Increasing means adding stitches to widen your work — it is what makes a sleeve grow, a shawl open out or a sweater yoke expand. In this video we go through the basic increases step by step and which one suits each situation so the fabric doesn’t end up full of holes.
The basic increases
- Make one (M1). Lift the bar between two stitches onto the needle and knit it through the back loop. It is the most invisible increase — twisting it closes the hole.
- Knit front and back (kfb). Knit into the same stitch twice, once through the front and once through the back. It leaves a small bump, handy when you want to see where you increased.
- Yarn over. Take the yarn over the needle. This creates a hole on purpose — it is the increase used in shawls and lace.
- Place the increases. On a sleeve, increase one at each side of the seam line. On a yoke, spread them evenly around.
- Count after each increase row. Check the total matches the pattern before you carry on.
Common mistakes
- Knitting the bar untwisted. You get a hole where you didn’t want one. If it wasn’t meant to be lace, undo it and twist the stitch.
- Increasing right at the edge. It makes seaming awkward. Leave one or two stitches of margin.
- Increasing all at once. Where the pattern allows it, spread increases over several rows — the fabric drapes far better.
Frequently asked questions
Which increase leaves no hole?
The make-one worked through the back loop. A yarn over does leave a hole, which is exactly why it is used for lace and shawls.
Do increases lean too?
Yes: the make-one can be twisted to lean right or left. On symmetrical pieces you use one of each side.
How many stitches can I increase in one row?
Whatever the pattern says. As a rule of thumb, no more than one every four or five stitches if you want the fabric to stay flat.
What we used in the video
BeMe yarn by The Woolcatcher and circular needles. Browse the full natural yarn collection.
