Options for Increasing Stitches

This time of year I’m always thinking about the basics of knitting and the little things we can do to make even simple patterns look a little more interesting and beautiful (see my post “On the Importance of Details” for more on that).

So when I came across this article on increasing from the Twist Collective I knew I wanted to save it and share it. Most of the time knitting patterns will tell you what sort of increase to use, but if they don’t or you just want to change up the look of your project there are a lot of ways to add stitches. It can be as simple as a knit in the front and back or a decorative eyelet or get slightly fancier with a make 1 or a lifted increase.

None of these is difficult to execute, but they do all bring a different look to your project, so it’s worth having a bunch of increases (and decreases, though that’s a talk for another day) in your repertoire so you can use whatever a pattern calls for or whatever increase you like the look of best.

[Photo via Twist Collective.]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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