Knit, purl, knit increase: KPK all in the same stitch

This tutorial explains an increase method that involves working multiple stitches in a single stitch. A KPK all in the same stitch is a central double increase, working 3 stitches in one stitch, it increases 2 stitches. You may find this type of stitch in lace knitting. Let’s see how it works.

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This tutorial includes:

What IS a KPK increase anyways?

A blue increasing swatch with an increase line down the middle. The increase line has small holes.

A KPK is a central double increase, meaning you are increasing 2 stitches. To increase 2 stitches from just 1 stitch you’re going to work multiple stitches without taking the stitch off the left hand needle. So you’ll knit the stitch (without taking it off the left hand needle), then purl the same stitch (still without taking it off the left hand needle), and finally a regular knit stitch, where you take the stitch off the left hand needle. You use 1 stitch to create 3 stitches, for a gain of 2 stitches.

KPK all in the same stitch video

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How to work a KPK all in the same stitch

Knit the next stitch on the left needle without taking it off.
Bring the yarn to the front of the work between the needles.
Purl the same stitch, the first one on the left needle, without taking it off.
Bring the yarn to the back of the work between the needles and knit that same stitch, the first one on the left needle, finally taking the stitch off the left needle.

A blue swatch on the needles. The stitch on the left needle has been knit, but not taken off the needle. — Knit the first stitch on the left needle without taking it off.

A blue swatch on the needles. The stitch on the left needle has been knit, but not taken off the needle, and the yarn has been moved to the front of the work ready to purl. — Bring the yarn to the front of the work between the needles.

A blue swatch on the needles. The stitch on the left needle has been knit, purled, and knit again, but not taken off the needle. — Bring the yarn to the back of the work between the needles and knit that same stitch, the first one on the left needle, finally taking the stitch off the left needle.

A blue swatch on the needles. The stitch on the right needle has had a knit, purl, knit all worked in the same stitch. — Here’s what it looks like when you’ve just finished a KPK increase.

How does this increase look in an increase line?

As the increases start to stack up you can see how the increase line looks. You can see that the stitch with 3 stitches worked into it tends to stretch a bit, creating a decorative hole.

For this swatch I’ve worked a KPK all in the same stitch every right side row.