Front and back is a single-stitch increase that turns one loop into two

Knit front and back (often abbreviated KFB) is an increase worked into one stitch on your needle. You knit into the front of the stitch the normal way, leave it on the needle, then knit into the back of the same stitch before dropping it off. This creates two stitches where there was one, and it is one of the most common increases in patterns that shape garments — sleeves, necklines, and waistlines all use it.

The increase sits on the row where you work it and creates a small bump or bar at its base. This bar is visible and intentional in many patterns, but in others you may want to hide it by working the increase one stitch in from the edge or by choosing a different increase method. The stitch is straightforward to execute once you understand the hand position and the order of the two knits.

Key Takeaways

  • Knit front and back works into a single stitch twice — once through the front loop and once through the back loop — before dropping it off the left needle.
  • The increase creates a visible horizontal bar at its base, which is a design feature in many patterns but can be hidden by working it one stitch in from the edge.
  • The stitch is worked on the knit side of the fabric and produces a right-leaning increase that sits slightly to the right of where you worked it.
  • Tension matters: if you pull too tight after the first knit, the second knit into the back loop becomes difficult and the resulting stitches may look uneven.

Step-by-step: how to work knit front and back

Insert your right needle through the front of the stitch on your left needle the way you would for a normal knit stitch — from left to right, going under the left needle. Wrap your yarn and pull through to create a new loop on your right needle. Do not drop the stitch off the left needle yet. This is the critical difference from a regular knit.

Now insert your right needle through the back of that same stitch — from right to left, going behind the left needle. Wrap your yarn and pull through to create a second new loop on your right needle. Now drop the original stitch off the left needle. You now have two stitches on your right needle where you started with one.

The order matters: front first, then back. If you reverse it, the increase will lean the opposite direction. Most patterns call for front-back because it produces a right-leaning increase that works well in pairs for symmetrical shaping.

Why the bar appears and when it matters

The horizontal bump you see at the base of a knit front and back is the original stitch loop, now split into two. It is not a flaw — it is the structure of the increase itself. In many patterns, especially those with intentional texture or colorwork, this bar is part of the design and adds visual interest to the finished piece.

In other patterns, particularly stockinette garments where you want shaping to be invisible, the bar can stand out. To minimize its appearance, work the increase one stitch in from the edge of a piece, or pair it with a decrease on the opposite side so the bar is balanced by a corresponding decrease line. Some knitters also choose a different increase method — like a lifted increase or a yarn-over — when they want no visible bar at all.

Tension and common mistakes

The most common problem is pulling the yarn too tight after the first knit. If you cinch the loop close to the needle, the back loop becomes hard to access and your second knit will be tight and awkward. Keep the first loop loose enough that you can comfortably insert your needle through the back. A gentle, even tension on both knits produces stitches that look similar in size.

Another mistake is dropping the stitch too early — after the first knit instead of after the second. This leaves you with only one new stitch instead of two, and you will notice the increase did not happen. Develop the habit of checking that the original stitch is still on your left needle before you move to the next stitch.

If your increases look uneven or one side of the pair is noticeably tighter than the other, check whether you are maintaining consistent tension between the front and back knits. Practicing on a swatch with a contrasting yarn color makes the structure of the increase easier to see and debug.

Where knit front and back appears in patterns

You will see KFB in patterns for fitted garments, especially where increases happen regularly over many rows. Raglan sleeves often use it on both sides of the raglan line, creating a symmetrical increase pair. Waist shaping in fitted sweaters and cardigans uses it to add width gradually. Neckline shaping and cap sleeves also rely on it because it is straightforward to work and produces a predictable, even increase.

Patterns usually write it as "KFB" or spell it out as "knit into front and back of next stitch." Some older patterns may say "increase 1" or "inc 1," though that term is less common now. When you see it in a pattern instruction like "K5, KFB, K5," it means knit 5 stitches, work the increase into the next stitch, then knit the remaining 5 stitches of that row.

Pairing knit front and back with decreases

Increases and decreases are often worked together to create balanced shaping. If you increase with KFB on the right side of a garment, you might decrease on the left side using a knit two together (K2tog) or a slip-slip-knit (SSK). The decrease leans the opposite direction from the increase, and together they frame a column of stitches that looks intentional and balanced.

In a raglan, for example, you might work KFB after the edge stitch and SSK before the edge stitch on the same row. The two increases lean away from each other, and the two decreases lean toward each other, creating a symmetrical frame. This pairing is what gives shaped garments their polished appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work knit front and back on a purl row?

Yes, the equivalent on a purl row is purl front and back (PFB). Insert your needle through the front of the stitch, purl, leave it on the needle, then insert through the back and purl again. The technique is identical; only the stitch type changes. Some patterns use PFB on wrong-side rows to keep shaping consistent.

Does knit front and back always lean to the right?

Yes, KFB (front then back) produces a right-leaning increase. If you work back then front instead, you get a left-leaning increase. Most patterns specify KFB because the lean is predictable, but if a pattern calls for a left-leaning increase, you would work the back loop first.

What if I accidentally knit into the back first?

Your increase will lean left instead of right. If the pattern calls for a right-leaning increase and you worked it backward, the shaping will still function, but the visual line of increases may look off compared to the pattern photo. On a future project, you can correct it by remembering the order: front first, then back.

Is knit front and back the same as a yarn-over increase?

No. A yarn-over creates a hole in the fabric and is visible as an eyelet. Knit front and back creates a solid increase with a bar at the base and no hole. They are both increases, but they produce different textures and are used in different contexts — yarn-overs in lace, KFB in fitted shaping.

How do I count stitches after working knit front and back?

If you started a row with 50 stitches and worked one KFB, you end with 51 stitches. Each KFB adds exactly one stitch. If a pattern says "increase 5 stitches evenly across the row," you work five separate KFB stitches (or five other increases) to reach that total.