centered double increase

what's it for?

This maneuver is the first step used when you want to create closed-loop cables (for example, in Celtic-style designs). It's not the only means by which you can create a closed loop in your textured knitting, but it can be used to make the most horizontally oriented cable while still knitting exclusively in an "upward" direction.

For examples of closed-loop cables in action, take a look at the examples on the Celtic cable page.

what does it do?

This double increase creates three stitches where there was previously one; in other words, it increases two stitches. The three stitches created are all knit stitches, and generally it is executed on the right side of the work against a background of reverse stockinette. In closed-loop cable knitting, on the next (wrong side) row another two stitches are increased in the middle of these three knit stitches, so that on the third (right side) row, there are four new stitches centered over the original single stitch: two knit stitches, then one purl stitch, and two knit stitches again.

The instructions here only deal with the first double increase. On the wrong side row, the increase is usually worked by (p1, k1, p1) in the same stitch.

how is it done?

This series of photos shows the technique as it would be executed by a knitter using the western technique. The photos were provided by Kim Salazar (String or Nothing/wiseNeedle) and used with her kind permission.

(If you don't know whether you use the western technique or another method, here are some hints: the major knitting reference books used in North America illustrate the western technique, you can view illustrations of combined knitting on Annie Modesitt's website, and Priscilla Gibson-Roberts provides an excellent comparison of the three methods in Knitting in the Old Way.)

(The photos for combined knitting will be posted later.)

technique #1

Knit into the back (trailing edge) of your "original" stitch, placing the newly-formed stitch on the right needle and leaving the original stitch on the left needle. When inserted into the stitch, about to knit, the right needle will be behind the left needle as shown in the photo.


Knit into the original stitch again, but this time into the front of the stitch (leading edge). The newly-formed stitch will be placed on the right needle, and the original stitch is now dropped from the left needle.


So far, you have increased one stitch, and this is what you'll see on your needles.


Locate the vertical strand of yarn that runs between the two new stitches, indicated with the yellow arrow.


Pick up this vertical strand with your left needle, as shown.


Knit this vertical strand so that it creates a twisted knit stitch. Two stitches have been increased.

The above six photos © Kim Salazar. Used on this site with permission.

any other references?

Barbara Walker describes this technique in Charted Knitting Designs, but does not provide any pictures or illustrations of the knitting steps -- just the end result. Her technique is slightly different from Alice Starmore's, which is illustrated in Starmore's book Aran Knitting. Starmore also uses the technique, but does not illustrate or explain it, in The Celtic Collection. Both authors begin with knitting into the back of the stitch before knitting into the front.