What Knit Front and Back Does

Knit front and back (often written as KFB) is a way to add one new stitch by working twice into the same stitch before dropping it off the needle. You knit into the front loop of the stitch, leave it on the needle, then knit into the back loop of that same stitch, and only then slip it off. This creates two stitches where one existed before.

This technique is different from other increases because it happens within a single stitch rather than between stitches. The result is a small bump or bar on the right side of your fabric, which is why KFB is sometimes called a "bar increase." It's one of the most common increases in knitting and works the same way whether you're knitting flat or in the round.

Key Takeaways

  • Knit front and back means working into the front loop, then the back loop of the same stitch before dropping it off the needle.
  • The stitch creates a visible bar on the right side of your fabric, which some patterns use as a design detail.
  • The increase happens on the needle itself—you don't need to work between stitches or use yarn overs.
  • Tension matters: keep your working yarn even so both the front and back stitches look the same size.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Knit Front and Back

Start with your working yarn in back and your right needle ready to work the next stitch on your left needle. Insert your right needle through the stitch from left to right, the way you normally would for a knit stitch. Wrap your working yarn around the right needle and pull it through to create a new loop on the right needle. Do not drop the stitch off the left needle yet.

Now insert your right needle through the same stitch again, but this time from right to left, going through the back loop. This means your needle enters from behind the stitch. Wrap your working yarn around the right needle again and pull through to create a second new loop on the right needle. Now you can drop the original stitch off the left needle. You now have two stitches on your right needle where you had one.

The whole motion takes about three seconds once you've done it a few times. The key is remembering that the stitch stays on the left needle after the first knit, and you're deliberately going through the back loop the second time rather than accidentally doing it.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent error is dropping the stitch too early. If you drop it after the first knit but before the second, you'll have only one stitch and you've wasted a motion. Slow down on your first few attempts and watch the stitch stay on the left needle through both loops.

The second mistake is twisting the back loop. When you insert your needle through the back loop, make sure you're going through the actual loop and not accidentally creating a twisted stitch. Your needle should pass cleanly through the loop from back to front. If the resulting stitch looks pinched or crossed, you've twisted it.

Uneven tension between the front and back stitches is also common. If one loop is much tighter than the other, your fabric will look lumpy. This usually happens because you're pulling the yarn harder on one of the two wraps. Keep your tension consistent—the same amount of pull on both the front and back knit.

When to Use Knit Front and Back in Your Projects

KFB appears in patterns that need increases distributed across a row or round. You'll see it in shaping for sleeves, in the crown of hats, and in patterns that increase gradually rather than all at once. Because the increase creates a visible bar, some patterns use it intentionally as a design element—the bars can form lines or patterns across the fabric.

If a pattern calls for "increase 1" or "inc 1" without specifying the method, KFB is usually the default. It's also the increase most often taught to beginners because it requires only the basic knit stitch and no extra yarn overs or lifted stitches.

Some patterns specify KFB on the right side and purl front and back (PFB) on the wrong side, which keeps the bar consistent across the fabric. If your pattern doesn't specify, you can use either—it's a matter of preference and how visible you want the increase to be.

Knit Front and Back in the Round

The technique works exactly the same way whether you're knitting flat or in the round. Insert through the front loop, knit, keep the stitch on the needle, insert through the back loop, knit, and drop. The only difference is that you're working on circular needles or double-pointed needles instead of straight needles, but the stitch itself doesn't change.

In circular knitting, the bar of the increase will be visible on the outside of your fabric just as it is when knitting flat. If you're working a hat or a sweater body in the round and the pattern calls for KFB, you're doing the exact same motion you would on a flat piece.

Comparing KFB to Other Increase Methods

Knit front and back is one of several ways to add stitches. A yarn over (YO) creates a hole in the fabric and is often used for lace. A lifted increase pulls a stitch from the row below and is less visible than KFB. A make one (M1) increases between two stitches rather than within one stitch and is nearly invisible.

KFB is faster than a lifted increase and more visible than a make one. It's also simpler than a make one because you don't have to identify the strand between stitches. If your pattern doesn't specify which increase to use, KFB is usually the easiest choice for a beginner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does knit front and back create a twisted stitch?

Not if you do it correctly. The back loop should be untwisted when you insert your needle. If your resulting stitch looks twisted or pinched, you went through the loop at an angle instead of straight through. Practice inserting your needle cleanly from back to front on the second knit.

Can I purl front and back the same way?

Yes. Purl front and back (PFB) works on the same principle: purl through the front loop, keep the stitch on the needle, purl through the back loop, then drop. The motion is the same, just with a purl stitch instead of a knit stitch. Use PFB on wrong-side rows if you want the increase bar to be less visible.

What if I accidentally twisted the back loop?

You'll see it right away—the stitch will look crossed or tight. You can drop it and redo it, or you can leave it and untwist it on the next row by working through the back loop instead of the front. Most knitters just redo it because it's faster than fixing it later.

Does the bar from KFB show on both sides of the fabric?

The bar is most visible on the knit side (the right side of stockinette). On the purl side it's much less noticeable. If you want the increase to be nearly invisible, use a make one or lifted increase instead. If you want the bar to be a design feature, KFB is the right choice.