Knitting Increases - how to knit front and back (KFB)

In a previous tutorial , I showed the steps for a simple decrease K2TOG.  In this tutorial, I will show a common increase, “knit front and back”.  This is often abbreviated as KFB, and increases by one stitch knitwise.  Increasing stitches in your piece of knitting will make the piece of knitting wider. 

Most patterns use the abbreviation “Inc” for increases.  However, the pattern should also tell you what type of increase to use, as there are several different methods.   So here are the steps for KFB…. 

STEP 1 - Your pattern will tell you where the increase will be, so you would knit to the point of the increase.  In this example, I have 9 stitches on the needle.  On the next knit row, I have knit the first stitch on the left needle, and I am going to increase into the next (second) stitch.   

Knit the next stitch on the left needle, but do not slip the original stitch off the left needle. 

KFB - Step 1 - knit the next stitch, but do not slip off the left needle

 

STEP 2 - Insert the tip of the right needle into the back of the same stitch on the left needle. 

KFB - Step 2 - Insert the tip of the right needle into the back of the same stitch on the left needle

 

 STEP 3 -  Pass the yarn under and around the tip of the right needle (as you would when knitting a stitch).  

KFB - Step 3 - wrap the yarn around the right needle as if to knit

 

STEP 4 – Bring the right needle and the yarn wrapped around it through the stitch on the left needle.  Now slip the original stitch off the left needle, and the increase is complete. 

KFB - Step 4 - slip the stitch off the left needle

 

Remember, I had 9 stitches when I started knitting this row.  After the increase, there are 10 stitches (three on the right needle and seven on the left needle).  So the KFB has increased the number of stitches by one stitch.  

I have continued to increase at the beginning of each knit row in my sample, and you can see that the edge is sloping where the increases have been made (on the right hand side of the picture).  

The sample has decreases at the bottom (sloping like this  \ ) and increases at the top (sloping like this  / ). 

The finished increases

 

If you are learning to knit, it is helpful to knit your own test pieces to try out this technique before starting your project.  

I hope this tutorial is helpful, and happy knitting!

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