Bar Increase - Working in Front and Back Loops

This is one of the easiest increases and works well almost anywhere within a knitting project. The core idea of this increase is to work more than one stitch into an existing stitch. The basic way this is done is by working either 2 knit stitches into a knit stitch or 2 purl stitches into a purl stitch. There are countless variations on how this increase can be performed, by either working more than 2 stitches into an existing stitch, or by working both knit and purl stitches into the same stitch.

Pattern Abbreviation: k1f&b, p1f&b

Anatomy of a Stitch

Before taking a look at the bar increase, it is important to understand the terminology used to describe the stitch. The picture at left shows the first stitch on the left needle. The front loop of the stitch is the loop that will be facing you as you work. The back loop will be away from you on the opposite side of the needle.

The bar increase and its variations will work into each loop of the stitch one or more times to increase the work by one or more stitches.

To work knitwise (knit one front and back):

Step 1: Knit into the front loop as you normally would, but DO NOT slip the stitch from the left needle.

Step 2: Working into the back loop of the same stitch, insert the right needle from front to back through the back loop of the stitch on the right needle. Bring the yarn over and knit through this stitch.

Step 3: Finally slip the stitch off of the left needle. There are now 2 stitches worked into the original one stitch.

Possible variations of this increase include purling into the back loop, or keeping the stitch on the left needle and working again into the front loop.

To work purlwise (purl one front and back):

Step 1: Purl into the front loop as you normally would, but DO NOT slip the stitch from the left needle.

Step 2: Working into the back loop of the same stitch, insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of the stitch on the right needle. Bring the yarn over and purl through this stitch.

Step 3: Finally slip the stitch off of the left needle. There are now 2 stitches worked into the original one stitch.

Possible variations of this increase include knitting into the back loop, or keeping the stitch on the left needle and working again into the front loop.