August 7, 2021

August 7, 2021September 8, 2021

Make One Right (M1R)

The “make one right” increase allows you to add stitches to knitted rows that are in progress. These increases will lean toward the right, so your work will grow in a rightward direction. This increase is especially helpful in knitting sweaters because it allows you to create larger spaces for arms and shoulders.

Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how to knit M1R increases.

Video Guide: How to Knit Make One Right (M1R) Increases

Written Guides: How to Knit Make One Right (M1R) Increases

Step 1: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 1:

Locate the strand of yarn that is between two live stitches and just below your needles.

Step 2: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 2:

Insert the tip of your left needle under the strand between the live stitches from back to front.

Step 3: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 3:

You will now have a new live stitch on your left needle tip.

Step 4: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 4:

Insert the right needle tip into the front leg of the new live stitch.

Step 5: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 5:

With the right needle tip, grab the working yarn and draw it through the stitch.

Step 6: Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1R, Step 6:

Slide the stitch you have just worked into off your left needle, allowing the new stitch to remain on your right needle.

Make one right increases (M1R) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Return to the Knitting Increases Page to learn more increases.

Learn to knit make one increases in this lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Up Next

Learn to slip stitches onto a stitch holder to work later in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Once you have shaped the thumb opening of a glove or mitten, you will usually be instructed to slip the thumb stitches onto a stitch holder. In the next lesson I will show you how.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

August 7, 2021August 14, 2021

Make One Left (M1L)

As its name suggests, the “make one left” increase is a left-leaning stitch. Use this increase to add live stitches to a work that is already in progress. This will lengthen your knitted rows and enable you to shape your knitwear.

Note: When knitting a pattern that states “make one” it is usually safe to assume the pattern means make one left.

Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how to knit increases.

Video Guide: How to Knit Make One Left (M1L) Increases

Written Guides: How to Knit Make One Left (M1L) Increases

Step 1: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 1:

Locate the strand of yarn that is between two live stitches and just below your needles.

Step 2: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 2:

Insert the tip of your left needle under the strand between the live stitches from front to back.

Step 3: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 3:

You will now have a new live stitch on your left needle tip.

Step 4: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 4:

Insert the right needle tip into the back leg of the new live stitch.

Step 5: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 5:

With the right needle tip, grab the working yarn and draw it through the stitch.

Step 6: Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

M1L, Step 6:

Slide the stitch you have just worked into off your left needle, allowing the new stitch to remain on your right needle.

Make one left increases (M1L or M1) - a knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Return to the Knitting Increases Page to learn more increases.

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

Ready to try it?

Simple fingerless glove knitting pattern in all sizes by Liz Chandler @PurlsAnd Pixels.

Try knitting Simple Fingerless Gloves, which use increases to shape the thumb opening.

Basic mitten knitting pattern by Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

In my pattern for Basic Knit Mittens you will also use increases to make the thumb gussets.

Up Next

Once you have shaped the thumb opening of a glove or mitten, you will usually be instructed to slip the thumb stitches onto a stitch holder. In the next lesson I will show you how.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

August 7, 2021August 14, 2021

Increases

Learn how to use "make one increases" to make a glove thumb gusset in this knitting lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Increases add live stitches to your knitted rows. This is useful in shaping knitwear. Gloves and mittens, for example, use increases to shape around the base of the thumb. Adding increases along one edge of a knit tube creates a set of stitches that make room for the thumb; this is commonly referred to as a “gusset.”

The “make one” increases are often used to add stitches to rows. You can create a new live stitch by picking up the strand of yarn between two stitches and working into it. This will expand your work and make it wider.

When increasing with a “make one” your new stitch will lean either to the left or to the right, depending on how you add the stitch. The “make one left (M1L)” increase leans toward the left. The “make one right (M1R)” increase leans toward the right. If your pattern does not specify left or right, and only uses the abbreviation M1, it is usually best to assume the author means “make one left” or “M1L.”

Learn to knit make one left (M1L) increases in this lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels. — Make One Left (M1L) leans toward the left.

Learn to knit make one right (M1R) increases in this lesson with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels. — Make One Left (M1L) leans toward the left.

Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how to knit make one increases.

Video Guide: How to Knit Increases

Written Guides: How to Knit Increases

Make One Left (M1L):

Click here to be directed to the step-by-step written guide to the “make one left” (M1L) increase.

Make One Right (M1R):

Click here to be directed to the step-by-step written guide to the “make one right” (M1R) increase.

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

Ready to try it?

Try knitting Simple Fingerless Gloves, which use increases to shape the thumb opening.

In my pattern for Basic Knit Mittens you will also use increases to make the thumb gussets.

Up Next

Once you have shaped the thumb opening of a glove or mitten, you will usually be instructed to slip the thumb stitches onto a stitch holder. In the next lesson I will show you how.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index