What Obsession Looks Like

I'm working on a new design that involves lots of increasing, so I decided to check out several different methods to determine which would be least noticeable. Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook and Meg Swansen's DVD Knitting Glossary were my go-to sources for techniques. Sadly, until I invest in a camera that can zoom in closer, I won't be able to show you more detail--but I can reveal that, in my hands, the simple e-wrap make one shows least, with the knit-into-the-back-of-the-stitch-below method being my second favorite. Of course, knitting being the intensely personal endeavor that it is, your results might differ.

Details: All swatches demonstrate K2 M1 halfway up the swatch; Jamieson & Smith Shetland jumperweight yarn in a discontinued but not lamented shade of lemon yellow; size 3 needles.
From top to bottom:

1. e-wrap (Stanley #2.132)

2. twist the running thread (not recommended at this rate of increase because it takes up too much of the yarn and tightens the row) (Stanley #2.130)

3. a two-row increase--short yarn-over in the row before the increase and then use that extra  yarn to make the twisted running thread increase (thus avoiding the problem in the previous increase). If you are careful to spread this increased yarn into the surrounding stitches, this is a lovely increase (see the Rainey Sisters for a good discussion) (Stanley #2.131).

4. knit into the back of the stitch of the row below (Meg Swansen Knitting Glossary or Sweaters from Camp) [this is also known as a lifted increase, apparently--thanks to those who have written about this]

5. knit into the stitch of the row below and then knit into the regular stitch (Stanley #2.133)

[Although I am thankful to all who have written about paired increases, I do not want them when I am increasing 33% in one round--paired increases are perfect on sleeves, for example.]

This level of obsession might surprise those of you who have heard my Knitting Libertarian rants, so let me make myself clear: I believe in freewheeling knitting based on a strong technical foundation.

Plus, I am obsessed with Fair Isle knitting.

For those of you obsessed with color, the latest Weavecast podcast features an interview with Kaffe Fassett (#37: Color Matters). Kaffe's use of color is masterful; although he doesn't work in the Fair Isle mode, his knitting, needlepoint, and quilting books are very instructive to those of us who do. While you are there, check out the full list of Syne's podcasts--even though I'm no longer a weaver (not counting the tapestry weaving I've recently studied), I enjoy listening to these interviews each month.

Comments

[Nancy]

I humbly submit the mirrored lifted increases, as they tend to be the most invisible! See Nancie Wiseman page 32 who calls this a raised increase. www.knittinghelp.com has videos for them but they are called KLL and KLR.
Off to listen to Kaffe...thanks!

[Linda]

I go through favorite increase phases. Currently I'm in a lift-running-thread phase. The last one was mirrored K-into-stitch-belows - LaLinc and LaRinc if I remember my Cat Bohrdi correctly.

[Ann]

I'm quite fond of the e-wrap myself, but you know there's a right and a left one, right? A regular e-wrap and the reversed e-wrap will look slightly differently depending on which leg is on top of the stitch. It all depends on your obsession level.

[Sylvia]

So, which will you use?

[gayle]

I find that increases are situational - there are times for the e-wrap and times for the lifted increase, depending on what's going on in the stitches around it.
Loved your obsessive look at increases - I went and magnified the photo so I could get a closer look.

[vanessa]

i try them all and go with whichever one looks best for the project.