The abbreviation m1L in knitting patterns means to make one left. There are different ways of increasing the number of stitches. When shaping your knitting directional increases are essential. The make one left is a left-leaning increase.

M1L is a great increase stitch for the knit side of your work. This increase method makes a twisted stitch. It doesn’t leave a visible hole. It’s an easy way to increase in knitting projects like sweaters, hats and sock knitting patterns.

Shaped shoulder knit with make one left increases.

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The sister stitch, or opposite, is the m1R increase which is a right-leaning increase. The difference between the two is how you knit them.

Skill Level

Easy

Written Instructions

Knit to where you will increase.

Find the horizontal bar between the last stitch you knit which is on your right needle, and the next stitch on your left needle.

Insert your left hand needle under the strand from the front to the back.

Then insert the right needle tip through the back loop, and knit it.

Video tutorial

Watch the full video tutorial on my YouTube.

Photo Tutorial

M1L Make One Left Increase

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 1 minute

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $1

Learn how to make one left knitting increase.

Materials

Your project or yarn to start one.

Tools

Knitting needles to match your yarn.

Instructions

First knit to where you will increase. Here I knit to the stitch marker, and slip it on to my right hand needle.
Second locate the horizontal strand of yarn between the stitches.
Pick up the bar of yarn with your left-hand needle tip from the front to the back.
Insert right-hand needle tip into the back leg.
Wrap the yarn over your right needle counter clockwise.
Pull yarn through to knit it.
Slide the new stitch off the left needle and on to the right needle.
You have increased by one stitch!