How to Insert the Tip of a Knitting Needle Under a Stitch in a Previous Row

Intricacies of knitting in progress.

Knitting into the row below creates raised rows of rib stitching used for brioche or fisherman's rib patterns. Using the previous row's stitches ensures slightly thicker and therefore warmer finished knitting, ideal for hats, gloves and scarves. Knitting or purling into the previous row of knitting causes some knitters frustration. Time, practice and an understanding of the methods make knitting into the row below easy.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• 2 knitting needles

Instructions

Knit Into the Stitch Below

1. Find the first loop of yarn on the left knitting needle.

2. Look below the loop of yarn on the left knitting needle. You will find another yarn loop -- the knit stitch from the previous row.

3. Push the right knitting needle into the middle of the stitch from the previous row.

4. Yarn over.

5. Pull a loop of yarn up through the stitch.

6. Let the yarn loop still on the left needle slide off.

Knit Into the Stitch Below-Increasing

1. Repeat steps one through five from section one.

2. Knit into the loop of yarn still on the left needle.

3. Slide the loop of yarn off the left needle.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the same steps to purl into the stitch below, except that you purl instead.

• According to The Brioche Stitch website, "brk" or "bark" denotes knitting into the stitch below in a pattern, while "brp" or "burp" denotes purling into the stitch below. Other ways of abbreviating working in the row below are "k-b" or "k1b" and "p-b" or "p1b."

• While practicing knitting into the row below you may drop stitches. Pick up the stitch you dropped and try again.

References

• The Brioche Stitch; Working the Stitch in One Color; Terminology and Abbreviations

Resources

• The Brioche Stitch
• Knitting Database: Purl in Row Below (p1b)
• Lion Brand Yarn; Library of Knitting and Crochet Information (FAQ); k1b = knit 1 in the row below
• Knitting Help: Glossary
• Maggie's Rags: Knitting Tips - Knitting into the Stitch Below
• Knit Simple Magazine; Beginner Basics; Knit.101; Correcting Common Mistakes