Adding stitches mid-project is how you shape your knitting

Adding stitches while you knit — called increasing — lets you widen your fabric, create shaping in sleeves and necklines, or fix a mistake where you dropped a stitch. Unlike casting on at the start of a project, you add stitches directly from the working yarn while the needles are in your hands. The method you choose depends on where you are in your row, how visible you want the increase to be, and whether you need the new stitch to slant left or right.

The three most common methods are the yarn over (which creates a visible hole, often decorative), the knit front and back (which is invisible and quick), and the lifted increase (which picks up a stitch from the row below). Each one takes about five seconds once you know the motion, and you can use them in the same project depending on what the pattern calls for.

Key Takeaways

  • A yarn over creates a deliberate hole and is the fastest increase; it works best in lace patterns or when you want the increase to show.
  • Knit front and back (KFB) adds a stitch without a hole and is invisible; it is the most common choice for shaping sleeves and body width.
  • Lifted increases pick up a stitch from the row below and are nearly invisible; they work well when you need to increase several stitches in one row without a visible line.
  • The direction an increase slants (left or right) matters in patterns that call for paired increases on either side of a center line.
  • Practice each method on a spare swatch before using it in a garment so the motion becomes automatic and your tension stays even.

Yarn Over: The Fastest and Most Visible Increase

A yarn over (YO) is the simplest increase to execute. You bring the working yarn to the front of your work between the needles, then knit the next stitch as normal. The yarn that was in front becomes a new stitch on the left needle, and the motion creates a small, deliberate hole in your fabric. This hole is intentional — it is the signature of lace knitting and many decorative patterns.

To do a yarn over: work to the point where you want to increase. Bring the yarn forward between the needles (toward you). Knit the next stitch. The loop of yarn you brought forward is now a stitch on your left needle. On the next row, you will knit or purl it like any other stitch. The hole appears directly below where you made the yarn over.

Yarn overs are often paired in patterns — one on each side of a center stitch — to create symmetrical shaping. They are also used in eyelet patterns, where multiple yarn overs in the same row create a line of holes. Because the hole is visible, yarn overs are not the right choice if you want invisible shaping, but they are perfect when the increase is meant to be part of the design.

Knit Front and Back: The Invisible Workhorse Increase

Knit front and back (often written as KFB in patterns) is the most common increase for shaping garments because it is invisible and creates no hole. You knit into the same stitch twice — once through the front loop and once through the back loop — before dropping it off the needle. This creates two stitches where there was one.

To do a knit front and back: insert your right needle through the stitch on the left needle as if to knit normally. Knit the stitch but do not drop it off the left needle yet. Bring the right needle around to the back of the left needle and insert it through the same stitch from behind. Knit again through the back loop. Now drop the original stitch off the left needle. You have created two stitches from one.

The new stitch created from the back loop will sit slightly to the right of the original stitch, creating a small slant. If a pattern calls for paired increases (one on each side of a center), you would use KFB on the right side and a different method (like a lifted increase) on the left side to make the shaping symmetrical. KFB is fast, reliable, and works in almost any knitting project where you need invisible shaping.

Lifted Increases: Adding Stitches Without a Slant

A lifted increase picks up a stitch from the row directly below your working row and knits it together with the current stitch. This method is nearly invisible and does not create the slight slant that KFB does. It is the best choice when you need to increase multiple stitches in one row and want the increases to blend into the fabric.

To do a lifted increase on the right side: work to where you want to increase. Using your right needle, pick up the loop of the stitch directly below the next stitch on your left needle (one row down). Knit this picked-up loop. Then knit the stitch on your left needle as normal. You have now created two stitches from the one on your needle, and the picked-up stitch blends seamlessly into the fabric below.

A lifted increase on the left side (which slants the opposite direction) works the same way but picks up the stitch to the left of your working stitch instead of to the right. Patterns that call for paired increases often specify "lifted increase left" and "lifted increase right" to create balanced shaping. The motion takes a moment to learn because you are reaching down to the previous row, but once it becomes automatic, it is as fast as any other increase.

When to Use Each Increase in Your Pattern

Your knitting pattern will usually tell you which increase to use and where. Lace patterns almost always call for yarn overs because the holes are part of the design. Garment patterns that shape sleeves, armholes, or waistlines typically call for KFB or lifted increases because they are invisible. Some patterns specify which method to use; others leave it to your judgment.

If a pattern does not specify, choose based on what you want the finished fabric to look like. Use yarn overs if you want the increases to be visible. Use KFB if you want speed and do not mind a slight slant. Use lifted increases if you are increasing many stitches in one row and want them to disappear into the fabric. All three methods are correct — the choice is about the look you are going for.

Pay attention to whether a pattern calls for increases to be paired and on which side of a center stitch. If the pattern says "increase 1 stitch each side," it usually means one increase on the right edge and one on the left edge of a garment piece, and they should slant toward the center to create balanced shaping. Your pattern will specify which method to use on each side, or you can choose methods that slant in opposite directions.

Tension and Practice: Keeping Your Stitches Even

The biggest challenge with adding stitches is keeping your tension consistent. A new stitch created by any method can look loose or tight compared to the stitches around it, especially if you are learning the motion. The solution is to practice on a spare swatch before you use the increase in a real project.

Knit a small swatch — about 20 stitches wide and 30 rows tall — and practice each increase method several times in the same swatch. Knit a few rows, do a yarn over, knit a few more rows, do a KFB, and so on. This gives your hands a chance to learn the motion without the pressure of a garment. You will notice that your tension improves after the first few increases of each type.

When you use an increase in an actual project, work the new stitch gently on the next row. Do not pull the yarn too tight as you knit into it. A slightly loose new stitch will even out as you continue knitting and the fabric relaxes. If the new stitch is very loose, you can gently tighten it by pulling the working yarn slightly as you work the next row, but avoid yanking, which can distort the fabric.

Fixing Common Mistakes When Adding Stitches

If you forget to increase where the pattern calls for it, you can usually add the stitch on the next row using a lifted increase. Pick up the stitch from the row below at the point where you should have increased, and knit it together with the current stitch. This creates the stitch you missed, though it will be one row lower than planned. For most garments, this is not noticeable.

If you accidentally increase when you should not have, you have added an extra stitch to your row. Count your stitches at the end of the row to catch this. If you catch it right away, you can drop the extra stitch and unravel back to where you made the mistake, then knit forward again. If you do not notice until several rows later, you can decrease the extra stitch on a future row using a knit two together (K2tog) or slip-slip-knit (SSK) decrease.

If a new stitch looks much looser than the stitches around it, do not panic. Gently tighten the working yarn as you knit the next few rows, and the loose stitch will usually even out. If it remains visibly loose after a few rows, you can carefully unravel back to that point and redo the increase with better tension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add stitches at the very edge of my knitting?

Yes, but the result will look different than adding stitches in the middle of a row. Yarn overs at the edge create a decorative hole. KFB at the edge creates a small bump. For the cleanest edge, many patterns call for increases one or two stitches in from the edge rather than right at the edge itself. Check your pattern for guidance.

What is the difference between an increase and a yarn over?

A yarn over is one specific type of increase — it creates a hole and is always visible. Other increases like KFB and lifted increases add stitches without holes. When a pattern says "increase," it usually means any method that adds a stitch. When it says "yarn over," it means that specific method.

Do I need to increase on every row?

No. Patterns specify exactly which rows to increase on. Some patterns call for increases every other row, some every fourth row, and some only on certain rows. Follow your pattern. If you increase more often than the pattern calls for, your garment will be wider than intended.

Why does my increase look twisted?

A twisted increase usually means you knitted into the stitch the wrong way — for example, through the back loop when you meant to go through the front. Check that you are inserting your needle correctly. If the increase is already done, you can usually leave it as is; it will not affect how the garment fits.

Can I use different increase methods in the same project?

Yes. Many patterns mix yarn overs (for lace sections) with KFB or lifted increases (for shaping). As long as each increase is in the right place and done correctly, using different methods in the same project is fine and often necessary.