What Increasing a Stitch Means and Why You Need It

Increasing a stitch means adding an extra loop to your needle so you have more stitches on the row than you started with. You do this when a pattern calls for shaping — making a sweater wider at the bust, adding fullness to a sleeve, or creating the sides of a hat that tapers to a point. Without increases, every row would be the same width, and you would only be able to knit rectangles.

The most common increases are the yarn over and the knit front and back (KFB). Both add one stitch per increase. A yarn over is visible as a small hole in the fabric and is often used for lace or decorative shaping. Knit front and back is invisible and is the workhorse increase for fitted garments. The method you choose depends on whether the pattern wants the increase to show or blend in.

Key Takeaways

  • Knit front and back (KFB) is the most common invisible increase — you knit into the front of a stitch, then the back of the same stitch without dropping it off the needle.
  • A yarn over is created by bringing the yarn to the front of the needle between two stitches, which leaves a deliberate hole and is often used in lace patterns.
  • The position of your increase matters: increases near the edges create a cleaner seam line, while increases in the middle of a row are easier to space evenly.
  • Always count your stitches after increasing to make sure you added the right number — a dropped stitch or miscounted increase will throw off your entire piece.

Knit Front and Back (KFB) — The Standard Invisible Increase

Knit front and back is the increase you will use most often. It creates a new stitch without leaving a hole, so the fabric stays solid. To do it: insert your right needle into the front of the next stitch on your left needle as if you were going to knit normally. Wrap the yarn and pull the loop through, but do not drop the stitch off the left needle. This is the key step — most beginners drop it and think they are done.

Now insert your right needle into the back of that same stitch (the one still on your left needle) from right to left. Wrap the yarn again and pull through. Now drop the stitch off the left needle. You have just made two stitches from one. The first new stitch sits on your right needle from the front loop, and the second sits next to it from the back loop.

Practice this on a swatch before you use it in a real project. The motion feels awkward at first because you are working into the same stitch twice. Once your hands learn the rhythm, it becomes automatic. The increase will be nearly invisible if you keep your tension even — too tight and it will pucker, too loose and it will look sloppy.

Yarn Over — The Decorative Increase

A yarn over (YO) is the fastest increase to work and creates a small hole in the fabric. It is used in lace patterns, shawls, and anywhere the pattern wants the increase to be visible. The yarn over is also the easiest increase to spot if you make a mistake, because the hole will be in the wrong place or missing entirely.

To make a yarn over between two knit stitches: knit one stitch normally. Bring the yarn to the front of your work (toward you). Knit the next stitch. The yarn is now wrapped around the needle, and that wrap counts as a new stitch. When you purl the next row, you will purl into that yarn over as if it were a regular stitch.

If you are working in a pattern that mixes knit and purl, the yarn over changes slightly. Between a knit and a purl, bring the yarn to the front, then over the needle to the back as you move into the purl stitch. Between a purl and a knit, the yarn is already at the front from the purl, so just knit the next stitch — the wrap happens automatically. Pay close attention to your pattern instructions, because the exact motion depends on which stitches surround the yarn over.

Increases at the Edges Versus in the Middle of a Row

Where you place an increase changes how the finished piece looks and how straightforward it is to sew together. Edge increases are worked one or two stitches in from the edge of your piece. They create a slanted line that runs up the side and makes seaming cleaner because the increase sits inside the seam allowance. Most fitted garments use edge increases for this reason.

To work an edge increase on the right side of your piece: knit one stitch, then increase (either KFB or yarn over, depending on your pattern) into the second stitch. On the left side, work to the last two stitches, increase into the second-to-last stitch, then knit the last stitch. This keeps the edge stitch intact and makes your seams line up.

Centered increases are worked in the middle of a row and are useful when you want the shaping to be obvious or when you are working in the round. They are also easier to space evenly across a wide piece. To center an increase, count the stitches you have and divide by the number of increases you need. If you have 60 stitches and need 6 increases, place one every 10 stitches. Mark your spacing with stitch markers before you start the row so you do not lose count.

Spacing Increases Evenly Across a Row

Uneven increases create a lumpy, unprofessional look. The best way to space them is to do the math before you start knitting. Count your cast-on stitches and the number of increases your pattern calls for. Divide the total stitches by the number of increases plus one. This tells you how many stitches to knit between each increase.

For example: you have 48 stitches and need to increase 8 stitches evenly across the row. Divide 48 by 9 (8 increases plus 1) to get 5.3. Round down to 5. Knit 5 stitches, increase, knit 5, increase, and so on. You will have a few extra stitches left over at the end — knit those after your last increase. The increases will be nearly invisible if they are spaced this way, because the eye does not catch a pattern that is almost but not quite regular.

Use stitch markers to mark where each increase goes. Place a marker after every fifth stitch before you start the row. When you reach a marker, work your increase and move the marker up to the next row. This removes the guesswork and prevents you from losing count halfway through.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Increasing

The most common mistake is dropping the stitch too early when doing a knit front and back. You must knit the front, then knit the back of the same stitch while it is still on the left needle. If you drop it after the front loop, you will only have added one stitch instead of two, and your row count will be off.

Another frequent error is miscounting stitches after increasing. Always count your stitches at the end of every increase row, especially in the first few rows. If you are supposed to have 50 stitches and you have 49, you missed an increase somewhere. It is much easier to fix on the current row than to rip back three rows later and wonder where the error started.

Tension problems also show up in increases. If you pull too hard on the yarn after creating a new stitch, the fabric will pucker and the increase will look like a tight knot. If you pull too loosely, the new stitch will be sloppy and the hole will be too big. Aim for the same tension you use for regular stitches — the increase should feel like a normal part of the fabric, not a special event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between KFB and M1?

Knit front and back (KFB) uses the stitch that is already on your needle. Make one (M1) picks up the horizontal strand of yarn between two stitches and knits into it. M1 is less visible than KFB because it does not create a bump, but it is harder to learn. Most patterns for beginners call for KFB because it is more forgiving.

Can I use a yarn over in a pattern that does not call for it?

You can, but the hole will be visible and may not match the pattern's design. If the pattern calls for KFB and you use a yarn over instead, you will have a lace-like appearance in a place where the designer intended solid fabric. Stick to what the pattern specifies unless you are deliberately changing the look.

How do I fix an increase I worked in the wrong place?

If you are still on the same row, drop back to the stitch before the mistake, pull the yarn, and rework that section. If you have already finished the row, you can either rip back to that row or leave it — one misplaced increase usually will not ruin a garment, though it may be visible to you. In future projects, use stitch markers to prevent this.

Do I count the new stitch created by an increase right away?

Yes. As soon as you complete the increase, that new stitch counts toward your total. If you started with 40 stitches and increased 4 times, you now have 44 stitches. Count them before you start the next row to make sure the number is correct.