Knit Stitches For Increases and Decreases

Truth be told, the thought of making increases and decreases made me nervous.  But mastering them is one way to expand our knowledge as knitters.

Now that I have followed patterns containing them, I see how valuable they can be.  These types of stitches are used to create a lace look, or add texture and interest to an otherwise simple project.

The increase and decrease is needed when knitting garments, like hats.  Decreases are made at the top of the hat to shape it.  Also think, mittens, triangular shawls, clothing, booties, ect., which all need to be shaped. 

When knitting lace, increases and decreases are used together to create that lacy look.

Some common increases:

Yarn Over (yo)

Make One (m1)

Knit front and back (kfb) 

Stitch markers can be placed before these stitches to remind us when to work them.  Usually they are slipped onto the needle.

In a pattern the letters PM mean "place marker".

Yarn overs are very simple ways to increase a stitch.  

Doing a yarn over before a knit stitch is simple, but the one done before a purl can be tricky.  

Watch the quick video tutorial below for the correct way to make these stitches.

One simple way to make a decrease is to knit two stitches together.  Two stitches are knit, or purled, at the same time.  Two stitches become one, and will be treated as a single stitch on the next row of the pattern.  Hats require this around the top to create the point. 

The knit-two-together, abbreviated "k2tog" in a pattern, is sometimes combined with "yarn overs", abbreviated "yo".  

This will happen if the pattern designer doesn't want a decrease, but a pattern to emerge by manipulating stitches.  The "yo" is an increase of a stitch, and combined with a decrease, keeps the same number of stitches on the row.

A lace pattern will contain increases and decreases to create a lace look.  Pretty patterns are often made this way as well.

Knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip knit (ask) stitches make left-slanting, and right-slanting (respectively) stitches which are important when shaping something like a sweater.

The video below explains these stitches and shows how they slant.

I have only just begun to try my hand at more complicated patterns.  The image above is a shawl I am knitting and the pattern has really challenged me, but it is fun.  I've made mistakes and had to figure out how to correct them.  I've learned to use stitch markers to my advantage.

I have yet to master reading a chart, but it is something I will work on soon.  Many knitwear designers include written instructions as well as a chart, but check before you purchase if you can't deal with charts!

This shawl is part of a "mystery knit-along" at the Ravelry site.  Joining a knit-along (KAL) is a good way to knit with others and maybe learn some new things at the same time.