It’s been quiet around here, but things are moving along behind the scenes. Sometimes if I haven’t posted for a bit, I just need a jump start, so here’s an increase that I ran across recently.
If you’ve ever used KFB, knit in the front and back of a stitch, you know it’s an easy way to increase. It’s easy, and great for garter stitch where the bump from the increase doesn’t show. In stockinette, it does show, and you have to decide if that bump is a bug or a feature. But I recently ran across YarnSub’s post on Knit Front Slip Back (KFSB), which avoids the bump, and thought it was worth sharing. You can click the link for pictures and a video, but basically it’s knit in the front of the stitch, go into the back of the stitch as for KFB, but just slip that back of the stitch to the right needle without working it. Voilà!
It does have a directional lean to it, though, so if I wanted paired increases with one leaning the other way, I’d choose my favorite left and right leaning lifted increases. My other favorite paired increases are M1 (make one) increases by working into the back (right leaning) or front (left leaning) of the bar between stitches.
So many ways to get things done! What’s your favorite increase method?
Currently on the needles for a design project, this drop dead gorgeous 600+ yard gradient cake from Fierce Fibers. This color is Saigon Cinnamon, but every time I look at it, I think of Thai iced tea. I’m through the hard thinking on this project, and about to hit cruise control. Ahhhhhh. It’s a crescent shawl, with conventional lace and a fun new lace motif made with elongated stitches. I’ll work up a 400 yard version, too. Details soon.
What’s on your needles?
PDXKnitterati 
Gorgeous color. Thanks for sharing KFB info. God speed!
It’s funny, I came across the same post from YarnSub, and found it very interesting too — I guess it’s a small world in the FIber Community! And thank you for confirming that it does still have a directional slant, as I suspected it did. 🙂
As for my favorite increases, I tend towards M1L/M1R. I personally am not a fan of working into the stitch below (it’s not hard, I just don’t like doing it!) so that makes the Left/Right Lifted Increases less appealing to me.
P.S. That colour is gorgeous, and makes me want to put the kettle on for tea!
I like the M1L/M1R, too. I resisted them for a while because I couldn’t remember which one leaned which way, but I’ve gotten over that!
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I had some scrap yarn and tried this technique. Worked great except that my yarn was variegated and the slipped stitch shows up dramatically. Something else to think about when using this increase method. Thanks for sharing it.
Good point; I hadn’t even thought of that! But I’m usually about the paired lifted or M1 increases because they have coordinating buddies, left and right.
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Oooh – thanks for sharing – I’ll have to try that out!
And LOVE that yarn! but I love a good gradient!
I am still deep down the gradient rabbit hole. They’re so pretty; how can we be expected to resist?
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Now I’m craving Thai Iced Tea. LOL
On my needles – socks! (Surprised????)