Kfb: knit front and back
Kfb (knit front and back) is the easiest knitting increase: knit into the front and back of the same stitch to make two from one. Steps, uses and mistakes.
By Julia WallinKnyt Co-founder and editorKfb (knit front and back) is the most beginner-friendly increase in knitting. You knit into the front loop of a stitch, then into its back loop before dropping it, turning one stitch into two. It is quick and hard to get wrong. The trade-off is that it leaves a small visible bar, so it is an increase you can see.
How to work a kfb
- Knit into the front loop of the next stitch as normal, but do not drop the old stitch off the left needle.
- Swing the right needle round and insert it into the back loop of the same stitch, from right to left.
- Wrap and pull a second loop through.
- Drop the original stitch off. You now have two stitches where there was one.
The bar. The second stitch carries a small horizontal bar at its base, similar to a purl bump. This is why kfb is also called the bar increase. In garter stitch and textured fabrics it disappears completely. In smooth stockinette it shows.
When to use kfb (and when M1)
Use kfb when speed and simplicity matter more than invisibility: garter-stitch projects, blankets, casual accessories, or anywhere the fabric texture hides the bar. Use M1L/M1R when the increase must vanish, as in stockinette sleeves or fine shaping.
One structural difference matters when substituting. Kfb is worked into an existing stitch, so it consumes one. M1 is made between stitches, so it consumes none. Swapping one for the other shifts where the increase lands by a stitch. This is fine on a blanket and noticeable on a fitted sleeve.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the stitch after step 1. You have knitted a normal stitch and no increase has happened. The old stitch stays on until both loops are made.
- Knitting the front loop too tightly. A tight first leg makes the back loop unreachable. Keep it relaxed.
- Expecting invisibility. The bar is structural, not a mistake. If it bothers you, the pattern needs M1.
Frequently asked questions
What does kfb mean in knitting?
Knit front and back: knit into the front loop of a stitch, then into its back loop before dropping it. One stitch becomes two.
Does kfb leave a hole?
No. It leaves a small horizontal bar, similar to a purl bump, not a hole. This is normal and unavoidable.
Is kfb the same as M1?
No. Both add a stitch, but kfb is worked into an existing stitch and shows a bar. M1 is lifted from the strand between stitches and is nearly invisible. They also affect stitch counts differently when placing increases.
Which way does kfb lean?
Slightly left, with the bar sitting to the left of the increase. In practice it reads as neutral in most fabrics.
Why is kfb called the bar increase?
The second stitch carries a small horizontal bar at its base, similar to a purl bump. In garter stitch and textured fabrics it disappears. In smooth stockinette it shows.
Co-founder and editor of Knyt. Avid knitter!
