I have found it difficult to understand how to do M1 R and L. I am mostly self taught on knitting and before the days of internet, I learned from a book. I just wanted to share a video I found on how to do a make 1 left and right- she uses old school pictures, then showed how to do it actually knitting- it is a really helpful video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8JTOKK-rfU
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Thank you, Melanie_Patterson. That really is a very careful explanation and video.
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What a great video and explanation! So many use smaller gauge, dark-colored yarn and go too fast. This one is so clear!
I have a question about this myself. I am attempting to knit my first sweater. I am doing it top down in the round. The pattern has german short row section with M1R, M1L, M1Rp and M1Lp stitches. The issue I have is I am left-handed. So, from what I understand in order to M1R, I basically follow the same instructions normal people do for an M1L. But I am wondering if the pattern calls for an M1R am I supposed to do the opposite as well. Not sure if I have explained that well. I am really confused here.
For left-handed knitting, work the opposite increase. If the pattern calls for M1R, work a M1L. If the pattern calls for M1L, work a M1R.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mKODQvuOIk
So, if the pattern calls for an M1R, I would basically follow the regular instructions for M1R since that is how a southpaw knits an M1L?
If the pattern calls for a M1R, a lefty would work it as a M1L. That means picking up the stitch from the front to back. Then knit the loop through the back.
Right but I am also knitting in the opposite direction so if the pattern calls for an M1R, wouldn’t I work it as an M1R (which for me is an M1L)? For a normal person an M1R is going to lean toward the previous stitch. In my case it leans the other way because I am knitting clockwise around the round. So if the pattern asks for an M1R, I should do an M1L which for me has the exact same instructions as an M1R. No?
Like if a righty was to start knitting a large round of 80 stitches or so and they did an M1R increase in the first half (let’s say 20 stitches in) that increase would lean toward the BOR. In my case if I do a stitch that leans right 20 stitches in it is going to lean toward the halfway mark.
Or put another way, I know that for me to make a stitch that leans right means I have to do it the same way as a normal person does a stitch which leans left. But also if the pattern asks for me to do a stitch which leans right, don’t I also have to one that leans left since I am going to opposite way?
Yes, I understand. You’re knitting from the right needle onto the empty left needle.
For an ordinary M1R pick up the strand between needles from the back then knit into the stitch. A lefty would pick up the strand from the front and knit into the back of the stitch. See the video above at 2:25 min.
For a M1L pick up the strand between needles from the front the knit into the back of the stitch. A lefty would pick up from the back and knit into the stitch.
If a pattern calls for M1R, a lefty would pick up the strand from the front and knit into the back. The best way to see this is to try it out on a swatch. Work several increases M1R every other row so that you can see the slant.
Maybe it would help to post a photo of your knitting so that we can see the slant of your increases.
I pulled it apart because I decided to change the size of the sweater. But I did find an article last night about left handed knitters and directional increases. It says to save confusion if it asks for an M1R you can just follow the instructions in the abbreviations. This will create an M1L for a lefty but that is exactly what you want since the knitting is a mirror image.
Directional increases – m1r and m1l: do them when the pattern says, and follow the instructions in the abbreviations. Now, a lefty make 1 right – if you follow the exact instructions for that stitch (pick up the bar between the stitches from back to front, knit it through the front loop) – technically leans left and vice versa, but it will look right because the entire piece is flipped around too. With these two, I tell myself the R in m1r means “ r ear” as in, enter the bar from the back.
I guess it’s like a double negative.