Lifted Increases (RLI + LLI)
The Lifted Increase method is also known as a Raised Increase, and even sometimes as an Invisible Increase, “Lifted” or “Raised” because of the action done to perform it, and “Invisible” due to its discrete appearance. More invisible than a make 1 right (m1R) and make 1 left (m1L), the Lifted Increase is an elegant substitute. Learn both the right and left-leaning versions with our Lifted Increases Tutorial!
Right + Left Lifted Increases: Video Tutorial
Click To See Video Transcript
I am going to show you how to work both a right-leaning and a left-leaning Lifted Increase. To begin, I’m just going to take two knit stitches for my selvedge, and then I’ll show you how to work a right-leaning Lifted Increase between the second and third stitch of this row. First, identify the stitch directly below the stitch on your left needle. Use the tip of your right needle to pick up the right leg of that stitch and place it on your left needle. Now knit that newly lifted stitch. That’s it. That’s how you work a right-leaning Lifted Increase. One thing to note is that you just work this stitch here that you just worked below normally just like that.
So now I’m going to continue to the end of my row and show you how to work a left-leaning Lifted Increase. To work a left-leaning Lifted Increase, identify the stitch two rows below the stitch on your right needle. Use the tip of your left needle to pick up the left leg of that stitch right here, and then knit that stitch through the back loop and that’s how you work a left-leaning Lifted Increase. This increase creates a really minimal mark and so sometimes is referred to as an invisible increase. That’s it.
Right + Left Lifted Increases: Step-By-Step Tutorial
RLI (Right Lifted Increase): Lift right leg of the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle onto the left-hand needle and knit it. [1 stitch increased]
LLI (Left Lifted Increase): Lift the left leg of the stitch 2 rows below the stitch on right-hand needle onto left-hand needle and knit it through the back loop. [1 stitch increased]
Want to give Lifted Increases a try? Julie Hoover uses them to shape the armholes of her beautiful Arie sweater pattern. In our Linen Quill yarn, it is a wonderful project for putting new skills to work!
Congrats, you’ve accomplished our Lifted Increases Tutorial! Need more knitting help and inspiration? Explore all our knitting tutorials and beautiful yarns and cast on!
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The narration is helpful, I wish we could see the stitches more closely to know which is the correct one to lift.
HI Kim,
Thank you for writing in! We appreciate the feedback. I find it helpful to sometimes open the video in YouTube so that I can make it full screen and see the fullness of the technique. You can even slow down the speed of the video! Here is the direct link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0V359rMUTs
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you for the lovely free patterns. I like that theyrr easier so I can make them. Us beginners can use pretty yarns different colors to jazz them up….makes us feel accomplished too. Thank you again.
Hello,
I love your instructional videos! Is there a way that I can subscribe to get other videos?
Sincerely,
JiJi
Hi JiJi,
Thanks for writing in! If you sign up for our newsletter, you will be notified of not only new tutorials, but also all of our new patterns, yarns, and kits! You can find the link to sign up at the top right hand corner of this page.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Interesting video! Have not tried this yet. Why use the stitch 2 rows below for left leaning instead of 1 row below?
Hi Sue,
Great question! With the Right Leaning Increase, you pick up the stitch a row below below before you work the stitch. Because you work the Left Leaning Increase into a stitch that you just worked, you will be going down 2 rows so that the stitch is picked up from the same row as the Right Leaning Increase.
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
Is it possible to purl this increase as well?
Hi Amara,
Great question! Yes, you can absolutely work both the RLI and LLI as purlwise increases if necessary!
Best,
Julianna
How would a left handed knitter do these? In reverse?
Hi Alexandra,
Thanks for writing in! It can be quite tricky to translate some techniques for left-handed knitters who knit from left to right instead of from right to left! I believe you could just switch the two increases – in other words, instead of the RLI, follow the instructions for the LLI, and vice versa. However, I would recommend practicing on a swatch to make sure this will work with your method of knitting!
Best,
Julianna
Is it ok to use m1l and m1r instead of using this technique?
Hi Linda,
Great question! Make 1 increases can be substituted for lifted increases in most patterns, as both increase methods are worked between stitches and your stitch counts will turn out the same. Most knitters find that the lifted increases are less visible than make 1 increases, so if you haven’t used a lifted increase before, I would recommend giving it a try to see if you like how it looks! If you would rather use the make 1 that you are familiar with, however, you can go right ahead and do so!
Best,
Julianna
Hi, I’m making the Purl Soho pattern called No-Cable Cable Scarf.
On row 3 of the pattern, it says to “…k2, yo, RLI, k 1.” I understand how to do the RLI, but am confused about the “k2, yo” before it—should that combination result in two increases —one for the yo and one for the RLI and how does one do the yo between a knit stitch and an RLI? Thanks so much, I’ve ripped it out a few times because it doesn’t look right, and I’m only on row 3!
Hi Carla,
Thanks for reaching out! The yarn over basically just creates another stitch on the needle. After you knit 2, you will just bring the yarn over the needle to create the yo and then will continue on with the RLI!
I hope this helps and feel free to reach out with any more questions!
All the best,
Gianna
Could you substitute the lifted increase in any pattern that calls for a left or right leaning increase?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! If a pattern says RLI or LLI it is referring to a lifted increase like we show in this tutorial!
I hope that clarifies things!
All the best,
Gianna
So if my pattern says “K2, M1R, k1, M1L, k to last 3 stitches, I can automatically replace M1R with RLI, and M1L with LLI, and completely forego the pain of M1R and M1L? If these stitches are invisible, doesn’t matter if they lean right or left, is that correct?
Hi Jocelyne,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, in this case, you can absolutely just replace the M1R and M1L with RLI and LLI! While these increase stitches are less visible than other increase stitches, they’re not completely invisible, so it is important to consider which direction they lean in for the most symmetrical results. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi Lili,
Thanks so much for your reassuring reply. I’ll definitely give this a whirl since I really hate M1R. I “think” I’m a tight knitter, so knitting into the front is frustrating and I end up splitting the yarn. Using Purl Soho’s Quartz, fingering weight.
I love the Little Moons Lace Wrap. Unfortunately, it is very hard on my hands to use needles below 6. Can I use a different yarn and make this wrap using a 6 needle?
Hi Laraine,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely use a larger yarn for the Little Moons Lace Wrap! All you’ll need to do is adjust the number of stitches you cast on, so that the wrap ends up in the same dimensions. To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern with the yarn and needles you plan on using. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest multiple of 6 + 4. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
I have a different quest. I am making Jubel which is a pullover in the round using the seed stitch. I have cast on the sleeve and finished the 4×2 rib and 2 rows of seed stitch in pattern.
Next round calls for a RLI,seed stitch to the end and LLI. This is done every 6 rounds.
Sometimes that first stitch is a knit, sometimes a purl and it is the same at the end.
I have watched this tutorial and a few others for RLI and LLI for a purl row. Initially the increases blended in well but the last 3 had a visible odd leg across the fabric.
Do you have any advice for these increases in the round over seed stitch?
I am getting the impression I have to treat each stitch by how they present.
I ripped out the non-compliant section and will give it another go.
Thank you for your help with this!
Mary
Hi Mary!
Thank you for reaching out with this question. I would suggest following your pattern exactly as written. While the RLI/LLI can be done purlwise, I would only suggest working these purlwise for your pattern if your pattern says to do so! If you would like some extra help on this, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with a photo of your work so far and a screenshot of the pattern section so that we can give you more specific tips for how to proceed!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi – Working on the mittens . When you m1r do you retain the alternate CC and MC pattern of colors?. Should it be CC on lifted le, MC on the second half of the stitch? It looks like you end up with two MC in a row (before and after the marker). Then in the next row, do you follow with 2 MC in a row as per the previous row, instead of alternating colors?
Thanks as always.
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for writing in although we are sorry to hear you are running into issues here. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
I love your clear and beautiful tutorials, thank you! I have a question about this video on lifted increases. The video states that RLI is a right-leaning increase, while the LLI is a left-leaning increase. Either I am misunderstanding the instructions, or this is incorrect. It looks to me like the RLI leans LEFT and the LLI leans RIGHT.
I would love a clarification!
Thanks so much!
Hi Margaret,
I’m happy to clarify! The RLI causes the stitches to angle towards the right (it’s the stitch we work first in the video, and you can see how the right edge is pointing diagonally towards the right). And then vice versa for the LLI!
All the best,
Lili