The two main ways to add stitches in your knitting

When you increase, you create new stitches from the ones already on your needle. The two methods you'll use most often are the yarn over and the knit front and back. A yarn over leaves a small hole in your fabric and is often used for lace patterns or decorative increases. Knit front and back creates a solid increase with no hole and works well for shaping garments like sweaters and hats.

Both methods are fast once you practice them a few times. The choice between them depends on whether you want the increase to show as a visible hole or blend into the fabric. Most patterns will tell you which one to use, but understanding both gives you control over how your finished piece looks.

Key Takeaways

  • Yarn over increases are made by wrapping yarn around the needle between stitches and create a decorative hole in the fabric.
  • Knit front and back increases are made by knitting into the same stitch twice and create a solid, invisible increase.
  • The direction you increase (left-leaning or right-leaning) affects how the new stitches sit and how professional your edges look.
  • Increases work best when you place them one or two stitches in from the edge, not directly at the edge of your work.
  • Counting your stitches after each increase row prevents mistakes from adding up and ruining the fit of your garment.

How to do a yarn over increase

A yarn over is the simplest increase to execute. Bring your working yarn to the front of your work (the side facing you). Knit the next stitch normally. When you knit that stitch, the yarn naturally wraps around the needle, creating a new loop. On your next row, you'll knit that loop as a regular stitch. The result is one new stitch and one small hole in your fabric.

Yarn overs are common in lace shawls, openwork sweaters, and any pattern where you want the increase to be visible. They're also the fastest increase because they require no extra hand movements beyond your normal knit stitch. If your pattern says "yo" or "yarn over," this is the method to use.

How to do a knit front and back increase

Knit front and back (often written as KFB in patterns) creates two stitches from one without leaving a hole. Insert your needle into the front of the stitch the way you normally would. Knit it. Do not slip the stitch off the left needle yet. Instead, bring your needle around to the back of that same stitch and knit into the back loop. Now slip the stitch off. You've created two stitches where one was.

This increase is invisible and works well for shaping the sides of sweaters, increasing for sleeve caps, or adding stitches in ribbed sections. It takes slightly longer than a yarn over because you're working into the same stitch twice, but the extra second per stitch is worth the clean result. Practice this on a swatch first—the motion feels awkward until your hands learn the path.

Left-leaning and right-leaning increases

When you increase, the new stitch leans either left or right depending on how you create it. A right-leaning increase (made by knitting front and back) slants the new stitch to the right. A left-leaning increase (made by knitting into the back loop first, then the front) slants it to the left. On a finished garment, these directional increases look balanced when you pair them on opposite sides of a center line.

For example, if you're increasing on both sides of a sleeve, you might do a left-leaning increase on the left edge and a right-leaning increase on the right edge. This creates a symmetrical look that looks intentional rather than accidental. Most sweater patterns will specify which type of increase to use on each side for this reason. If a pattern doesn't specify, either method works fine—the difference is subtle and mostly visible to you.

Where to place your increases on the row

Never increase directly at the edge of your work. Instead, move one or two stitches in from the edge before you increase. This creates a small border of solid stitches that makes your edges look neater and gives you a clearer seam line when you sew pieces together later.

For example, if you're increasing on a sleeve, knit one or two stitches normally, then do your increase, then continue knitting to the end of the row. On the way back, do the same thing on the opposite side. This consistent placement makes your increases line up vertically, which looks more professional than random increases scattered across the row.

Counting stitches to catch mistakes early

After you finish an increase row, count your stitches before moving to the next row. This takes 30 seconds and saves you from discovering 10 rows later that you miscounted and now your garment is the wrong width. Use a stitch marker or a piece of scrap yarn to mark every 10 stitches as you count—this makes it harder to lose track.

If your count is wrong, frog back (pull out the yarn) to the increase row and redo it. It's frustrating in the moment, but fixing it when ready is much faster than unraveling half a sweater because the armhole is two stitches too wide. Keep a small notebook next to your knitting and write down your stitch count after each increase row. You'll spot patterns (like always being one stitch short) that point to a habit you can fix.

Common mistakes when increasing

The most common mistake is increasing too close to the edge, which makes your edges look sloppy and gives you nothing to hold onto when you sew seams. The second most common is forgetting to slip the stitch off the needle after you knit it, which means you've created extra stitches by accident. Slow down on your first few increase rows and watch your hands—you'll catch these before they become problems.

Another frequent error is twisting the new stitch when you create it, especially with yarn overs. If your yarn over looks tight or distorted, you may have wrapped it the wrong direction. On your next row, knit it through the back loop instead of the front to untwist it. This is a quick fix and doesn't require frogging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use yarn overs in a sweater that's not lacy?

Yes, but the holes will be visible. If you want to increase in a solid-colored sweater, use knit front and back instead. Yarn overs are best saved for patterns where the holes are intentional and part of the design.

What if I increase in the middle of a row by accident?

If you notice it right away, frog back to that row and redo it. If you don't notice until later, you can often leave it—one extra stitch in the middle of a sweater usually won't affect the fit. Count your stitches to decide whether it matters.

Do I increase on every row or every other row?

It depends on your pattern and how quickly you want the fabric to get wider. Most garment patterns increase every other row or every fourth row. Lace patterns often increase every row. Your pattern will specify. If you're designing your own, every other row creates a gradual, natural-looking increase.

Why does my increase row look bumpy?

You may be pulling the yarn too tight after you increase, which distorts the new stitch. Try loosening your tension slightly on the stitch right after the increase. It should look the same size as the stitches around it.

Can I increase on a purl row?

Yes. Purl front and back works the same way as knit front and back—insert your needle into the front of the stitch, purl it, then purl into the back loop without slipping it off. Yarn overs work on purl rows too, though they look slightly different.