I finally got around to posting blog photos documenting my progress of knitting the Chevron Panels pattern (a.k.a. the January 6th knitting pattern of the day in the Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day 2011 Calendar).
Part of the Chevron Panels pattern required increase stitches be made via Making 1 Stitch (M1). As a result, I had decided to create an illustrated guide on how to make 1 stitch in knitting… where I would walk users through the process, step-by-step, in the form of photographs.
I thought this “How To?” Photo Guide to Making 1 Stitch (M1) was worthy of its own blog post, so here we go! Enjoy.
Illustrated Guide on How to Knit an Increase Stitch by “Making 1 Right” (a.k.a. M1R)
As previously mentioned, the Chevron Panels pattern calls for increase stitches be made via Making 1 (M1). Some sources say if the pattern doesn’t specify whether the M1 stitch is a M1L (Make 1 Left) or a M1R (Make 1 Right), you should opt for an M1L increase. However, I have a soft spot for M1R, and always depend on it whenever I’m making stitches in a pattern (only ’cause I feel it forms less of a “hole” or “opening” in the row).
You may not feel the same, which is fine. But if you’re just learning how to Make 1 Stitch, I would suggest giving M1R a try.
The "before" photo...
Step 1: Lift the horizontal yarn “bar” (i.e. the yarn running between your left and right needle from the row below) with your right needle from front to back
Note: Other sources may ask for you to directly lift the horizontal yarn “bar” with your left needle (inserting from back to front), but I find it easier to add an extra step of lifting it with the right needle first (inserting from front to back), and then transferring it to your left needle afterward (more on this further down).
Step 2: Transfer the horizontal yarn "bar" (previously lifted with the right needle from front to back) from your right needle to your left needle
Note: As you can see, the end result is the same as if you had directly lifted the “bar” with your left needle from back to front.
Step 3: Knit into the front of this newly-picked up yarn “bar” on the left needle by inserting your right needle from left to right into the front part of the stitch
Note: Once inserted into the loop, your right needle should end up behind the left needle… as if knitting a regular stitch.
Step 4: Wrap yarn from back to front in a counterclockwise direction around the right needle, as if to knit a regular stitch
Step 5: Pull the right needle (with the yarn still wrapped around it) through the left needle loop from back to front, as if knitting a regular stitch
The "after" photo... you now have a newly knitted increase stitch, finished and resting on your right needle!
. I kept it up for a good month or so before the plan flatlined.
As you can clearly see, I tried my best to keep up with the schedule until January 14th, and then hell just sorta broke loose and everything started unwinding like a ball of yarn!
