Knit Through Back Loop

This technique is a knitting fundamental which I link in some of my patterns. The most common abbreviation for it is KTBL.

1. Choose where to increase.

Here, I’ll be adding an increase on the next knit stitch, which is the second last stitch in this row.

2. Start by pulling the yarn through the front loop of the stitch.

This is done exactly the same way as a normal knit stitch, but don’t take the new stitch off the left hand needle just yet. See how the right hand needle is sitting in front of the left hand needle?

3. Twist the right hand needle around and behind the left hand needle, and put it back into the original stitch.

This time, you’re going through the back loop. This is the hardest part of the technique; I’ve seen a lot of new knitters get confused on how to get the needle through the back loop. The best way I can describe it is: put the point of the right hand needle through the center of the stitch, and aim it to come out the back! It’ll slide past the left hand needle and settle behind it, as in the photo above.

4. Wrap the yarn around the right hand needle, just as you would for a regular knit stitch, and pull that loop through the original stitch.

This is just like any other knit stitch.

5. Slide the original stitch off the left hand needle.

You’re done! You now have two stitches where there was only one before.

This technique is most useful at the edges of a piece. It’s not quite as smooth as the leaning decreases. But it’s a great all-rounder and should be the first increase technique a beginner learns.

Thanks for reading and I hope you found this helpful!