My knit pattern for my sleeves on a sweater is to increase two stitches, K1,M1R,knit to last stitch, M1L, K1, one on each end every 12 rows, 9 times. This is for a stockinette pattern, but I changed mine to a repeating stitch pattern of P2 K2 P2, K6 (center) P2 K2 P2. (Swatch picture) I am confused as how to increase at each end, keeping the pattern, when I am to increase on the wrong side of my knitting. For example, being on the wrong side of knitting at the beginning of the row, how do I increase needing to put a purl stitch in front of the first stitch on the row which is a knit stitch? And vise versa, needing to increase a knit stitch at beginning of a row when the first stitch on the row is a purl. The sleeves are worked flat.
Help with increases on sweater sleeves with changing pattern at beginning and end
For the M1R and M1L you’ll be picking up the strand between the sts so you can make that knit or purl as you wish. There are videos for M1 knits and M1 purls. It will depend on how you want the pattern to continue.
Do you want to increase the column of 6 knits until you have 12 center knits and then split them 6 to each side with 2 purls, etc on following inc rows? Or do you want to split the 6 knits 3 and 3 adding purls and knits on following inc rows?
What pattern are you adapting and which designer?
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Hello
It’s possible to increase on the wrong side but is it really necessary? If you waited one row before beginning the increases then they’d all be on the right side and, for most people, it would be easier to work (in terms of understanding the stitches).
The pattern asks for the m1 to come after the first stitch and before the last so you don’t need to add to the outer edge. That edge stitch will be used to seam the sleeve so won’t be seen anyway. I like a knit on the selvedge so I’d knit first and last regardless of the pattern stitch, it doesn’t need to match, to make seaming easier. Then I’d place a marker because it would remind me that the first and last do not need to follow the pattern but are a seperate area for seaming.
I like your pattern, it’s very effective.
There’s also no problem with just working the increases in stockinette, keeping the decorative panels in the centre of the sleeve but not wrapping around to the underarm. Many patterns are designed this way with the decoration kept in a central panel, it’s personal choice, but one worth considering as it would look very nice indeed.
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If you’re increasing every 12th row, aren’t those all on RS rows? So there’s no need to increase on a WS row.
As @Creations says, the increases will be hidden in the seams, so I think you can just do whatever is easier for you.
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Thank you all so much for your feedback! It has been very helpful to me as I had put this project away for a couple years and am just now pulling it back out.
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