A kfb is an increase that uses 1 stitch to create 2 sts. A kfb looks like a knit stitch with a little purl stitch off of it. We use this increase in raglan lines of the Flax pullover, an adorable free pattern that is part of The Simple Collection.
How to work kfb (knit front and back):
- Step 1: knit into the next st without taking it off the left hand needle. You now have a loop on both the right and left needle.
- Step 2: knit into the same stitch again through the back loop and take it off the left hand needle.
Kfb Video:
Great beginner patterns from Tin Can Knits:
Barley
Flax (free)
Rye
Wheat
Maize
Harvest
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July 1, 2021 @ 2:09 am
Hello! Thank you for all your incredible content. I have learned so much. I am a VERY beginner knitter, and have decided to give a shot to the flax jumper. I am a bit confused about the KFB around the first marker that marks the start of the round. So, for all other raglan markers, I KFB before, but aroud the BOR marker, do I KFB before and after? I start round 1 of increases with a KFB, but I also do another KFB two stitches before this marker? I really hope you can she some light! I have watched the youtube knitalong, and this is how I understood it….
July 4, 2021 @ 10:46 pm
Hi – You are going to be working a KFB before AND after each of the 4 markers.
May 28, 2021 @ 7:35 am
I’ve always wondered: is there a way to make an increase that looks like a tiny purl stitch followed by a knit stitch? For example, if a pattern reads kfb k1 kfb – that will look like kp k kp, is there an increase stitch that would make it look like kp k pk or pk k kp?
I’m embarking on my first sweater adventure (harvest cardigan) – and thanks to the detailed instructions in the pattern, am feeling confident I will wind up with a garment a human can actually wear!
May 31, 2021 @ 1:44 am
I’m not sure if there’s an increase that looks like the opposite to a kfb. If we want the same detail either side of an increase line, we use kfb in both places but modify the relationship to the marker line; ie. kfb, k1, SM, kfb, knit to next marker. That way the little purl bump shows up symmetrical about the marker line.
Best luck with Harvest! ~ Em
January 21, 2021 @ 12:54 pm
Perfect explanation, Thanks a million!
Stripes and Other Hacks for the Flax Sweater | Tin Can Knits
August 27, 2020 @ 6:00 am
[…] of kfb increases at the raglan lines, I knit ‘under the bar’ – an increase that creates tiny […]
July 17, 2020 @ 1:21 am
Thanks
June 15, 2020 @ 2:02 pm
Hi, I’m a bit confused about how in the flax jumper instructions, it says to kfb at the start and end of each raglan section, but the increase for the round is 8. Surely it increases that round by 4?
June 15, 2020 @ 10:29 pm
Hi Alexandra – There are 4 raglan sections and you are increasing at the beginning and end of each section, which means you are increasing 8 sts.
April 30, 2020 @ 1:55 pm
I am making size 4-6. There should be 13 stitches for garter panel. But if I increase BFK then that garter panel increases of two stitches every time. I have been doing more ripping apart then knitting. Please explain before I go crazy and throw the whole thing in the garbage.
Thank you.
April 30, 2020 @ 1:59 pm
Hi Irene – Deep breath. No matter what else is happening in the sleeve, the central 13 sts are purled every second row. So, after the first increase you will have k1, p13, k1. After the second increase you will have k2, p13, k2. After the third increase you will have k3, p13, k3.
Let’s make a Beloved Bonnet | Tin Can Knits
March 31, 2020 @ 10:54 pm
[…] of the piece. This pattern uses both the lifted-bar m1 – make one increase, and the kfb – knit front & back […]
February 20, 2020 @ 2:12 pm
Hello. I’ve just started your Flax sweater in the size small, and I switched the increases on either side of the raglan stitch to M1L and M1R. As a result I have placed a marker on either side of the raglan stitches to indicate the raglan stitch and to alert myself to the increases. Doing this adds stitch markers to my sweater that aren’t called for in your pattern as the pattern, if I am reading it correctly, places a marker after the raglan stitch. I have also placed markers on either side of my garter stitch panels. I have knit setup rounds one and two and round one once and round two once. What I have found is that I have my BOR marker, two knit stitches, 15 garter stitches, one knit stitch before my added marker, one raglan stitch, 40 body stitches, one raglan stitch, two knit stitches, 15 garter stitches, one knit stitches before my added marker, one raglan stitch, 40 body stitches, one raglan stitch, BOR marker. Does this sound correct? I keep thinking there should be *two* stitches after the garter panel and before my added stitch marker before the raglan stitch. If I remove my added raglan stitch marker, there are two stitches to your marker, the one after the raglan stitch. I have a total of 120 stitches currently on my needles, which is an increase of 16 stitches, after two rounds of increases. The number of stitches is correct so far, but will my sleeve garter panel be just slightly off center.?
February 21, 2020 @ 12:30 pm
Hi Kristin – For the Flax with the kfb you essentially have 2 sts between the increases (because in a kfb the increase, which look like a purl, comes from the ‘b’ portion of kfb), so if you want to change it to m1L and m1R (which is totally fine) you want to increase 1 stitch before the raglan marker and 1 stitch after the raglan marker, so it would look like: m1R, k1, slip marker, k1, m1L
I think that will solve the problem.
September 6, 2019 @ 7:01 am
Hi! Love all your patterns, the tutorials and ALL that you give of yourself to the knitting community!!
I’ve frogged and tinked my Flax Light sweater(sz 2-4) embarrassingly more than I’ll admit -only my dh knows how many times! But I am still persisting! Like some of the others posting here I’m having a problem with the set up for the garter section. I’ve decided to place an extra marker where the garter panel begins as you suggested. Should the garter panel marker be placed in set up round 2 at the beginning of the purl sections? And it will demarcate the garter panel more readily after each rounds 1&2? Denise
September 10, 2019 @ 2:08 pm
Hi Denise – yep, you have it just right. The garter panel is always the central 18 sts on the sleeves
August 26, 2019 @ 3:52 pm
Is the garter panel supposed to increase then too? I was quite far along but ripped it out because it didn’t look like the straight garter panel in the picture. Thank you!
August 28, 2019 @ 12:59 pm
Hi Laura – Nope, the garter panel in the Flax sweater stays the same, always in the center of the sleeve.
July 1, 2019 @ 9:35 am
Pls help , same question abt flax pattern. I am knitting the 2-4yrs old .
I have my markers in place (13 garter stitch) and 26 plain stitch ) x 2
What I need to know abt setting up round 1 is
(Kfb, ? Where? – knit to 2 stitches before raglan markers ? – if this is 2 stitches before raglan marker then where would the first kfb be?
Hope you can understand my question ?
July 2, 2019 @ 12:35 pm
Hi Mel – you are going to kfb in the very first stitch and the second to last st before the marker.
February 18, 2019 @ 9:20 pm
I just read through the posts. My question relates to the start of Round 1 of the flax light pattern. I will appreciate your help before I proceed.
Right now, I have the following the stitches on the left needle from left to right (from the
previous row/Set up round 2) :
-1 knit stitch
-Marker
-20 purl stitches
-Marker
-59 knit stitches
-Marker
-20 purl stitches
-Marker
59 knit stitches
Do I start Round 1 on that first knit stitch? Or, should I knit that stitch and then start Round 1 on the first purl stitch after the first marker? I hope my question makes sense and will greatly appreciate your response.
February 20, 2019 @ 12:41 pm
Hi Linda – You shouldn’t have a single stitch before the first marker. Which size are you making?
February 23, 2019 @ 5:42 pm
I am making a medium.
I look forward to your input.
Thank you.
February 25, 2019 @ 10:26 am
Hi Linda – for the marker set up you should have: 20 sts purl sts, 55 body sts, 20 purl sts, 55 body sts. 4 sections, 4 markers.
after the set up round you should have 22 sts at the sleeve (the center 20 will be purls on the next round), 57 body sts.
Does that help?
February 10, 2019 @ 7:24 am
So frustrated. After I finish set up round 1 on set up round 2 ,I have 12 stitches between markers instead of 10.
February 10, 2019 @ 6:22 pm
Hi Yvonne – yep, the kfb is an increase so you will have increased 2 sts in each section.
February 11, 2019 @ 7:44 am
Thank -you, I was able to figure it out. I have been knitting 30 years and I have to say for a beginner pattern it’s could be clarified in a much easier way. For instance kfb slip marker kfb.Only a suggestion I could be totally wrong.but thanks again.
November 12, 2018 @ 8:46 pm
I think the instructions are a little confusing in set up round 2. It says to do the k1, px, k1 to marker, twice. It would help if the instructions said to k between the first and third sections. Otherwise, it seems like we should do this 2 times, straight through, and end up with half a round to go.
November 12, 2018 @ 8:51 pm
I get it now. The k1, px, k1 brings you to the first marker, then you knit to the second. Ah!
November 6, 2018 @ 4:48 am
Having written the problem down and processed it, I’ve now gone back to the pattern and it seen the simplicity of it! – couldn’t see the wood for the trees as they say! I may have to do a bit of tinking but nothing too drastic. Thanks for the pattern.
November 5, 2018 @ 1:04 pm
Hi, I’m knitting the Flax jumper in size M. I understand Setup round 1 but maybe I don’t confused about the markers. I really don’t understand Setup round 2: [k1, p15, k1, knit to marker] twice. Does the first time put a garter into a sleeve? but then the second time.. will that not put another garter panel into the middle of the front/back..? “Continue to the work the centre 15sts on the sleeves..” what do I do for the other two sections..? any help will be greatly appreciated thank you.
September 24, 2018 @ 2:47 pm
I am finding the flax pullover instructions very confusing.
I am making the XXL size.
Setup round (kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker kfb, k1) 4 times.
Question: Am I to kfb the very first stitch then knit to 2 sts before raglan marker or 2 sts before each marker?
September 24, 2018 @ 2:52 pm
Hi Kathy: you are working the bracketed instructions 4 times per round (As you have 4 raglan marker in your work). You are going to kfb the first stitch after each marker, and the second to last stitch before each marker.
May 20, 2018 @ 9:25 am
I have downloaded the flax pattern, but I would like to print out the instructions…is it my printer or am I not allowed to print them?
May 20, 2018 @ 12:34 pm
Hi Faythe – nope you can print them!
April 20, 2018 @ 6:18 am
Please let me know where you increase the stitches on the set up row and row 1 I made the heaver sweater several years ago and now I want to knit the light flax sweater but I can’t remember. Please help. I know hot to kfb but I forget where exactly are the increases made… thank. Chris
April 21, 2018 @ 11:09 pm
Hi Chris – I’m sorry, I don’t really understand the question. You are knitting the Flax Light and are working the first increase round?
April 22, 2018 @ 12:35 am
This is what I’m not sure of: Flax Light sweater
Set up round 1: [kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker,
kfb, k1] 4 times [8 sts inc; 2 per section]
Set up round 2: k1, p14 (16, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20,
20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 22, 22), k1, knit to marker] twice
April 22, 2018 @ 3:51 pm
Hi Chris: it should definitely work, if you k1, px, k1, that will take you to the first marker, then you will knit to the second marker, k1, px, k1, which will take you to the third marker, then knit to end.
April 23, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
actually my question is not being answered : for the increase row one KFB ar the increases such as increase (KFB1 before the marker slide the marker KFB knit to the next 2 Sts before the marker knit 1 KFB slide the marker knit 1 KFB etc?????? I have made the Flax sweater before but haven’t made another one for several years and I am attempting the light flex> I have always had difficulties reading patterns but I have knitted four sweaters but I enjoy your basic sweater. Thanks Chris
April 25, 2018 @ 10:34 am
Hi Chris – That’s correct for the increase row. I’m no clear on which round is the problem? Is it Set up round 1 or set up round 2? You have set up round right!
April 23, 2018 @ 8:51 pm
that is correct
April 20, 2018 @ 6:09 am
hello does the increase take place on the outside of the sleve and one on the inside of the sleeve?
April 21, 2018 @ 11:10 pm
Hi Chris – for a sleeve you probably want to work an m1 increase, rather than a kfb. Where the increase happens will kind of depend on the pattern, it would say something like ‘k1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1’
April 17, 2018 @ 6:57 pm
Hi there. I am knitting the flax sweater and am on “setup round 2”. I am confused because doing the stitches in the brackets twice doesnt take me to the end of the row. And then when It says continue to work the centre …..?
April 18, 2018 @ 3:10 pm
Hi Bonnie – it sounds like something is wrong. Working the sts in brackets twice should take you to the end of the round
March 10, 2018 @ 3:27 pm
does the 1st kfbtake the 1st stitch from the garter section ?
March 12, 2018 @ 1:35 pm
Hi – sorry, which pattern are you working on? This comment is on the kfb post so I’m not 100% sure
April 19, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
I’m driving myself slightly crazy. When you say :Round 1 kfb to 2 stitches before marker, fkb, k1 4x Round 2 work as set” does “as set” mean both Round 1 & round 2 have increases? Or Round 2 works garter panel as set no increases?
Then when you say “work rounds 1-2 a total of x times” does it mean Round 1 x times plus round 2 x times for a total of 2X OR alternating round 1 & 2 for a total of x times?
I started with increases only on odd (round 1) rounds, but it didn’t look right so I ripped that out and put increases in both Round 1 & Round 2 – looks better. But alternating for a total of x times seems short. Maybe working in the round is just distorting my perception of size.
April 19, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
Hi Kay – You might be over thinking it a smidge (but who doesn’t on their first sweater?!).
For round 1 you are working your increases just like you said. Round 2: as set means you are keeping your garter panel where it is (the same number of sts you purled in the set up round), all other sts are knit. So you are keeping the garter where the garter belongs and the stockinette where the stockinette belongs and no increases.
When we say work rounds 1-2 a total of x times it means work round 1, round 2, round 1, round 2, round 1, round 2 (however many times you need to for your size).
March 7, 2017 @ 2:52 am
I followed the tutorial strictly but cannot make the garter stitch panel straight (on the shoulder part). Why is that?
March 7, 2017 @ 9:35 am
Hi Yen – I’m sorry, without seeing your sleeve I can’t really answer that. Maybe drop us an email (tincaknits@gmail.com) with a picture?
January 2, 2017 @ 10:37 pm
I’m not a new knitter but this one confused me for a second. It is written correctly (and concisely considering all of the sizes). Look at where the brackets are and just repeat. Basically there is a kfb both before and after each marker (except it’s kfb k1 before the marker for stability). 2 kfb per section is an 8 stitch increase per round. Hope this helps
December 21, 2016 @ 8:49 am
I too am trying to knit the Flax Have now lost count of times I’ve taken it out after attempting the Kfb, Knit to 2 st before raglan etc It seems I’m not the only person having same problem It is my first attempt of top down and I have also spent a lot of cash on needles as my first problem was finding a circular small enough Has anyone managed to come up with a way to write the instructions that may make a little more sense to a beginner of this way of knitting I hate to be beaten but I just can’t get it HELP
December 22, 2016 @ 9:44 am
Hi Linda – first sweaters can be a challenge, the Flax has been successfully knit a few thousand times by beginners so stick with it, it can be done! For the increase round you are working a kfb, knitting to 2 sts before the marker, working a kfb, k1, slipping the marker, kfb, knit to 2 stitches before the marker, kfb, knit 1, slip marker, etc.
November 16, 2016 @ 11:14 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful pattern! At the beginning I was confused but following the instruction I understand clearly this part – Setup round 1: [kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker, kfb, k1] 4 times [8 sts inc – 2 per section and I’m very happy because this is not my mother language :-)
Sweater Techniques Series – Gramps Baby Cardigan – 5 / 6 : Shawl Collar and Button Band | Tin Can Knits
November 15, 2016 @ 2:13 pm
[…] On the next row (WS) you will establish the p1,k1 ribbing. At the back neck (indicated in the image above by the 2 black ring markers) you will be doubling the number of sts by working a kfb increase. […]
October 28, 2016 @ 6:09 pm
I agree. This part is confusing. Flax sweater: ‘Set up round 1’:
can someone please write in where the markers are? insert a ‘slip marker’ in relationship to a full round of increases?
meaning, the FIRST kfb, – where is that? just before the first marker or after?
And, what does ‘set up’ mean?
Thank you!
October 31, 2016 @ 9:07 pm
Hi Margo: we typically don’t write ‘slip marker’ in our patterns, just slip the markers as you come to them. I’m not 100% understanding the following questions, the Marker setup round puts the 4 markers in your work, where they are depends on the size you are knitting. The first kfb in Setup round 1 is right after the beginning of round marker.
I’m not sure how to explain setup other than that you are setting up the pattern that will continue for the raglan increases at the yoke. You are establishing where the increases occur and where the garter stitch panel is on the sleeves.
July 28, 2016 @ 9:08 pm
In doing the Flax sweater, you have us adding quite a few stitches right after the collar before going on to the yoke portion. I’m only starting this and am wondering why you are not just increasing each round by 8 until you get the number you need. It seems to me you won’t have an evenly distributed number of extra stitches
July 28, 2016 @ 9:49 pm
Don’t worry, this sweater has been knit a few thousand time, it will work! (for some sizes your way might work, but for most the yoke depth becomes unmanageable)
July 29, 2016 @ 6:58 am
Wish me luck! Finishing the collar this morning. Making a 3XL so I did the calculations last night for doing the increases. Will add pix to my project on Ravelry so you can follow!
Thanks!
October 16, 2016 @ 8:15 am
I had a hard time doing the yoke…i really cant understand the pattern… I try over n over… But still get the same result…can u provide more details…my increases totally wrong. No matter how many yime i do it…i cant get it right… Kfb, knit until 2sts left b4 the markers then kfb, k1.. I do folliw the instruction but still cant get the right pattern..
October 19, 2016 @ 9:44 am
Hi – I’m sorry, I’m not really sure how to help without being in person. The instructions definitely work as written. Do you have a local yarn shop or a friend who knits? They may be able to watch what you are doing and tell you where you are going wrong?
April 28, 2016 @ 8:47 am
I have now ripped out the flax sweater yoke twice. I think I now understand why: the pattern reads:
Setup round 1: [kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker, kfb, k1] 4 times
Here is what I think it should read based on my brand new understanding of knitting from back:
Setup round 1: [kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker, kfb, k1 (marker) k1, kfb] 4 times
Is that correct? When I did it the way the pattern describes, I need up with what seemed like half of a raglan pattern, with one in entirely the wrong position (2nd marker)
April 29, 2016 @ 9:41 am
Hi Lauren – Nope, the pattern is correct as written. There are 4 sections (front, back, and 2 sleeves) and you are increasing 2 sts per section. There are 2 kfb’s in the brackets and the brackets are repeated 4 times. If you do it your way, the k1, kfb after there are 3 increases per section. Have you checked out our tutorial on the Flax? It goes through where the raglan increases occur etc.
November 7, 2015 @ 8:15 am
I am stuck on starting the rows with Kfb..I can co the stitch but keeping up on reading the pattern for each row is difficult!!! there muct be an easier way to state it.
November 11, 2015 @ 3:14 am
I’m not sure what you mean, or how I can help. Is there a specific Tin Can Knits pattern that you’re having trouble with?
October 1, 2015 @ 12:43 pm
Hmmm …I thought I posted a comment to this step in the pattern already …but seems to be a no show …so if I post 2x please ignore :)
The round for the raglan is super confusing. I am not a beginner knitter but this is my first ever top down sweater …hopefully not my last since the needle investment was extreme.
I thought maybe someone else may have had problems understanding this round as well …I have decided I am going to make it up :) like Frank “I did it my way”.
October 2, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
Hi Anne – sorry, which sweater are you referring to? And which round in particular? I’m not sure which one is the raglan round…in which sweater….
November 10, 2014 @ 5:44 am
Hi Alexa and Emily, I’ve just started knitting my first pullover ever (your Flax!) and I love it, no problem understanding kfb, but: You say I should knit to 2 sts before raglan marker, then kfb, k1, then kfb, then knit again to 2 sts before next marker…but when I take the marker off to do the increase, where am I supposed to put it as a reference for the next row? At the k1 stitch? I really can’t understand it and my increase looks awful!! I hope I was clear…Thank you so much.
November 21, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
You shouldn’t need to remove a marker, it will just sit in your work. You can work a Kfb without removing the marker
March 12, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
I’m working on flax also and I’m at
Setup round 1: [kfb, knit to 2 sts before raglan marker, kfb, k1] 4 times [8 sts inc – 2 per section
This is my FIRST attempt to make a sweater I went with your pattern because they are easy to understand but I don’t understand this completely , when it says 2 sta before raglan marker does “raglan marker” mean all 4 markers that I have in my work? And I assume
8 sts inc Means that I have increased by 8 sts?
Confuzzled lol!!!!!
March 14, 2016 @ 10:42 pm
I think you may be over thinking it ;-) Yes, the 4 markers are your raglan markers, and you are increasing 2 stitches 4 times, 8 sts increased in that round.
Let’s Knit a Sweater | Tin Can Knits
September 7, 2014 @ 9:37 pm
[…] Yoke of the sweater is created by increasing (with a kfb) at 8 points on the sweater, 2 sts increased for each sleeve and 2 sts increased on the front and […]