Knit Inc Sampler Squares Lesson 3: Median Increase Left and Right

The median increase is not widely popular in knitting patterns. It's a close cousin to the lifted increase and is also sometimes known as a knit 1 below (k1b) increase because you add new stitches by knitting into a stitch that's below the ones on your knitting needles.

Before You Begin

If you would like more information about this project or need help casting on, here's where you can 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

Think of the rows of stitches as generations. The row of new stitches being formed are the “child” stitches. The row you are working into are the “parent” stitches. The row below the parents are the “grandparents”.

Median Increase Left (MIL)

Locate the next parent and grandparent sts. Insert the right needle knitwise, from front to back, through the grandparent. Knit the stitch without dropping the parent stitch off the left needle.

The MIL is sometimes also known as a knit 1 below (k1b).

Remember - When you are knitting below a stitch on your LEFT needle, the increase will slant to the LEFT.

Median Increase Right (MIR)

Locate the previous child, parent and grandparent sts. Insert your left needle knitwise, from front to back, through the grandparent. Knit the stitch.

Remember - When you are knitting below a stitch on your RIGHT needle, the increase will slant to the RIGHT.

Block Patterns

Block 5

The median increases slant AWAY FROM the diagonals of the square.

CO 12.

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

BO.

When the median increases slant AWAY FROM the diagonals, the diagonal ridge is wider and has noticeable “eyelets” on each side.

Block 6

The median increases slant TOWARD the diagonals of the square.

CO 12.

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

BO.

When the lifted increases slant TOWARD the diagonals, the diagonal ridge is narrower and the “eyelets” on each side are more subtle.

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