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How to KFB (knit front and back) increase continental style

Increasing
To increase means to add to the total number of stitches and is also often used to create shaping in a knitted piece. For example, you may increase stitches when working a piece of a sweater. There are many ways to increase. The most common is the INC (just called increase) a.k.a. KFB (knit front & back). This is performed by knitting into the front and back of a stitch. Another common increase is called M1 or make one. There are several different ways to make one, M1L (make one left), M1R (make one right), etc. The basic M1 is performed by 'picking up the bar' which means to knit into the bar between two stitches. Depending on how you pick it up and knit into it creates a slightly different finished product and may be a M1R or M1L.

Continental Style
Continental style, a.k.a. European style knitting means you wrap the working yarn with your left hand. This is often said to be the faster way of knitting because you do not remove your left hand from the needle to wrap the yarn. It can be a very effective technique if you are doing two-color or fair-isle knitting. If you naturally hold the working yarn in your left hand, then Continental knitting is probably your style.  I've also noticed that continental knitting can be more natural for knitters who also crochet and thus feed the working yarn with their left hand.

Step 7: How to PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) continental style
psso continental
How to PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) continental style
The pass slipped stitch over (psso) is a decrease stitch that is a similar action to binding off.
Next Step >
Alternate Step: How to increase KFB (english style)
kfb english
How to increase kfb (knit front and back) english style
See how the knit front and back increase differs when done english style. This is an important increase to learn either style.
Alternate Step >

Step 5: How to decrease K2tog (knit two together) continental style
k2tog continentalHow to decrease K2tog (knit two together) continental style
The decrease is a compliment to the increase stitch and both are used in shaping as well as lace patterns. The k2tog is the most common decrease.

< Previous Step

Advanced Step: How to M1 (make one) continental style
m1 continentalHow to M1 (make one) continental style
The most common way to make one (m1) stitch is the pick up the bar. Depending on the direction gives different results.

Advanced Step >

More videos you might like...

ssk continentalHow to SSK (slip slip knit) continental style
How to SSK (slip slip knit) continental style
The slip slip knit (ssk) is another type of decrease, often used along with the k2tog in lace knitting. The important difference is in the stitch mount of the stitches knit together.

Discover the SSK
tension continentalHow to tension the yarn for continental knitting
How to tension the yarn for continental knitting
Tensioning the yarn for continental knitting is a subtle technique that is very important to master to be successful at continental knitting.

Learn to Tension

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