M1 — Make 1 (Abbreviation)
M1 stands for "make 1" — an increase built by lifting the horizontal strand of yarn running between two stitches and working into it, rather than working twice into an existing stitch the way kfb does. Because the new stitch comes from a lifted strand rather than a doubled existing stitch, M1 leaves markedly less visible trace in the fabric than kfb does.
The basic motion
Slide the left needle tip under the connecting strand between the stitch just worked and the next one, front to back, so it sits lifted on the needle. Knit into it from behind rather than the front — that specific twist is what closes the new stitch up rather than leaving an open hole the way a plain yarn over would.
Why bare "M1" usually defaults to left-leaning
Most modern pattern-writing conventions treat unqualified "M1" as shorthand for M1L specifically (lifting the strand front-to-back and knitting through the back loop), reserving "M1R" for the explicitly right-leaning version — but this isn't universal, and older or less standardized patterns sometimes use bare "M1" more loosely. If a pattern's shaping relies on a specific lean and only says "M1" with no further qualifier, check the pattern's own abbreviation key rather than assuming.
Where it shows up
Raglan and set-in sleeve increases, gradually widening a piece from underarm to cuff, and any shaping where an inconspicuous, close-to-invisible increase matters more than working speed.
Related abbreviations
- M1L — the explicitly left-leaning version
- M1R — the explicitly right-leaning version
- kfb — a faster but more visible alternative increase
FAQ
Does M1 use a different amount of yarn than kfb for the same increase? Not meaningfully — both add one stitch's worth of new fabric; the difference between them is in visual result and working motion, not in yarn consumption.
Can M1 be worked on a purl row? Yes, with the equivalent lifted-strand motion worked purlwise instead of knitwise, following the same front-to-back lift-and-twist principle adapted to a purl stitch.