Stacked increases knitting - step by step tutorial with improved method

A step by step tutorial on how to knit stacked increases
►►► VIEW THE FULL TUTORIAL HERE: nimble-needles...
Link to the gingerbread pattern (will be available for download on Nov 22nd): nimble-needles...
Stacked increases are a fun way to create lobed shaped edges and cast on when you are knitting in the round.
The basic theory boils down to knitting a triple increase and slipping back two stitches to knit yet another triple increase into the new center stitch.
The method was made popular by Xandy Peters and the fox paw shawl but in this video I'll show you a couple of way to make it easier to knit and avoid the holes at the base.
The repeat:
1) knit one, don't drop it
2) do yarn over
3), knit one more time into the same stitch and drop it
4) slip back two stitches
5) repeat steps 1-4 as many times as you like.
To avoid the holes at the base, you should knit the first stack like this.
1) M1R
2) slip one (this will be the center of your stacked increase)
3) M1L
4) Slip back 2
5) continue with the regular technique. So k1, yo, k1, then slip back 2 as many times as you like. Only the first round is different.
In my opinion, stacked increases are best understood as a cast-on technique in the round. And in fact, it's the only way to increase a project knit in the round mid-row.
►Visit my blog for a free knitting school: nimble-needles...
►Subscribe my newsletter for free patterns: nimble-needles...
► View my projects on Instagram / nimbleneedlez

[@NimbleNeedles]

Feel free to comment below if you have any questions regarding this technique. I know it can seem a bit complicated but I'm here to help! ::)

[@sandybassett4901]

I wish I could send you an even bigger thumbs up! I have decided to watch all your videos and maybe I will become a better knitter because of it. Thank you for all your tutorials. You open the world of knitting to an amazing level. ❤ StitchedbyMimi

[@NimbleNeedles]

thank you for your kind words, Sandy

[@saramims2556]

GENIUS!! I will have to watch this a couple more times before watching it.

[@jennys7735]

Such a clear and concise explanation, thank you so much! Im actually feeling confident enough to try a Xandy Peters pattern I've been looking at for a while now.

[@fadznuzu3341]

This is the craziest most outrageous knitting knowledge I've ever encountered lmaooo thank you so much for sharing 🤗💖

[@NimbleNeedles]

heh. you're welcome....tho I would like to add...it isn't. I know some crazier stuff...not a lot...but some :P

[@vault7137]

Brilliant tutorial! I will definitely refer back to this when I begin knitting my fox paws shawl. Thank you!

[@NimbleNeedles]

sure do. Please do remember that she didn't design it with my improved no holes version. So, I am not sure what it would do to her pattern

[@Maria-ed9gu]

Intelligent technique and very intelligent improvements!!!!

[@Nicelady29]

Haven’t yet tried any of Xandy’s patterns because they seem intimidating but this clear demonstration makes me less fearful! What a great illustration of what’s happening in stacked stitches!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Happy to hear I was able to help you out there.

[@levariboo]

This is a brilliant explanation. Very clear, very easy to understand. Thank you! You helped me see how this has so many versatile applications. :D

[@NimbleNeedles]

You're very welcome!

[@theastewart6721]

I don’t know how I missed this tutorial! I was looking for the pumpkin pattern increases and found this! Very cool technique!🤗🤗

[@homespuntools2115]

I love this! I'm just starting a Fox Paws blanket and I will for sures be using this method to get rid of the holes. thank you so much.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Natalie-vz4mk]

Thanks, Norman. Now I know how missoni pattern are made :)

[@NimbleNeedles]

heh. No, the standard missoni pattern is much simpler than that. It's just pairing 2 increases with 2 decreases. So like : *k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5, yo, k1, yo* Repeat 10 times with each color.

[@Natalie-vz4mk]

@@NimbleNeedles 👌 need to try. Thank you.

[@celinacyr9175]

OOh, looking forward to knitting your gingerbread pattern, so I can try this technique. Thanks for another great video, and welcome back!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Wanted to publish it today, but internet hasn't been working at all. 😢

[@celinacyr9175]

@@NimbleNeedles Ooh boy, that's not good. I am so lost without it, whatever did we do before all this...lol

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@celinacyr9175 luckily it still works on my phone. Ah well. A day if two spent knitting and reading is certainly a good alternative 😅

[@celinacyr9175]

@@NimbleNeedles Exactly right! I don't have data on my phone anymore, I was paying for it for nothing so I removed it.

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@celinacyr9175 Haha. Same here. I used to pay like $50is a month forever until I realized: wait a moment. U r not using that at all.

[@pufferpuffer4434]

Oh! This technique has crazy possibilities. Thank you!

[@NimbleNeedles]

It definitely has..or it might drive you crazy 🤪

[@mixedandknot5911]

I just started Xandi Peter's Fox Paw shawl (gorgeous) and I learned to knit the pattern quickly, but the tightness and the holes left by stacking the stitches surprised me a lot and I do not like holes in my knitting. Thank you very much.

[@NimbleNeedles]

well...to be sure, the overall technique is not exactly gentle on the fingers, lol. Hope I was able to help you find a solution that works for you. the pattern itself is beyond stunning, if you ask me!

[@mixedandknot5911]

@@NimbleNeedles Hi Norman, Do you add M1R and M1L every time you start increases (stacked stitches) or when you first stack stitches? Also, when do you start decreasing these extra stitches, M1R and M1L? Grateful.

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@mixedandknot5911 only the first pass

[@sstorm1328]

Super as always

[@fly_you_fools]

I’ve been knitting daily and bravely for 26 years and I did not know about this.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Happy to hear I was able to show such an experienced knitter a new technique! :)

[@ABC-pr4ce]

شرح واضح و مقيد ، شكرا لك

[@wendyellis6402]

Thank you! This is such a helpful video for me, as I recently purchased Xandy Peters’ “Fox Paws” pattern. I think I will use the free gingerbread boy pattern you so kindly offer, to practice the technique. I also purchased a 60 inch circular needle, because I can see where Fox Paws is going to go 😂

[@NimbleNeedles]

yeah, I would recommend a little swatch or smaller project before you tackle that beast! :P

[@mixedandknot5911]

Yeeeiii! Another person who is going to knit Fox Paws. I may post pictures here when I finish the shawl. I made a swatch before starting it and unravelled the first swatch just to practice until my yarn from Knit Picks arrives. Norman's magic-loop technique, it has become easier to knit Fox Paws. I am interested in seeing you choice of yarn.

[@holdingmyown]

ooo so interesting~ love your comment about how the stacked increase really acts as more of a mid-row cast-on. and bonus points for the neat diagram you drew :) it would be super cool to see a diagram of which part of the increase creates those big eyelets and another one of how the m1r and m1l fix that problem.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Well, the eyelets is created by two things really: a) knitting into the same stitch 3 times pulls extra yarn from the neighbouring stitches b) u are essentially knitting a short row there. So, the eyelets left and right look even bigger cuz there is a 1-row offset. M1l&m1r and slipping that middle stitch fights these two effects. Hope u understand 🙈

[@holdingmyown]

@@NimbleNeedles your explanations are really the best!! thank you ☺️

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@holdingmyown haha. this means a lot to me :))

[@yadigarklckaya5989]

❤thanks a lot❤

[@sonjanordahl3158]

Awesome!!!

[@edinacole6382]

Thank you!! So helpful!

[@jjperry164]

Fantasric technique! I put my sweater in timeout and I'm working on a cover for my son's stool. Used stacked increases to shape the corners and it worked BEAUTIFULLY One question; can you stack decreases together in a similar fashion?

[@NimbleNeedles]

Yes, there are also stacked decreases

[@jackiegaines8560]

Thank you for explaining this so well. Do have video on stacking decreases?

[@NimbleNeedles]

currently no. I wanted to do one...but there's wasn't all that much interested in this video ..so i kinda postponed it ;-)

[@user-rj4yz3ui5b]

Спасибо!

[@bridgettefeliz5995]

Hey! Love your videos so much. I have a question about knitting etiquette, are there any set rules when it comes to selling your projects? Of course I would give credit to the person who has inspired me. But what else does the community expect when selling their pieces? I'm a beginner but I want to sell because, you know, hard times and I'm broke. I ask because I want to respect everyone and their work but I would also like to try selling my wacky stuff and see where it leads. I hope I make sense! Thank you for your channel!

[@NimbleNeedles]

Hey Bridgette, happy to hear you like my videos. and now to your questions. This is a difficult question. First of all, making money with knitting is difficult, but sure, give it a try. Generally speaking, a lot of patterns come with a note "do not sell finished products" ..."not for commercial use" or so. If it is a paid pattern, this clause is legally not binding because, at the time of buying it, you probably were not aware of it. And you cannot agree to something you do not know. So, you are free to sell items based on that pattern. If it's a free pattern, things get somewhat murky from a legal point of view. Now, most designers have a big following on social media and you do not want to conjure a shit-short. So, I would always make sure to put a link to the original design in your offer description. But essentially you can knit and sell those items. If you plan to do it on a big scale (say thousands), I would definitely contact the designer and discuss terms.

[@damirleko147]

Looks pritty hard! Lets try to kneedle

[@NimbleNeedles]

It's actually not that hard - just maybe a bit unusual. But let me know if you need any further help, k? :)

[@juneknitsville9549]

If you do the M1R and M1L, when do you decrease them away to get back to the correct stitch count? Thanks for any enlightenment.

[@NimbleNeedles]

Hey June, not sure I understand your question?

[@BrigitteGrov]

@@NimbleNeedles I wondered about the same, but as I discovered this technique today and have never tried it I suspect there is something I'm missing. If you make two new stitches to close the gap, won't these two add to the stitch count?

[@gracielasierra5017]

I want to make a scarf using Fox Paws but I don´t know how to combine stacked increases with stacked decreases. Can you help me?

[@NimbleNeedles]

Hey Graciela, kindly understand that I cannot help you with patterns that are not my own. I don't have the time and neither do I want to discuss copyrighted material. Please contact the respective designer. thank you for your understanding.

[@TracyCooksinAustin]

is there a pattern somewhere for the little bootie? i'm making for dolls and premies and struggl;e, this is a perfect method

[@NimbleNeedles]

no...i just winged that on the fly. Most booties are seamed, etc. I could write one up but hm...not sure when I should find the time for it >.

[@TracyCooksinAustin]

@@NimbleNeedles thanks. I just froze the video and counted :) worked great. Oh and thanks for the super videos.

[@Brandyalla]

Could this technique be used to make the fingers for gloves?

[@NimbleNeedles]

I don't see how. I mean, you could knit two parts and then seam them together. But not sure if you are doing yourself a favor here as these increases are not exactly easy to knit.

[@Brandyalla]

All right, thanks. I didn't think it would be easier than the normal way, really, but I'm always looking for unusual ways to apply techniques (it keeps me from getting bored)

[@NimbleNeedles]

@@Brandyalla Ha! In that case, give it a try. Though, the fabric tends to be a bit looser, so not sure how well suitable it is for something that should keep you warm. And that' exactly how my brain works. When I see a new technique I always go like: "But what if I...." :D