How to Knit One Below (K1B) – Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial with Photos

Knit One Below
by Janice Jones
Certified Knitting Instructor
October 2025

Knit One Below, abbreviated k1b, means you insert your needle into the stitch on the row below the one currently on your needle, and knit through it. Then you drop both loops off your needle, forming a longer, textured stitch.

Photo showing where to place the knitting needle when making the Fisherman's Rib (K1B)

You will find that this stitch is stretchier than regular knitting, commonly used in brioche-style designs and in patterns that benefit from expanded visual texture.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn:

  • Exactly how to knit one below (k1b)
  • How it differs from similar stitches 
  • Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
  • Free pattern ideas using this interesting technique

Step-by-Step: How to Knit One Below

Four step tutorial on how to knit one below. This photo represents step one.

Step 1: Insert your right-hand needle into the stitch directly below the first stitch on your left-hand needle.  You’ll see a small “V” just below your top stitch. That’s where you will want to insert your needle.  

Step two of how to do a knit one below

Step 2: Wrap your yarn around the needle as you would for a regular knit stitch.

Step 3 of how to do a knit one below

Step 3: Draw the new loop through from underneath, just as you would for a regular stitch.

Step 4: Slide both the top stitch and the stitch below off the left needle together.

Done! You've made one "knit one below" stitch.

Step four on how to make a knit one below technique

Is “Knit One Below” the Same as “Knit Into the Stitch Below”?

Yes. In most modern patterns, "knit one below" and "knit into the stitch below" are used interchangeably. They both instruct you to knit into the lower stitch, not the one currently on the left needle.

Pattern abbreviations vary:

  • K1B = knit one below
  • Knit into the stitch below = written-out version
  • Sometimes confused with brioche (brk) or KFB (knit front/back)

Common Confusion When Encountering the K1B

It doesn't take much to confuse me, but I found myself confused between the K1B and the KFB, so I thought I'd add this chart in case anyone else got confused.

Abbreviation Stands For Description Common Confusion
K1B Knit One Below You insert your needle into the stitch on the row below the one on your left needle, then knit it as usual. This creates a longer, textured stitch. Often confused with “brioche knit” (BRK) or “knit into the stitch below” — which are sometimes used interchangeably in patterns.
BRK Brioche Knit A brioche-specific technique: knit the stitch together with its yarn-over from the previous row. Creates a thick, double-layered fabric. Looks similar to K1B but includes a yarn-over. Beginners often think K1B and BRK are the same — but brioche has a unique rhythm.
KFB Knit Front and Back An increase stitch: knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch to make two stitches from one. Some confuse KFB with K1B because both “change the stitch,” but KFB increases your stitch count; K1B does not.
Ktbl Knit Through the Back Loop You knit into the back leg of the stitch instead of the front, which twists the stitch and creates a tighter texture. Sometimes confused with K1B because of the unusual needle direction, but it doesn't go into a lower row like K1B.
P1B Purl One Below You purl into the stitch one row below instead of the current one. It complements K1B in some textured or brioche-style patterns. Often used in the same context as K1B in advanced patterns. Beginners may not realize it exists as a matching technique.

Common Mistakes When Doing K1B (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Inserted needle into the wrong space

Solution: Make sure you’re entering the row below, not the top stitch.

Mistake #2: Dropped only one loop

Solution: You must drop both loops (the current stitch and the one below) off the needle at the same time.

Mistake #3: Stitch count is off

Solution: Don’t accidentally create extra loops by knitting into both the top and lower stitches.

Common Stitch Pattern Ideas

Fisherman's rib worked in pinkFisherman's Rib
Thumbnail of the Shaker Rib Knit StitchShaker Rib

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is K1B the same as knitting into the stitch below?

Yes, both terms are used interchangeably in most modern patterns.

Can beginners do the K1B stitch?

Absolutely! It’s just a slight variation on the basic knit stitch that most beginners can master easily,

Is the knit one below used in brioche?

Yes and no — it’s similar, but true brioche includes a yarn over + a special rhythm of stitches.

Can I use K1B in circular knitting?

Yes, just be consistent and check that you’re knitting into the row directly below.

Final Thoughts

Knit one below is a deceptively simple stitch that unlocks a whole world of texture, flexibility, and stretch in your knitting. Whether you’re working from a pattern or just experimenting, it’s a technique worth mastering.

Knit One Below:  Pin for Future Reference

Knit one below knitting instructions, step-by-step in pin imageKnit One Below Technique

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