Tips - Increasing Stitches
When shaping garments it is usually necessary to add additional stitches. If they are made “invisibly”, there will be no hole or gap left in the fabric. The three “invisible” methods shown below all use part of an existing stitch to create a new one. Make two stitches from one, Increase 1 “Inc 1”, for shaping your side edges and use the Raised increase “M1” and Lifted increase “Up 1” for shaping within the body of the garment. The visible increase variously written as yarn around needle “yrn”, yarn forward “yfwd” and yarn over needle “yo”, is used for decorative stitch patterns.
Increase 1 (inc 1)
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In a knit row Knit into the front of the stitch in the usual way. Without discarding the stitch on your left hand needle, knit into the back of it, making two stitches. |
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In a purl row Purl into the front of the stitch in the usual way. Without discarding the stitch on your left hand needle, purl into the back of it, making two stitches. |
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Using invisible increase This frilled cuff was made by picking up stitches from white stripes and doubling every stitch on the needle. |
Lifted increase (Up 1)
In a knit row
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1. Insert your right hand needle from front to back into the top of the stitch below the next one to be knitted. Knit the stitch in the usual |
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2. Then, knit the next stitch on your left hand needle. |
In a purl row
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1. Insert your right hand needle from back to front into the top of the stitch below the next one to be purled. Purl the stitch in the usual way.
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2. Then, purl the next stitch on your left hand needle. |
Raised increase (M1)
In a knit row
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1. Insert your left hand needle from front to back under the running thread between your left and right hand needles. |
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2. Then, knit into the back of the raised running thread. |