Increase Stitches in Knitting

There many increases available for knitters. Some are more visible than others. In addition, some increases lean to the right or the left. This swatch shows many of the increases.

Increase Swatch

The bar increase on the knit side of your work-this increase leaves a bar on the front of the work (similar to a purl bump) whether you work it from the knit side or the purl side. Insert the right hand needle knitwise into the stitch to be increased, wrap the yarn as if to knit, complete the knit stitch, but do not remove the stitch created from the left needle. Then insert the right needle into the back of the same stitch, wrap the yarn as if to knit, complete the knit stitch and slide both from the left needle to the right.

Increases Bar Increase

The bar increase on the purl side is worked by first purling the stitch to be increased, but do not remove the stitch from the needle. Then insert your needle into the back of the purl loop and through the stitch, then wrap your yarn and complete the purl. Finally slide both stitches from the left needle to the right.

Increases Bar Increase Purl Side

The lifted increase is only slightly visible. It is worked on the knit side by folding over the stitches on the left needle so that you have access to the purl side. Insert the right needle into the purl bump from the top down and knit that stitch.

Increases Lifted Increase

The lifted increase from the purl side is also not very visible. It is worked by inserting the right needle into the purl bump two rows below the stitch on the left needle and purling that stitch.

Increases Lifted Increase Purl Side

There are more increases including a simple yarn over (often used in lace knitting) whereby you wrap the yarn from the back to the front and then knit the next stitch. You can use increases to add design elements to your work, like the bar increase or just to add stitches, where the less visible lifted increase may work better. Try them and see which work better for you. If the pictures above are not clear enough the Vogue Knitting -Ultimate Knitting guide has pictures and illustrations that are very clear also.