Often, when you’re shaping a toe, a neckline, a triangular shawl, or any number of other possible knitting projects, you will be instructed to make 1 right (m1R) or make 1 left (m1L). One of knitting’s most common increases, this technique increases your stitch count by 1 stitch. It leans either to the right or left so that your increases can follow the lines of the design, flowing with the slant of a V-neck or the gusset of a mitten. Follow along with our Make 1 Right + Make 1 Left Tutorial to master this simple technique!

First, A Mnemonic Device

Lots of knitters have a hard time committing this technique to memory. As you learn these increase, keep this little mnemonic device in mind:

Make 1 right: “Right” has 5 letters in it and so does “front,” so you work into the front of the stitch to make 1 right.

Make 1 left: “Left” has 4 letters in it and so does “back,” so you work into the back of the stitch to make 1 left.

Okay, now that we’ve got that straight, here’s how to make 1 right and left!

M1R + M1L: Video Tutorial

M1R + M1L: Step-By-Step Tutorial

Make 1 Right (m1R)

To “make 1 right” (m1R), use the left needle to pick up the strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from back to front. Leave the strand on the left needle.

Make 1 Right (m1R) + Make 1 Left (m1L) | Purl Soho

Next, insert the tip of the right needle knitwise into the front leg of the strand and knit as usual.

Make 1 Right (m1R) + Make 1 Left (m1L) | Purl Soho

You now have one new, right-leaning stitch on the right needle!

Make 1 Left (m1L)

To “make 1 left” (m1L), pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back.

Make 1 Right (m1R) + Make 1 Left (m1L) | Purl Soho

Next, insert the tip of the right needle knitwise into the back leg of the strand and knit as usual.

Make 1 Right (m1R) + Make 1 Left (m1L) | Purl Soho

You now have one new, left-leaning stitch on the right needle!

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