Left Handed m1L increase (make 1 increase)

Unlike decreases, there are multiple ways to make increases in knitting. Just like the decreases, the increases have directionality and become part of the look of the final piece.  Since there is directionality there are two separate increases.  Today we will look at the left handed m1L increase otherwise known as make 1 left increase.  In the next post we will look at the left handed m1L increase’s counterpart, the m1R.

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

When creating an increase, in this case, the left handed m1, you will be putting an increase inbetween two stitches and you will be using the bar that runs horizontally between the two stitches.

Step 1

 

 

To make the left handed m1L increase start by picking up the bar between the two stitches with the tip of your left needle.

Step 2

 

Then put yarn on your right hand needle.

Step 3

Next, you are going to knit into the back loop of that stitch, which is the leg of the stitch closest to you.  Your needle will enter the stitch from the right side.  This will form a twisted stitch which will close the gap created by pulling up on the yarn. In the photo below you can see my needle in the stitch.

Step 4

Yarn over.

Step 5

Finally take the new stitch out through the window and drop the old stitch off the needle.

The arrow above shows the left handed m1 increase after it has been completed.  Can you see that it slants to the left?

Thank you for stopping by!  Feel free to drop me a line in the comments and as always, if you have an idea for a future post, please let me know!

-Karen Lynn