A right increase leans toward the right side of your work

A right increase is a method of adding a new stitch that slants visibly to the right. When you knit a piece that needs to grow wider — a sleeve cap, a shawl edge, or the side of a sweater — you add stitches at the edges or within the fabric. A right increase and its mirror, the left increase, let you control which direction the new stitch leans, so the increases look intentional rather than accidental.

The most common right increase is the knit front and back, often written as KFB in patterns. You knit into the front of a stitch, then knit into the back of the same stitch before dropping it off the needle. This creates one new stitch from one old one. The result leans right because the front leg of the stitch sits on top.

A second option is the right-leaning lifted increase, where you pick up the stitch from the row below and knit it, then knit the stitch on your needle. This is less bulky than KFB and is often used in shaping that needs to look clean, like the edges of a cardigan or the decreases of a fitted garment.

Key Takeaways

  • Knit front and back (KFB) is the fastest right increase and works by knitting into the front and back of the same stitch before dropping it.
  • A right-leaning lifted increase picks up the stitch from the row below, creating a less bulky result that works well for visible shaping.
  • Right increases slant visibly to the right and are paired with left increases to create balanced, intentional-looking shaping.
  • The direction of the increase matters most when you are shaping both edges of a piece — right increases on one side, left on the other, so they mirror.

Knit Front and Back (KFB)

Insert your right needle through the front of the stitch on your left needle, from left to right, the way you normally knit. Wrap the yarn and pull the new loop through, but do not drop the stitch off the left needle yet. This is the first part of the increase.

Now insert your right needle through the back of that same stitch, from right to left. Wrap the yarn and pull a second loop through. Now drop the stitch off the left needle. You have created two stitches from one, and the increase leans right because the front leg sits on top of the back leg.

KFB is fast and needs no setup, which is why it appears in many patterns. The trade-off is a small bump or bar at the base of the new stitch. If your pattern calls for a nearly invisible increase, a lifted increase is a better choice.

Right-Leaning Lifted Increase

A lifted increase works by borrowing a stitch from the row below. Knit to the stitch where you want to increase. Insert your right needle under the left leg of the stitch one row below the stitch on your left needle, from left to right. Knit this lifted stitch, then knit the stitch on your needle as normal.

The result is one new stitch added, and it leans right. Because you are picking up an existing stitch rather than creating a new loop, there is no bar or bump. This makes the increase nearly invisible when you step back from your work, which is why it is popular in fitted garments and shawls where the shaping should not draw the eye.

The lifted increase takes a little more attention than KFB, but once you find the rhythm, it becomes automatic. Many knitters prefer it for any piece where the increases will be visible.

Where Right Increases Belong in Your Pattern

Right increases are usually worked at the right edge of your piece or on the right side of a centered increase line. If you are shaping both edges of a sleeve or cardigan, use a right increase on the right edge and a left increase on the left edge. This creates a balanced look where the increases mirror each other.

Some patterns ask you to work increases every other row or every fourth row. The spacing controls how gradual the shaping is. Increases every other row create a steeper slope; increases every fourth row create a gentler one. Follow your pattern's rhythm to get the fit it promises.

If your pattern does not specify which type of increase to use, KFB and a lifted increase are usually interchangeable. The choice comes down to whether you mind the small bar that KFB creates. For a garment you will wear often, the lifted increase is worth the extra second it takes.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

The most common error is dropping the stitch too early when you do KFB. Make sure you knit both the front and the back of the stitch before you let it slide off the left needle. If you drop it after the first loop, you will have a hole instead of an increase.

With lifted increases, the mistake is picking up the wrong stitch. You want the stitch directly below the one on your needle, not one to the left or right. If you are unsure, count down from your working stitch and mark the one below with a stitch marker before you pick it up.

Another pitfall is tension. If your new stitch is much looser or tighter than the stitches around it, the increase will look sloppy. After you complete the increase, give the working yarn a gentle tug to even out the tension before you move to the next stitch.

Right Increases Versus Left Increases

A left increase leans toward the left side of your work. The most common left increase is the slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (SKPO), where you slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch. There is also a left-leaning lifted increase that mirrors the right-leaning version.

When you use both right and left increases on the same piece, they create a balanced, professional look. On a sleeve cap, for example, you might decrease (which is the opposite of increase) using a right decrease on the right edge and a left decrease on the left edge. The same principle applies to increases: mirror them across the center of your work.

If you use only one type of increase on both edges, the piece will still work, but the shaping will look lopsided. Matching the direction of your increases to the edge they sit on is a small detail that makes a big difference in how finished your work looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between KFB and a lifted increase?

KFB creates a small bar or bump at the base of the new stitch because you are creating a new loop. A lifted increase picks up an existing stitch from the row below, so there is no bar. Both add one stitch, but the lifted increase is less visible and works better in fitted garments.

Can I use a right increase on the left edge of my piece?

You can, but it will look unbalanced. A right increase leans right, so it looks intentional on the right edge. On the left edge, it will lean away from the edge, which reads as accidental. Use a left increase on the left edge and a right increase on the right edge for balanced shaping.

How do I know if my increase is tight or loose?

After you complete the increase, the new stitch should sit at the same tension as the stitches on either side of it. If it is noticeably looser, gently tug the working yarn to tighten it. If it is too tight, you may have pulled the yarn too hard when you created the new loop.

Do I count the new stitch from an increase as part of my stitch count?

Yes. If your pattern says to increase one stitch, your total stitch count goes up by one. If you start with 60 stitches and increase one stitch, you now have 61. Keep a running count as you work so you know whether you are on track.

What if my pattern says to increase but does not say which type?

KFB and a lifted increase are usually interchangeable unless the pattern specifies otherwise. Choose whichever you prefer. If the increases will be visible, the lifted increase is the safer choice because it has no bar. If they will be hidden in seams or texture, KFB is faster.