09 October 2015

How to knit m1 increases (and why)

how I knit m1 increases (and why) VIDEO by Kathleen Dames




For those of you who never get around to watching videos:

Today I'm going to show you how to work my preferred make-one increases. While some knitters prefer knit-front-and-back or working into the running thread between stitches, I have issues with both of those, particularly when knitting something with paired increases.

The issue with kfb is that you get a purl bump. There are times when this is great, like doing increases for ribbing or seed stitch, but if you're working a smooth stockinette fabric, those bumps may stick out in a bad way.

Picking up the bar between stitches (the running thread) is ok, but I find it pulls at the fabric at those points since you are literally pulling the running thread from running between stitches to bring a whole new stitch. You can work those stitches as pairs, but sometimes it can be a wrestling match.

So making one out of whole thread, as it were, is my preferred technique. To do it, you make a backwards loops with your working yarn and place it onto your right needle. To make paired increases, twist your loop in one direction for the first increase and the other direction for its match. Simply work into the new stitch normally on the next row or round. Just remember to be consistent on which direction you twist your loops.

So there you have it. Matched increase that are nearly invisible! I use this technique on all of my sweaters, as well as some accessories (Sly Maid Stole comes to mind). And it works on flat knitting and in the round.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy knitting!





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2 comments:

  1. Hi Kathleen- I've never thought of doing an increase like this, this is awesome! One quick question- when you work your increase on the next row/round, do you knit it or purl it through the back loop, or as usual?

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    Replies
    1. With this method, I work the stitch on the next row/round normally - it's already twisted around the needle. I have a friend who just does a yarnover instead of the backwards loop and then works into the back of the stitch on the next row/round.

      What I also like about this technique is, if you forget, you can pick up the running thread and work into the back of it, rather than tinking back to do the increases. I still prefer M1s, but it's good to have lifted increases as a backup :)

      So glad you like the technique! I only cadge from the best: Elizabeth Zimmermann put me on to this. Can't remember if it's from Knitter's Almanac or one of her other books.

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