Adding and Subtracting Stitches: Increases and Decreases - Part One by TKGA Staff

FOR THE KNITTING NOVICE Adding and Subtracting Stitches: Increases and Decreases - Part One by TKGA Staff

When knitting garments it will usually be necessary to increase needle (LHN), swing the right hand needle (RHN) around to in (inc) or decrease (dec) stitches, either to shape the item or because sert the point of the RHN in to the back loop of the same stitch (on the stitch patterns require it. More stitches are added to a row when the LHN) and knit that stitch. When you slide the stitch off the you increase, and stitches are removed from the row when you de LHN, you now have two stitches on the RHN made from the one crease. Avoid increases or decreases in the first and last stitches of stitch yo u started with. a row so it wi ll be easier to seam those edges later. Move in at least one stitch from the edges to increase or decrease when possible. Another way to say it is to knit the stitch as you n ormally do, but do not slip it off the LHN. Instead, insert the RHN into the stitch There are many ways to do increases and decreases. We will cover a again, this time into the back of the stitch. Wrap the yarn as for few basic methods here. Because different increases and decreases knitting and draw through another stitch. You now have made two create different effects, it is usually best to use the method that is stitches in one stitch. Slide the old stitch off the needle. recommended by your pattern (if there is one specified) in order to achieve the proper effect for that project. Purled Bar Increase: To make a Bar Increase when you arc purling, simply purl into BAR INCREASE (Knit into the front and back of a stitch) the back and front of the stitch, in a fashion similar to creating a The Bar Increase is probably the most commonly used increase knitted increase. Another way to say it is to insert the RHN into and is made by working two stitches into one stitch. It is a good the stitch again, this time into the back of the stitch. Wrap the yarn choice for ribbing. as for purling and draw through another stitch. You now have two stitches in one stitch. Slide the old stitch off the LHN. (Purled Bar The Bar Increase makes a tiny bump, which looks somewhat like Increase is not shown.) a purl stitch. In St st, the tiny bump appears on the knit side and is highly visible. Therefore, the Bar Increase in St st would only be used when the knitter wants a decorative effect. However, the Bar MAKE ONE (Ml) Increase in ribbing is invisible if placed correctly. Worked into a Make One (Ml) is one of several increase m ethods that are less knit stitch before a purl, the knit stitch stays in formation and the visible than the Bar Increase and are more appropriate forSt st or bump increase resembles a purl bump. In ribbing, the purl stitches pattern stitches. (The exception is ribbing, where the Bar Increase recede behind the knits, so the bump made by the increase will is usually the better choice.) hardly be visible. Ml is not worked from a stitch on either needle, but is instead Knitted Bar Increase: worked from the horizontal (or running) strand that appears be To create a Knitwise Bar In crease, knit into the front loop of a kn it tween two stitches. You can create a right-leaning increase slant or stitch, and without removing the new stitch from tl1e left -hand a left-leaning increase slant with MJ.

Bar Increase

I 0 Cast On · August- October 2009 Make One Lifted Increase

Purl wise Lifted Increase (not shown): i nsert !U-IN from back to front and from the bottom up through the purl bump directl y below the stitch on the LHN. Purl that loqp or bump. Do not remove the stitch above the bump from the LHN. Follow the pattern instructions for the next stitch.

PRACTICE YOUR INCREASES Try out these various increases in various practice swatches. Ob serve how they work before you tackle a pattern that ca lls fo r them. Once you are confident, have fun creating a simple ga rment using your new knitting knowledge!

In the next issue of Cast On, watch for Part Two of this article, on To Create a Left-Leaning Ml, Knitwise: Decreases. Insert LHN tip in to the running strand from FRONT TO BACK and knit into the BACK loop of th e running strand, thereby twist Editor's Note: Visit www.TKGA.com and information posted un ing the thread to preven t a hole. This will provide a knitwise left der "Education" to read about the Learn to Knit Correspondence leaning decrease (shown above). Course and how you can order it.

To Create a Right-Leaning Ml, Knitwise (not shown): Insert the ti p of the LHN from BACK TO FRONT and then knit into the FRONT loop to create a right-leaning decrease.

To Create a Left-Leaning Ml, Purlwise (not shown): Insert LH N tip in to the running strand from FRONT TO BACK and purl into the BACK loop of the running strand, thereby twist ing the thread to prevent a hole.

To Create a Right-Leaning Ml, Purlwise (not shown): fnsert the ti p of the LHN from BACK TO FRONT and then purl into the FRONT loop.

LIFTED INCREASE The Lifted Increase is perhaps the most invisible increase tech niq ue. However, when making increases in the same area, at least three rows should intervene between increases.

Knitwise Lifted Increase (shown): The Kni t wise Lifted Increase in made by lifting (from front to back and from the top down) the head of the stitch in the row below (i.e., the purl bump directly below the stitch being worked on the LHN) with the JU-IN, then knitting that loop, and then knitting the stitch on the LHN. (Do not remove the stitch above the bump from the LHN.) Follow the pattern instructions for the next stitch.