can I use a different kind of increase?

[Duessa]

for this pattern http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTunbiased.html
Can I use a different kind of increase other than knitting into the front and back of the stitch? I knit pretty tight and this makes it much worse. I usually do the one where you just wrap it around your thumb and add it to the needle. Will this be ok?

[of troy]

yes--
and no

yes, it will work
but be aware it will make a subtle difference in the overall look of the finished object.

generally speaking you can sub--but sometimes subs can change the over all look (obviously a YO that replaces a K front and back will make a big change!)

but that make 1 (an EZ make one --EZ= Elizabeth Zimmerman, a well known knitting guru) will make a very small difference..

Its my favorite increase, too!

[suzeeq]

You can use which ever inc you're comfortable with, though a YO will create a hole, but you could knit it through the back loop on the next row.

[MerigoldinWA]

The backwards loop increase that you indicated you like is not a YO and will work fine in your situation. I guess you can change to most any increase you like but Suzeeq and Troy are pointing out that if you chose a YO increase it would make a hole, but that is not what you were purposing.

[Duessa]

Thank you everyone! I was so excited when I found this pattern because I've always wanted a bag like this and they are so expensive! I can't bring myself to actually buy one of these purses. lol But I saw that increase and I just can't make it work well. You are all great! Thanks so much!

[Duessa]

Another quick question about this pattern. Does anyone know what kind of weight the yarn they use in the pattern is? I have no clue where to find that yarn but I don't know what to subsitute with!

[suzeeq]

Looking at the gauge on the pattern, you could use a worsted.

[Duessa]

Thanks so much! You are so fast. lol