Make 1 Purlwise (m1p) is a very useful increase when you’re working on the purl side of the fabric. Our Make 1 Purlwise Tutorial shows you how simply purling into the front loop versus the back loop creates a right- or left-leaning increase on the knit side of the fabric, imitating the look of the usual knitwise make 1 right (m1R)and make 1 left (m1L).

Note that a m1L purlwise looks like m1L on the knitside and m1R purlwise looks like M1R on the knit side… Easy enough! On top of that, on the purl side of the fabric, the left and right m1p look identical, so if the purl side is the right side of your fabric, choose either one!

M1P: Video Tutorial

Click To See Video Transcript

Hey guys, this is Laura from Purl Soho and I’m going to demonstrate how to make one purlwise. I’m actually going to show you two ways to make one purlwise. One way is going to create these right-slanting increases. As you can see these stitches are kind of coming out to the right. And the other way will create these left-slanting increases here. They’re coming out to the left. 

I’m going to work this increase on the purl side of my fabric. So let’s do this.

I’m working on a swatch that has two selvedge stitches. So I’m gonna just take two purl stitches right quick. And then I’ll show you how to make one right purlwise. To make one right purlwise, the first thing I want to do is identify this bar. that is stretching between the stitch on my left needle and the stitch on my right needle.

Once you’ve identified this bar, you’re going to take the tip of your left needle and insert it under that bar. And since we’re making a right-slanting increase, we’re going to insert it from the rear. So right and rear. So from back to front, or the rear to the front, I’m going to insert my left stitch under that bar.

Once I’ve done that, I have a new stitch here on my left needle. I’m going to take the tip of my right needle and purl into the front leg of that stitch. That’s it. That’s how you make one right purlwise. So I’m going to purl to the end of this swatch and show you how to make a left-slanting version of this increase.

Alright, here I am towards the end of my swatch and I’m going to demonstrate how to make one left purlwise. Once again, identify that bar stretching between the stitches. On your right and left needle. So once you identify that bar, you’re gonna, to make a left-slanting increase, you’re gonna take the tip of this left needle and insert it under that bar from the front to the back.

Once you do that, you have this new stitch on your left needle, and you’re ready to purl it. But for this one, you’re gonna purl into the back loop of that new stitch.

Just like that. And that’s it. That’s how you make the, make one left purlwise.

M1P: Step-By-Step Tutorial

m1L purlwise (make one left purlwise, worked on the wrong side): With the left needle, pick up the horizontal strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, then purl through back loop of the strand. This makes a left-leaning increase on the right, or knit, side of the fabric.

m1R purlwise (make one right purlwise, worked on the wrong side): With the left needle, pick up the horizontal strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from back to front, then purl through front loop of the strand. This makes a right-leaning increase on the right, or knit, side of the fabric.

If you’d like to give this technique a try, cast on for our free Simple Ribbed Shrug pattern. In our lovely Plein Air wool-cotton, you’ll get lots of chances to put this increase to use!

Make 1 Purlwise (m1p) | Purl Soho

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