How to Knit A Left Lifted Increase with Video Tutorial!

If you’ve been looking for a left-leaning increase in knitting that blends cleanly into your fabric, the Left Lifted Increase (LLI) is one of the most refined techniques you can learn. It creates an almost invisible new stitch and is perfect for knitters who want shaping without the risk of holes or obvious bumps.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn:

• What the Left Lifted Increase is

• When to use (and avoid) lifted increases

• How to work the LLI on a knit row

• How to do the Left Lifted Increase on the purl side (LLIp)

Want to explore all the main increase methods?

My Increasing in Knitting Guide covers M1L, M1R, KFB, lifted increases, and more, rich with how-tos and tips for choosing the best one for your project.

What Is a Left Lifted Increase?

A Left Lifted Increase (LLI) just like it's right-leaning equivalent, the RLI, is a type of lifted increase that adds a new stitch by raising one leg of a previously knit stitch from a lower row and knitting into it.

Unlike the Make 1 increase, which adds a stitch between existing stitches, the lifted increase builds directly into the structure of the fabric.

Because LLI is so clean, it’s often used in more advanced pattern garment shaping, especially where symmetrical increases are needed.

When NOT to Use a Lifted Increase

Lifted increases draw yarn from the row below. That means they:

• slightly tighten the fabric each time they are worked

• can distort the rows if used too frequently

• don’t behave well when stacked every row

So, for best results:

• Space lifted increases every 3–4 rows

• Avoid using them for shaping that requires fast increases

If you need frequent shaping (like sleeve caps or hat crowns), a Make 1 increase or KFB will give better results with less tension distortion.

How to Knit a Left Lifted Increase (LLI):

1. Look at the stitch you have just knit on your right-hand needle and identify the stitch that is two rows below it. (You do this by counting the V shapes that each stitch forms.)

2. Put your left-hand needle through the loop that forms the left side of the V you identified. When doing so, be sure to move the needle from back to front.

3. Pull that stretch of yarn upwards.

4. Knit into the back leg of the loop on your left-hand needle. (Warning: knitting into the back isn essential to ensure you don't leave a hole behind.)

5. Slide the stretch of yarn you picked up in steps 2 and 3 off of the left-hand needle.

6. You have now made a new stitch that leans to the left.

How to Work a Left Lifted Purl Increase (LLIp)

For purl rows, you can create the purl-side equivalent of the LLI as follows:

Before you start: Keep your yarn in front so you are ready to purl.

1. Purl one stitch normally.

2. Now, looking at the stitch that is now on your right-hand needle, locate the purl bump two rows below it.

3. Using the left needle, scoop up that bump, moving your needle through the stitch from front to back.

4. Hold that stretch of yarn still with your finger and pull up on the left needle to lift the loop of yarn.

5. Now, purl the lifted loop as you normally would and slip the pulled up loop back off the needle.

6. You've just made a left-leaning purl increase that mirrors the knit-side!

This LLIp, just like it's knit-side equivalent, remains nearly invisible from the right side of the work for beautiful shaping every time!

Click here if you're interested in learning the Right Lifted Increase and its purl-side equivalent!

If you’d like to expand your skill set, try one of these tutorials next:

• How to Decrease in Knitting: An Essential Beginner’s Guide

• How to do the Long-Tail Cast On: A Step-by-Step, Beginner-Friendly Guide

• Knitting Bind Off: Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners