The stitch pattern of Morana Mittens contains a very unusual couple of increases. To create "leaves", growing from the "stem", we need to cross the stitches and make the 2-stitches increase at the same time.
When you work it for the first time, it is just a bit fiddley, so I recommend trying and practicing on the swatch first. Once you familiarize yourself with the steps, proceed to the actual mittens. Thankfully, we need to perform these symmetrical increases only twice per mitten. 🙂
Let's start with RLI or Right Leaf Increase.
1. Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to back.
2. Work the increase into the next stitch on the left needle as follows: knit 1 stitch through the back of the loop (don't slip this loop off the left needle)...
3. ... and then to the front loop of the same stitch. Slip the stitch off the left needle. Notice the vertical strand that runs down between newly made stitches?
4. Insert the left needle behind this vertical strand from left to right and knit 1 stitch through the back loop of this strand to make the third stitch. Slip the loop off the left needle. We now successfully worked 3 stitches into one, thus increasing 2 knit stitches.
5. Now purl the 2 stitches from the cable needle. The RLI is done!
And now let's make the LLI or Left Leaf Increase. It has the same logic!
Slip 1 stitch onto cable needle and hold to front.
2. Purl the next 2 stitches.
3. Work the increase into stitch, held on cable needle as follows: knit 1 stitch through the back of the loop (don't slip this loop off the left needle) and then to the front loop of the same stitch. Slip the stitch off the left needle.
4. Insert the left needle behind the vertical strand that runs downward between 2 new stitches from left to right and knit 1 stitch through the back loop of this strand to make the third stitch. Slip the loop off the left needle. The 2-stitch increase is done!
5. And our LLI increase is also in the bag!
