Reading my referrer logs, I noticed a number of people were trying to figure out how to knit into the front and back of a stitch (”kfb”) as required to “knit twice into the same stitch”. That’s a common method of increasing a stitch, which does not create a hole. It is nearly, but not quite, invisible.
Unfortunately, while Google sent them here, I didn’t actually show that technique until now. So, here it is, fully illustrated! (Remember, I drop the yarn while I hold the camera in my right hand. So, the yarn positions are shown, but my right hand has vanished!)
- Knit the first stitch:
- Insert the tip of the right needle as to knit into the stitch on the left needle tip. (Above, left.)
- Yarn over as you normally do to knit. (Above, center)
- Draw the yarn through as you would to form a stitch but don’t pull the stitch off the left needle tip. (Above, right)
- Knit the second stitch:
- Insert right needle tip in back loop of the stitch you just knit into. Notice, I insert from right to left. (Below, left.)
- Yarn over as to knit. (Below, center.)
- Pull through to finish knitting the stitch. This time do pull the left stitch off the left needle tip. (Below, right)
In the photo to the right, I am getting ready to knit the next stitch. Notice the first two stitches on the right needle are coming out of one stitch in the row below. There is no visible hole, but the stitch in the row below has a slight surface distortion. This would be nearly invisible in most projects.
This is filed under “How To Knit”.
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Lucia Liljegren: Copyright 2005-2007 Rights to all site content including knitting patterns, generators and haikus reserved.
Thanks, it is good to see it in photographs!!
Comment by Angela (0 comments.) — 10/19/2005 @ 8:38 pm
You’re welcome!
Comment by lucia — 10/19/2005 @ 9:45 pm
THANKS!!! I’m adding stitches to the right & left of a sweater bodice to create the sleeves. A standard “T” formation. I hope these photos make that happen. I’m guessing that I can do this procedure at the edge (of last stitch) on each side even-tho your “increases” appear to happen in the middle of your work. If you have time, I’d be very pleased to get your response. I’m very new to knitting.
Comment by TONI ELLSWORTH (0 comments.) — 10/25/2005 @ 2:23 am
Yes, you can knit into the front and back of a stitch on the edge. That said, when increasing 1 stitch at the edge of a row, I avoid increasing in the edge stitches because it can make it difficult to seam but it’s possible. I tend to increase in the second stitch from the edge.
If you are adding *a lot* of stitches all at once, I’d cast on the extra stitches — or use a weird trick I show for the underarms of a raglan here
Comment by lucia — 10/25/2005 @ 10:46 pm
[…] One final choice affects the appearance of the crown; that is the increase method. I increased by knitting into the front and back of one stitch. You could work yarnovers, which would leave holes; single lifted increases would also be nice and smooth. […]
Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Ear Flap Hat Illustrated (291 comments.) — 11/8/2005 @ 5:30 pm
[…] Some waste yarn. Abbreviations: kfb = knit into front and back of stitch. (See Knit twice into same stitch.) Knitting Directions: […]
Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Spiral Top Hat: Calculator. ( comments.) — 11/9/2005 @ 3:52 pm
[…] kfb= knit into front and back of same stitch; (see kfb lesson.) […]
Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » FSM Pattern. ( comments.) — 11/16/2005 @ 9:50 am
[…] The first round will be an increase round. You will increase near both edges of needle 1, near the beginning of needle 2 and the end of needle 3. Because this is the first row, I recommend increasing by knitting into the front and back of one stitch as illustrated in this article. […]
Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Toe of Toe Up Sock ( comments.) — 11/28/2005 @ 8:26 am
I am a novice knitter. I have a pattern that requires knitting front and back. My struggle is that this technique seems to get very tight and hard to work with. I can’t figure out if I’m doing something wrong. Any suggestions?
Thanks~
Comment by Heather (0 comments.) — 12/11/2005 @ 7:18 pm
Knitting front and back is tight compared to many decreases. Depending on the pattern, you could try a “Make 1″ or a “lift 1″.
I show two types lifted increases here:
http://www.thedietdiary.com/blog/lucia/217
If they are telling you to knit front and back, they won’t care which lift one you use!
I haven’t shown Make 1 anywhere. It’s really popular, but sometimes leaves a little hole. To do it, insert the tip of your needle under the horizontal bar between the stitch you’ve just knit and the one on the left needle. Then fiddle to twist it. (This makes the hole smaller.) Put the twisted strand on the left needle and knit into it.
Good luck!
Comment by lucia — 12/11/2005 @ 8:09 pm
[…] My reason? After being really lecturing the knitter on using the correct type of L1 for a particular applicatoin, I don’t want to the say just “L1″ and have them ask me “which type”. I also don’t want to write “L1WETHTYWTU” (L1 WhatEverTheHeckTypeYouWantToUSE.) When either type of L1 will do intended, you can nearly always substitute “M1″ or “kfb” (knit front and back.) […]
Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Work Gusset for Toe Up Sock ( comments.) — 1/7/2006 @ 12:47 pm
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !! as a beginner trying to move onto bigger projects, I couldn’t find anything to help me with KFB .. you saved me.
Comment by Melody (1 comments.) — 2/18/2006 @ 8:05 pm
Hey thanks a WHOLE lot! I was trying to make this Pond Alligator from lionbrand.com and it quite often requires this, BF, FBF, and BFB, so I hope that this will help, I’m giong to look for BF, maybe it’s the same thing only reversed, I dunno. Thanks anyway!!!
hugs and knitting
Comment by *Sabrina (0 comments.) — 8/6/2006 @ 4:59 pm
thank you for the clear explanation, its been a long time since ive knitted and just decided to take it back up for my daughters baby. Ive been stuck on this stitch, so you have helped greatly, thanks again
Comment by julie (0 comments.) — 11/8/2006 @ 2:26 pm
Thank you Thank you! I have looked everywhere to figure out how to do this and finally came upon your instructions. These are very well laid out. Thanks again and happy holidays.
Comment by Stacy (0 comments.) — 12/30/2006 @ 10:13 am
Thank you so much. I have been trying for three days to learn how to make a popcorn stitch (bobble - “knit into front & back of lp twice, then slip 2nd, 3rd & 4th sts over 1st st”, but kept coming up with holes and messy bobbles. I don’t know how many books and internet instructions I consulted, but your instructions were superb! I can now proceed! Thank you again.
Comment by Barbara (0 comments.) — 2/4/2007 @ 8:37 pm
Thank you.
I have done this many times when I was “younger”.
I just couldn’t get it in my head, or hands, this time. This was a good refresher.
Comment by Barbara (0 comments.) — 2/5/2007 @ 3:11 pm
How do you pick up a dropped “increase through front and back” stitch?
Comment by Cheri Watt (0 comments.) — 3/23/2007 @ 11:49 am
[…] (For clearer pictures and a fuller explanation of “kfb”, see Knit into Front and Back Loop. ) […]
Pingback by matchedThe Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » The little right hand triangle of the entrelacs. ( comments.) — 3/29/2007 @ 1:33 pm
Thanks sooooo much!!! Very simple and easy to follow!!!!!
Comment by Sumalee (0 comments.) — 6/9/2007 @ 6:37 pm
Hi i owe you so much. I am now able to continue with my teddy.
I am new to knitting and only began in april. So everything is daughnting ( BUT RELAXING AND THERAPUTIC THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER TAKEN UP.) but i am determined for it not to beat me but this did that not being able to wait till i visit my parents in a week i tyed into the net found you and did it straight away and that was not using the photos.
So thanks you should be proud of clear straight forward easy to understand instructions.
Sorry i have to go know to continue with my bear. But I will be back when the next stitch has me stuck.
A big big big big thanks Nicci
Comment by nicci kirkham (0 comments.) — 7/13/2007 @ 7:24 am
This has been super helpful…thank you! A friend sent me a link to this post. I have been struggling to make increases on my sweater ‘without’ holes…with no success. Can’t wait to try your increase tutorial!
Comment by Maggie Ann (1 comments.) — 9/11/2007 @ 6:09 am
Thanks for the tutorial. I found your site through google and I am glad that you posted the instructions! Otherwise I would have had to keep digging to find my reference books!
Comment by LittleWit (1 comments.) — 11/16/2007 @ 11:55 pm
Thank you for a great tutorial. You saved me a lot of trouble and time.
Take care!
//Kia
Comment by Kia — 2/17/2008 @ 2:08 pm
Hi. I found your tutorial through Google. I’m working through an entrelac tutorial and it needs me to KFB. Should my wool be coming through between the two stitches after I knit them?
Comment by Clare — 2/26/2008 @ 3:01 pm
Thanks for taking the time to create this wonderful resource!
Comment by Lauren — 3/12/2008 @ 8:28 pm
Thanks for the info! I was confused about this on sweater I am trying to make. The pattern also called for place markers, but I read somewhere that it is ok to use a different colored piece of yarn…does that work?
Comment by Renee McGill — 3/15/2008 @ 3:03 pm
Oh lord. Nope. Still can’t get it. I gotta go to the yarn store. Thanks for posting, though! I’m just — I need help.
Comment by Amy K. — 3/18/2008 @ 4:48 pm