Basic Increase Question

I appreciate how supportive and helpful this community is. Thank you for being patient with my basic question.

The directions state:
[I]Using M, cast on 17sts.[/I]
[I]1st row: Inc, k6, inc, k1, inc, k6, inc.[/I]

I have no idea what this means. I’m guessing it does not mean to cast on new stitches normally. The glossary of the book defines
[I]Inc = increase by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch. [/I]I don’t know how to do this… :cry:

How many stitches would I have at the end of the row?
Is there a good link to show how to do these increases?
For each “inc” is it two so that I did one in front, and one in back?

[B]Decisions![/B]

there are several different types of increases.
[B][I]
Make 1’s :[/I][/B]
lifted bar make ones
EZ simple loop (cast on 1) make ones
[I][B]
there are [/B][/I]
Kfb (knit in front and back of stitch)
or
K&P in a stitch (almost identical)

[I][B]there are lifted/raised increases[/B][/I]
(knit into stitch below, then the stitch on needle OR/knit into the ‘cap’ (top) of the purl on previous row, then knit the stitch–and the reverse is a bit of a PITA, but it does exist)
[B][U][I]
there are also YO’s [/I][/U][/B]
These leave very definite holes… (and are not always suitable for basic increases)
[B][I]
There are other increases[/I][/B] (less common ones)
[B]
which increase should you use?[/B]
when not specified, use the one you like best!

I tend, (by personal preference) to like the Lifted/raised increase… and when left to my own choice, i use this.
(this increase has a left and right version, and the left version is “fiddlee” (and not the easiest)

my second favorite increase is the EZ (cast on/make a simple twisted loop) increase (and again, this comes in right and left have “flavors”)

BUT these are just my choices… my favorites.

which increase should you use? which ever one you want.

just pick one and stick with it.

as for knitting in the front and back of each stitch… its easier to do, than to explain.
Knit into a stitch (normally!)
BUT don’t let the “old” stitch fall off needle.
then knit into it again.
(only… if you just knit again, you’ll get a double yarn wrap, not two stitches.)
SO, knit into the back of the stitch (this will twist the loop, and make a small purl like bump on the front of the work.)

after you’ve knit into the back (and yes, it will be tight and awkward!) let the stitch fall of the needle.

(is that the whole of the directions for row 1?–the math doesn’t make sense…)

I believe there is a video dedicated to increases on this site. Its much easier to watch the video and learn then to try and understand from an explanation, at least for me. Good luck.

There are several videos for Increases available, including kfb - knit into the front and back of a stitch. That’s the one the pattern is instructing you to use; doing another one may throw off the sts and cause more problems.

Inc = increase by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch. I don’t know how to do this…

Is there a good link to show how to do these increases?

Watch the INCREASES vid for Kfb.

would id be safe to assume that a kfb would suffice for the instructions of ‘inc 1 in next st.’ also??
ThanX

Yes–when a pattern says to increase IN a stitch, they want you to use the next stitch for the increase, so KFB. If you were to increase between the stitches, you’d throw your count off like suzeeq pointed out.

To further add… kfb is the only increase that is done IN a stitch; the others are all between stitches.