I think it is fair to ask, why not use the M1 increase? I have my reasons. It may end up being just a matter of personal preference, but this is my perspective:
- Fabric Distortion
- Pair is Awkward
- Too Easy to M1 an Eyelet
Let’s look at these:
M1 Increase Fabric Distortion
Almost any increase is going to create some fabric distortion. This is played out by pushing the stitches downward to create room for the added stitch. In lace, it gives us lovely scallops! I’m okay with that part of it, but the distortion I dislike in the M1 increase is what it does to the stitches adjacent to it. The way the M1 increase utilizes the bar between two stitches tends to pull those two adjacent stitches tighter, and make the new and non-pulled stitches look bigger.
The way I am doing the M1 is this:
- From behind, using the tip of the right needle, pick up the bar between the stitch just knit and the next stitch;
- Lift the bar onto the left needle with the right needle, ending with the right needle behind the left needle;
- Leave the right needle in the newly created loop and k1-b.
If you have ever done this and taken the needle out, you know how hard it can be to get back into that loop.
M1 Increase Has An Awkward Pair
The left-leaning increase is more awkward here too. It requires a complete turn of the bar before putting it onto the left needle and needs to be worked on the tip of the needles because of how taut everything is.
The way I’m doing the left-leaning M1 is this:
- From behind, using the tip of the right needle, pick up the bar between the stitch just knit and the next stitch;
- Bring the tip of the left needle to the right of the loop now on the right needle and go into that stitch, removing the right needle;
- Put the right needle tip into the back of this new loop on the left needle and k1-b.
It leans to the left. I do not think it is a very good match.
M1 Increase Makes an Tiny Eyelet
After working the M1, there is a tiny eyelet at the base of the stitch. This may disappear with blocking. I know the distortions of any increase usually relax with blocking. There is a similar distortion in the incR and incL, but because the increase isn’t as tight as the one created with a M1, it relaxes quickly.
If the M1 isn’t done with the twist in the bar, you will get an eyelet. For a beginning knitter, this is going to be what is most likely to happen.
But I think it is likely a matter of preference. I love the incR and incL both for how they look and for how easy I find it to make them.
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