Design Your Own Scarf – Part 2: How to Increase Your Knitting with M1L & M1R

Get step by step instructions on how to increase in your knitting with ease!

Introduction
Knitting isn’t just about yarn and needles; it’s an art, a stress-reliever, and indeed a gateway to endless creativity. In this part of our vlog series, “Design Your Own Scarf – Part 2: How to Make One Left and Make One Right,” we’re diving deep into the heart of scarf knitting. Prepare to be enthralled, educated, and, most importantly, entertained!

The Sassy Side of Scarf Making: An Overview
Before we get our hands tangled in yarn, let’s talk about the basics. Scarf making is not just about following a pattern; it’s about injecting your personality into every stitch. If you haven’t yet picked out your colors, I’d recommend firstly watching my previous video on color selection. This session focuses on how to cast on your scarf and introduces the how to increase your knitting with “make-one-left” (M1L) and “make-one-right” (M1R).

Make-One-Left: A Step-by-Step Guide
The make-one-left increase is a nifty technique to add stitches to your work. It increases your stitch count and the width of your project, hence the term “increase.” I’ll break it down for you step by step in the video above, ensuring you can add this skill to your knitting repertoire with ease. However, if you prefer written instructions:

1. Locating the Running Thread: Firstly, Identify the ‘bar’ between the stitches on your left and right needles. This is the running thread.
2. Inserting the Left Needle: Then, from front to back, insert your left needle under this running thread.
3. Knitting Through the Back Loop: Afterwards, with your right needle, knit this new loop through the back. This twists the stitch, preventing a hole in your work.
4. Finalizing the Stitch: You’ve successfully created a new stitch on the right needle, leaning to the left. This is your M1L increase.

Make-One-Right: Unraveling the Mystery
Next up, the make-one-right increase. This mirror technique to M1L might seem daunting, but with my video guidance, you’ll master it in no time. Get ready to add another trick to your knitting bag! However, once again, if you prefer written instructions I’ve got those too:

1. Identifying the Running Thread: Firstly, find the ‘bar’ between the stitches on your needles, just like in M1L.
2. Lifting the Bar: Afterwards, insert your left needle from back to front under the running thread.
3. Knitting Through the Front Loop: Then, with your right needle, knit this new loop through the front. This step is slightly trickier as the loop is tighter.
4. Completing the Increase: You’ve now made a new stitch on the right needle, leaning to the right, completing the M1R increase.

Perfecting Your Increases
Practice makes perfect, and that’s what we aim for! Rewatch the video above and go through the instructions, working through it with your own yarn simultaneously, as many times as you need to feel confident. Once you’ve got it, though, congratulations! You’ve mastered how to increase your knitting.

Sneak Peek: What’s Next in Scarf Saga
Stay tuned, because if learning how to increase stitches in your knitting project wasn’t enough, in my next video we’ll talk about the other side of this bias knitting coin: how to decrease your knitting. Be sure to watch “Design your Own Scarf – Part 3: How to Decrease Your Knitting with K2tog & SSK” to learn two of the most common decreases in knitting!

FAQ
What is the difference between M1L and M1R?
M1L leans to the left and is made by lifting the bar from front to back and knitting through the back loop. Conversely, M1R leans to the right, lifted from back to front, and knit through the front loop.
Why use M1L and M1R in knitting?
These increases are almost invisible and help in shaping your knitting symmetrically, especially useful in garments like sweaters and hats.
How do I avoid holes when doing M1L and M1R?
Make sure to twist the stitch by knitting through the back loop for M1L and the front loop for M1R. This twist prevents holes.
Can M1L and M1R be used in any knitting pattern?
Yes, they are versatile and can be used in most patterns where increases are needed, but always check the pattern’s specific instructions.
What kind of projects are M1L and M1R increases best for?
They are ideal for projects requiring subtle shaping, like sweaters, hats, and mittens.
Is there an easier alternative to M1L and M1R for beginners?
Beginners might find the knit front and back (kfb) increase simpler, though it’s more visible and less common.
How do I remember which way to pick up the bar for M1L and M1R?
A helpful mnemonic: “I left the front door open” for M1L (lift front to back) and “I reached right back” for M1R (lift back to front).
Can M1L and M1R be used in lace knitting?
Yes, but be mindful of how these increases affect the overall lace pattern.
What size needles should I use for M1L and M1R?
Use the same size needles as your project to ensure uniformity in stitch size.
How do I fix a mistake if I’ve done the wrong increase?
Carefully unknit to the mistake and redo the correct increase. Using a crochet hook can help in picking up dropped stitches.