How to Increase (inc) in Knitting

“Knit 1, increase 1” is a basic knitting stitch pattern that involves adding an additional stitch to the fabric. This is also known as a “knit front and back” (kfb) or “bar increase”. In all Knitting by Post patterns an increase is referred to as an inc or inc1.

To increase, you knit into the front of a stitch as if you were going to knit it as normal, but instead of slipping the stitch off the left-hand needle, you leave it on the left-hand needle.

Then, you bring the right-hand needle around to the back of the stitch and knit into the back loop of the same stitch, which creates a new stitch. Finally, you slip both the original stitch off the left-hand needle.

The result of this pattern is an increase in the number of stitches on your needle, with the new stitch appearing as a small bump on the textured side of the fabric. This technique is often used to shape knitting projects, such as increasing for toys and decorations or other curved areas.

It is important to note that there are many other ways to increase stitches in knitting, including yarn overs, make one (M1), and lifted increases. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of increase method will depend on the specific project and desired effect.

Overall, increasing stitches is an important technique in knitting that can help you achieve the desired shape, size, and design for your toy.