This is an alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 2 is added to each number to arrive at the next; in the alternate pattern, 6 is subtracted from each number to arrive at the next.
This is an alternating addition series with a random number, 4, interpolated as every third number. In the main series, 1 is added, then 2 is added, then 1, then 2, and so on.