Knitting irregular shapes by increasing, decreasing and partial knit

On a (domestic) knitting machine, you knit row by row, using all selected needles. However, by increasing and decreasing the amount of needles you can adjust the shape of your knitted piece. You are then editing the width of the piece. You can also do partial knit, which means that some needles will stay on hold while other needles continue knitting. You some parts of your piece then become longer than other parts. 

These techniques create irregular and non-rectangular shapes. These techniques are used in garment knitting, to create pattern pieces without any waste (as no cutting is required). On a single bed knitting machine, you can do a sleeve, for example. On double bed machines (often digital and industrial ones), full garments are knitted at once.

Below you will find the steps of increasing, decreasing and partial knit. If you prefer video manuals, there are some useful video's on the page Casting on, binding off and knitting: video's as well.

Increasing a single stitch

1. Increase on the side of the carriage: push the first needle next to your knit from A to E.
2. Knit one row, the empty needle will pick up the thread
3. Knit another row and the stitch will form.

Increasing a single stitch, the "fully fashioned method"

1. Pick up and move the outer stitch to the next empty needle, leaving an open needle inbetween your stitches.
2. Pick up the loop underneath the empty needle and lift it onto the empty needle.

Increasing several stitches at a time

1. Increase on the side of the carriage: push several needles next to your knit from A to E.
2. Wind the yarn (loosely!) around the needles, using a similar technique to the e-wrap. Important: leave the last needle empty: pass the yarn underneath. Then knit.
   

Decreasing a single stitch

1. Pick up an outer stitch.
2. Latch your tool onto the next needle with a stitch and add your picked up stitch.
3. Move the empty needle backwards, to position A.

Partial knitting