How to Increase Stitches

There are many, many ways to increase stitches.  Some are accidental!  We'll be adding more techniques progressively, but for now we'll start with one very common method.

Increase Method 1: Make One

What is m1, or Make One? It is a method for increasing that gives a little more space between stitches than some other techniques. 

M1 by lifting the strand between two stitches with the left needle so that it looks like a regular stitch, with the left side of the strand behind the needle and the right side in front.

 

Knit this lifted strand through the back to twist it, like this:

 

Increase Method 1: Kfb

This method has a long name that says it all:  Knit into the Front and Back, or Kfb. The trick is to do it all in one stitch and keep your tension VERY LOOSE.

Begin by knitting the stitch, with the yarn at the back of the work and the needle going into the stitch from the front.

Stop short of lifting the stitch off of the left needle.  Keep the old stitch on the left needle and the new stitch on the right needle.    

Give yourself plenty of slack by wiggling the new stitch on the right needle.  Insert the right needle behind the left needle into the back of the stitch. 

Knit the stitch again by wrapping the yarn around the right needle from back to front as you would normally. 

Draw the stitch through and lift both stitches off the left needle.

The increase, shown in stockinette stitch, looks like a small purl nestled between your knit stitches.