Tutorials >
Knit > Bar Increase - Working in Front and Back
Loops
This is one of the easiest increases and works well almost anywhere within a
knitting project. The core idea of this increase is to work more than one stitch
into an existing stitch. The basic way this is done is by working either 2
knit stitches into a knit stitch or 2 purl stitches into a purl stitch.
There are countless variations on how this increase can be performed, by either
working more than 2 stitches into an existing stitch, or by working both knit
and purl stitches into the same stitch.
Pattern Abbreviation: k1f&b, p1f&b
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Anatomy of a Stitch
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Before taking a look at the bar increase, it is important
to understand the terminology used to describe the stitch. The picture
at left shows the first stitch on the left needle. The front loop of
the stitch is the loop that will be facing you as you work. The back
loop will be away from you on the opposite side of the needle. The bar
increase and its variations will work into each loop of the stitch one or
more times to increase the work by one or more stitches. |
To work knitwise (knit one front and back):
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Step 1: Knit into
the front loop as you normally would, but DO NOT slip the stitch from the
left needle. |
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Step 2: Working into the back loop of the same
stitch, insert the right needle from front to back through the back loop of
the stitch on the right needle. Bring the yarn over and knit through
this stitch. |
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Step 3: Finally slip the stitch off of the left
needle. There are now 2 stitches worked into the original one stitch.
Possible variations of this increase include purling into the back loop,
or keeping the stitch on the left needle and working again into the front
loop.
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To work purlwise (purl one front and back):
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Step 1: Purl
into the front loop as you normally would, but DO NOT slip the stitch
from the left needle. |
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Step 2: Working into the back loop of the same
stitch, insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of
the stitch on the right needle. Bring the yarn over and purl through
this stitch. |
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Step 3: Finally slip the stitch off of the left
needle. There are now 2 stitches worked into the original one stitch.
Possible variations of this increase include knitting into the back loop,
or keeping the stitch on the left needle and working again into the front
loop. |