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Learn How to Make a KFB or Bar Increase
Increasing the number of stitches on your knitting needle is a fundamental skill, and the KFB (Knit Front and Back) or Bar Increase is one of the simplest ways to do it.
This technique allows you to add one stitch while creating a distinctive horizontal bar on the knit side of your project.
However, the KFB is a visible increase. In fact, a horizontal bar will follow the increased stitch on the knit side of your project. This is irrespective of your working the increase on the knit or the purl side (PFB).
Furthermore, the KFB is a left-leaning increase. Conversely, the PFB is a right-leaning increase.
KFB in Stockinette Stitch
As this increase leaves an obvious bar where the new stitch was made, you may want to use it as a decorative feature in your knitting project.
However, unless you are using this increase as part of a stitch pattern, it is probably unlikely that you will use it in stockinette stitch.
If you would like a less obvious bar under the new stitch, you could try purling into the front and back of the stitch on the purl side of the stockinette stitch.
KFB in Garter Stitch
The KFB is an excellent choice for garter stitch, where the increase is nearly invisible amidst the characteristic bumps of the fabric.
However, if you prefer to hide the bar entirely, you might opt for the PFB instead. Keep in mind, though, that using PFB in garter stitch can lead to unevenly bunched stitches, which may not be ideal for your project.
How to Make the KFB or Bar Increase
Knit to where you would like increase to be.
Make sure that the working yarn is in the back.
Insert the right-hand needle knitwise into the stitch that you want to increase.
Wrap the working yarn around the right-hand needle and pull it through as if to knit.
Leave the stitch on the left-hand needle.
Insert the right-hand needle, from right to left, into the back of the same stitch.
Wrap the working yarn around the needle.
Pull the working yarn through the stitch.
Slip the stitch from the left-hand needle. You now have 2 stitches on the right-hand needle, with a “bar stitch” closest to the tip of the needle.
Enjoyed reading this tutorial? Why not check out this other excellent tutorial about the Open Yarnover Increase?
Thank you very much for these step by step instructions on KFB.