Knit Inc Sampler Squares Lesson 1: Make 1 Left and Make 1 Right

One of the most common ways to increase a stitch in knitting is called a make 1, or raised, increase. The basic idea is to lift the horizontal strand that's between the stitches on your two needles, twist it and make a new stitch into it.

Before You Begin

If you would like more information about this project or need help casting on, here's where to get started with the Knit Inc Sampler Squares series. 

Materials

• Ewe Ewe Yarns Wooly Worsted (50g/1.75 oz, 95 yds, 80 m) color 05-Cotton Candy
• addi Natura Bamboo US size 8 (5 mm) DPNs

Thanks to Ewe Ewe Yarns for providing all of the colorful Wooly Worsted yarn I'm knitting with in this series. Also, thanks to Skacel for providing the DPNs used in this series. They are available locally at many yarn shops and online at Makers' Mercantile.

Printable Lessons and Block Patterns

A printable .PDF version of the Knit Inc Sampler Squares Tutorials and Block Patterns is available for purchase in my shop. Pattern purchases allow me to continue creating instructional resources for knitters worldwide.

Lesson 1

Make 1 Left (M1L)

Locate the top, horizontal strand that leads into the next stitch on the left needle. Insert the left needle under the strand from front to back. Knit the lifted strand through the back loop. Notice the lifted stitch is twisted.

Tip - A pneumonic to help you remember which side of the work your left needle should lift the horizontal strand from: M1L - I LFET the FRONT door open.

Remember - When a stitch is conventionally mounted (like the lifted strand of the M1L) knitting through the BACK loop twists the stitch.

Make 1 Right (M1R)

Locate the top, horizontal strand that leads into the next stitch on the left needle. Insert the left needle under the strand from back to the front. Knit the lifted strand through the front loop. Notice the lifted stitch is twisted.

Tip - A pneumonic to help you remember which side of the work your left needle should lift the horizontal strand from: M1R - I’ll be RIGHT BACK.

Remember - When a stitch is reverse mounted (like the M1R) knitting through the FRONT loop twists the stitch.

Block Patterns

Block 1

The Make 1 increases slant AWAY FROM the diagonals of the square.

CO 12.
Rnd 1 and all odd Rnds: k all sts.
Rnd 2: [k1, M1L, k1, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 4: [k1, M1L, k3, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 6: [k1, M1L, k5, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 8: [k1, M1L, k7, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 10: [k1, M1L, k9, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd12: [k1, M1L, k11, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 14: [k1, M1L, k13, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 16: [k1, M1L, k15, M1R, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 18: [k1, M1L, k17, M1R, k1] 4 times.

BO.

Notice - When the Make 1 increases slant AWAY FROM the diagonals, the diagonal ridge is narrower, but more prominent.

Block 2

The Make 1 increases slant TOWARD the diagonals of the square.

CO 12.

Rnd 1 and all odd Rnds: k all sts.
Rnd 2: [k1, M1R, k1, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 4: [k1, M1R, k3, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 6: [k1, M1R, k5, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 8: [k1, M1R, k7, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 10: [k1, M1R, k9, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd12: [k1, M1R, k11, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 14: [k1, M1R, k13, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 16: [k1, M1R, k15, M1L, k1] 4 times.
Rnd 18: [k1, M1R, k17, M1L, k1] 4 times.
BO.

Notice - When the Make 1 increases slant TOWARD the diagonals, the diagonal ridge is wider, but more subtle.

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