There are many different kinds of increases in knitting, yarn over, knit front back, make one left, make one right, lifted increase and maybe some others that I missed.
In this post I will be covering the make one and lifted increases and discussing how/if they are different. I will be writing this in real time, so to speak, as I learn about the differences, or not, between these increases. I’ve been knitting for over 20 years and until recently this wasn’t something that I thought much about. I decided to make a post and share what I learn with you.
Make one or M1 or M1L and M1R is an increase that occurs between two stitches and doesn’t use a stitch to make a new stitch. Some patterns don’t specify which direction to work the M1 and others do where the M1s are in pairs either pointing towards or away from each other.
I have made tutorial videos for how to work an M1L and M1R for both right and left handed knitters. I only shot the video once and used neutral language. I put text boxes on the screen to tell which direction the stitch should lean, left or right.
I simply Googled “Lifted Increase Knit” and quickly learned that yes, yes these are different from the make one increases.
Lifted increases are worked in the stitch below the stitch that is currently on the needle. These are like make ones as in they also go left and right. However they are worked in the closest leg of the stitch a row or 2 below, depending on leaning direction. I have worked these before and they had a different name that I don’t recall. What I do recall is that the instructions called the stitch on the needle the daughter, the one below the mother and the one below that the grandmother. That made this stitch confusing for me. This was during the time we lived in Colorado and I didn’t have internet access. I don’t remember if I worked these or just chose to work M1s.
I made video of these increases as well. also with neutral language and on-screen text to tell you which direction the stitch will be leaning.
Both of these increases have the advantage of being able to be used with a yarn over directly before or after it and not making a larger hole. I’ve not designed something that needed this but have worked a few lace pieces that did and the finished look is awesome!
Please feel free to share your experience with these increases or others in the comments!
Happy Making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 