Row, Version 2
1. Bring the yarn up and over the right needle from back to front.
2. Bring the yarn between the needles to the back in position to knit the next stitch.
3. Knit the next stitch.
4. When you come to this strand on the next row, purl the strand through the front loop.
In the new stitch formed, the right leg crosses the left leg.
Closed Yarnover (yo) Increase on a Purl Row, Version 1
This begins the same as the purlwise open yarnover increase (see here).
1. Bring the yarn up and over the right needle to the back. Move the yarn between the needles to the front in position to purl the next stitch.
2. Purl the next stitch.
3. When you come to this strand on the next row, knit the strand through the back loop.
In the new stitch formed, the left leg crosses the right leg.
Closed Yarnover (yo) Increase on a Purl Row, Version 2
1. Bring the yarn between the needles to the back.
2. Move the yarn up and over the right needle to the front in position to purl the next stitch.
3. Purl the next stitch.
4. When you come to this strand on the next row, knit the strand through the front loop.
In the new stitch formed, the right leg crosses the left leg.
CLOSED NEUTRAL INCREASES
Working into Front and Back of Same Stitch
Almost as invisible as the Closed Yarnover Increases, the new stitch formed by this neutral increase will have a horizontal bar at its base and be on the left of the existing stitch. This is a good increase to use when increasing evenly across a row of knitting. If you want to use the front and back increase when you are increasing at the beginning and the end of several rows, for example, when shaping a sleeve, work the beginning kfb (knit into the front and back of the same stitch) increase on the right side and the pfb (purl into the front and back of the same stitch) ending the increase on the wrong side. This will keep the bumps formed by the new stitches to the inside of the stitches used to form them. If your purl stitches are a bit tighter than your knit stitches, like mine are, the kfb increase will be slightly more pronounced than the pfb, but they are structurally the same.
Characteristics
Formed in existing stitch.
Small horizontal bar at bottom of increased stitch (to left of existing stitch).
Uses
Adds unpaired extra stitch.
Pair knitwise (kfb) and purlwise (pfb) at the beginning of each row.
Working into Front and Back on a Knit Row (kfb)
1. Knit into the front of the next stitch, but leave the stitch on the needle.
2. Bring the right needle behind the left needle.
3. Insert the right needle into the back of the same stitch from right to left.
4. Knit the stitch again.
5. Drop the original stitch from the needle.
The new stitch is formed to the left of the old stitch.
Working into Front and Back on a Purl Row (pfb)
1. Purl into the front of the stitch, but leave the stitch on the needle.
2. With yarn in front, bring the right needle behind the left needle.
3. Insert the right needle into the back of the same stitch from back to front.
4. Purl the stitch again (left).Drop the original stitch from the needle (right).
Viewed from the right side on stockinette stitch, the new stitch is formed to the right of the old stitch (see photo).
CLOSED NEUTRAL INCREASES
Working into Back and Front of Same Stitch
This increase is the same as working into the front, then the back of a stitch as described in Working into Front and Back of Same Stitch, except that the stitch being used for the increase becomes twisted and looks smaller. The increased stitch will be to the left of the original stitch when worked on a right-side row. The increased stitch will be to the right of the original stitch when worked on a wrong-side row but viewed on the right side.
Characteristics
Tight twisted stitch to the right or left of the increased stitch.
Small horizontal bar at bottom of increased stitch.
Formed in existing stitch.
Uses
Adds unpaired extra stitch.
Pair knitwise (kbf) and purlwise (pbf) at the beginning of each row.
Working into Back and Front on a Knit Row (kbf)
1. Knit into the back of the next stitch, but leave the stitch on the needle.
2. Bring the right needle in front of the left needle, and insert it into the front of the same stitch from front to back.
3. Knit the stitch again.
4. Drop the original stitch from the needle.
The new stitch is formed to the left of the old stitch, and the original stitch is twisted.
Working into Back and Front on a Purl Row (pbf)
1. Purl into the back of the stitch (left), but leave the stitch on the needle (right).
2. With yarn in front, bring the right needle in front of the left needle and insert it into the front of the same stitch from back to front.
3. Purl into the same stitch again.
4. Drop the original stitch from the needle.
Viewed from the right side of stockinette stitch, the new stitch is formed to the right of the old stitch, and the original stitch is twisted.
CLOSED NEUTRAL INCREASES
Knit and Purl into Same Stitch
Worked into an existing stitch, this increase will form two distinct stitches: one knit stitch and one purl stitch.
Characteristics
Makes a knit stitch next to a purl, or a purl stitch next to a knit.
Formed from existing stitch.
New stitch is formed to the left of the original stitch.
Use
Increase in seed stitch or other knit/purl stitch patterns.
Working the Knit 1, Purl 1 Increase (kp)
1. Knit into the next stitch, but leave it on the needle.
2. Bring the yarn forward between the needles.
3. Insert the right needle into the same stitch from back to front.
4. Purl the same stitch, and drop it from the needle. You now have a knit stitch followed by a purl stitch.
Working the Purl 1, Knit 1 Increase (pk)
1. Purl into the next stitch, but leave it on the needle.
2. Bring the yarn to the back between the needles.
3. Insert the right needle into the same stitch from front to back and knit the stitch.
4. You now have a purl stitch followed by a knit stitch.
CHAPTER 2
Right- and Left-Leaning Increases
Left- and right-leaning increases can be paired to create a mirror image in the knitting. When you are widening the fabric on both sides, as for a sleeve or other shaped piece, you may want the increase to lean in the direction of the fabric slant. For example, if you are instructed to "increase one stitch at the beginning and end of the next row," use a right-leaning increase at the beginning of the row and its left-leaning companion at the end of the row. However, there is no law against reversing the order; the result will simply be more obvious and decorative.
PAIRED INCREASES
Make 1 Increases (M1)
The term make 1 has been used in knitting patterns to describe different types of increases. The usage described here is the most common, but you should always check the glossary of the pattern you're working to be sure what is meant. Make 1 increases are worked into the strand of yarn that lies between two stitches. You can make right-leaning and left-leaning increases knitwise, and you can make right-leaning and left-leaning increases purlwise. If you are widening a stockinette stitch piece by increasing at the beginning and end of every third or fifth row, use knitwise increases on the right-side rows and purlwise increases on wrong-side rows. You may also use purlwise increases when working reverse stockinette stitch or when appropriate for seed stitch or other knit-and-purl patterns.
Characteristics
Forms a new stitch between two stitches.
New stitch has one leg crossing the other and leans in that direction.
M1RP looks exactly like M1R when viewed from the knit side.
M1LP looks exactly like M1L when viewed from the knit side.
Uses
Pair M1R and M1L to increase stitches on both ends of a right-side row of knitting.
Pair M1RP and M1LP to increase on both ends of a wrong-side row; for example, when the instructions call for increasing every third or fifth row.
Use M1 increases alone to increase stitches decoratively in one direction, perhaps for the top of a tam.
Use M1P increases to increase in seed stitch or other knit-and-purl patterns.
Working the Make 1 Left Increase (M1L)
1. Insert the left needle under the strand between the left and right needles from front to back, lifting the strand onto the needle.
2. With yarn in back, insert the right needle from front to back through the back of the stitch.
3. Wrap the yarn under, then over the right needle to knit the stitch.
Note that the left leg of the new stitch crosses the right leg of the new stitch.
Working the Make 1 Right Increase (M1R)
1. Insert the left needle under the strand between the left and right needles from back to front, lifting the strand onto the needle.
2. With yarn in back, insert the right needle from front to back through the front of the stitch.
3. Wrap the yarn under, then over the right needle to knit the stitch. Note that the right leg of the new stitch crosses the left leg of the new stitch.
Working the Make 1 Left Purl Increase (M1LP)
1. Insert the left needle under the strand between the left and right needles from front to back, lifting the strand onto the needle.
2. With yarn in front, insert the right needle from back to front into the back of the stitch.
3. Wrap the yarn over, then under the right needle to purl the stitch.
The new stitch looks like the M1L when viewed from the knit side.
Working the Make 1 Right Purl Increase (M1RP)
1. Insert the left needle under the strand between the left and right needles from back to front, lifting the strand onto the needle.
2. With yarn in front, insert the right needle from back to front through the front of the stitch.
3. Wrap the yarn over, then under the right needle to purl the stitch.
The new stitch looks like the M1R when viewed from the knit side.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Increase, Decrease"
by .
Copyright © 2015 Judith Durant.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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