Yo - Yarnover (before a knit stitch)

This is the most simplest of increases to work and is worked by wrapping the yarn over the right hand needle before working the next stitch. It will create a decorative hole in the fabric and increase the stitch count by 1 stitch when followed by a knit stitch.

This is also a common stitch for lace knitting and is often balanced out by a k2tog or ssk stitch. 

1. Bring the yarn to the front of the work, between the needles

2. Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch. Take the yarn over the top of the right hand needle and to the back before knitting the next stitch

Kfb - knit front and back

This increase is used to create 2 stitches from 1. The extra stitch is set to the left of the original stitch when worked on a right-side row. It also produces a small horizontal bar at the bottom of the extra stitch which can look quite pretty.

1. Knit into the front of the stitch you want to increase, but do not drop this from the needle

2. Take the right hand needle behind the left hand needle and insert it into the back of the same stitch

3. Wrap the yarn around and pull another stitch through before dropping it from the needle

M1L - Make 1 Left

This method will increase your stitch count by 1 stitch. It creates an extra, left leaning stitch from the strand that runs between the sts on the RH and LH needles.

1. Insert the left hand needle from the front to the back of the strand that runs between the 2 needles

2. Insert the right hand needle into the back of this strand, wrap the yarn around and pull a new stitch through.

M1R - Make 1 Right

This method will increase your stitch count by 1 stitch. It creates an extra, right leaning stitch from the strand that runs between the sts on the RH and LH needles.

1. Insert the left hand needle from the back to the front of the strand that runs between the 2 needles

2. Insert the right hand needle into the front of this strand, wrap the yarn around and pull a new stitch through.

Handy hint: M1L and M1R are often paired together. A good way to remember them is:

I LEFT the FRONT door open. I'll be RIGHT BACK

Kyok - knit, yarnover, knit

This increase will increase the stitch count by 2 stitches. It is often used in lace knitting as it creates a hole in the fabric.

1. Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch, wrap the yarn around and pull a stitch through - but don't drop the original stitch from the left hand needle

2. Bring the yarn to the front

3. Insert the right hand needle back into the stitch. Take the yarn over the top of the right hand needle and pull another stitch through, dropping the original stitch off the left hand needle

Knit, Purl, Knit in 1 (Kpk in 1)

1. Insert the right hand needle into the stitch you want to increase 

2. Wrap the yarn around and pull it through - but don't drop the stitch from the left hand needle. 

3. Bring the yarn to the front 

4. Insert the right hand needle into the front of the stitch and purl - but don't drop the stitch from the left hand needle 

5. Take the yarn to the back 

6. Knit into the stitch again, and drop from the needle