Lifted Increases Tutorial: RLI & LLI

I have received many emails from knitters saying that they have never worked lifted increases before, and were seeking clarification for the instructions.  I have to say, I am surprised they are not more popular.  I generally prefer lifted increases over the make-one increases because they are pretty invisible.  

​So, without further ado, here is my tutorial on lifted increases.

In the photo above are two swatches to compare make-one versus lifted increases.  I worked a few decrease rows before the increase rows so you can see how the lifted increases mirror the decreases.  Both swatches are unblocked, as I wanted you to see how the stitches would look immediately after knitting them.

If you look closely, you can see that the swatch with make-one increases has little holes.  I'm not a fan of the holes, so that is why I choose to use the lifted increases.

Right Lifted Increase (RLI)

Insert needle into stitch one row below left needle

Knit lifted stitch

After lifted stitch is knitted

Right Lifted Increase (RLI): Insert the right needle, front to back, into stitch one row below the left needle and knit.   

Left Lifted Increase (LLI)

Insert needle into stitch two rows below right needle

Knit lifted stitch

After lifted stitch is knitted

Left Lifted Increase (LLI): Insert the left needle, front to back, into stitch two rows below the right needle and knit.  

Why two rows down and not one?  Because we are working into a stitch on the right needle; the stitch that was just worked.  Try working into the stitch one row below the right needle, and you will see that it unravels.

That's it!  Not too hard, right?  You can easily substitute lifted increases for make-one increases in your next project.  Let me know how it goes!

If you like working the lifted increases, check out these patterns:

Yvaine Cardigan

Begonia Pullover

Tiye