Knitting Techniques - Increases

I most often use m1 and kfb increases in my patterns (I'll add to this page when or if I ever use other increases in my patterns.

Make 1 (m1)

First, a pneumonic: "I left through the front door, but I'll be right back." I didn't come up with that - I read it on Ravelry somewhere, but it's a lifesaver. Left-leaning M1s (both M1L and M1PL) are worked by inserting the left needle from front to back.  Right-leaning M1s (both M1R and M1PR) are worked by inserting the left needle from back to front.

Conceptually, all m1s are made the same way: 

• Lifting the top strand of yarn that connects the last stitch knitted (on right needle) to the next stitch to be knitted (on the left needle)
• Placing the strand on the left needle (it looks a little like a tight yarn over at this point)
• Working the strand as if it were a twisted stitch.

Note: to borrow from Debbie Stoller's description of how to twist (or not twist) a stitch:

• When knitting normally, you always knit or purl through the leading leg (ie, the portion of the loop that is farther to the right).  This may or may not help, but to me leading leg appears longer than the trailing leg when doing M1s or working YOs on the next row. When working a normal stitch (not an increase) this is typically described as the front leg.  
• When you wish to twist a stitch, you knit or purl through the trailing (or shorter) leg. When it's a regular stitch, it's often called the back loop (ex: k tbl).

Make 1 Left (M1L) or Make 1 Purl Left (M1PL) - "I left through the front door":

• Lift the top strand connecting the last stitch on the right needle and the first stitch on the left needle by inserting your left needle from FRONT to back under that strand. 
• Knit or Purl as appropriate through the trailing leg, which happens to be the back leg in this case.

Make 1 Right (M1R) or Make 1 Purl Right (M1PR) - "but I'll be right back":

• Lift the top strand connecting the last stitch on the right needle and the first stitch on the left needle by inserting your left needle from BACK to front under that strand.
• Knit or Purl as appropriate through the trailing leg, which happens to be the front leg in this case.

For more info on M1 increases (including pictures) see:

• Knits: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/make-one-right-m1r-make-one-left-m1l/
• Purls: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2024/03/20/m1p-how-to-make-1-purl-stitch/

Knit-Front-Back (kfb)

• Insert the right needle into the front loop (leading leg) of the stitch but, leave the stitch on the left needle.
• Insert the right needle into the back loop (trailing leg) and knit. 
• Slip both stitches to right needle.