Beginner's Guide to Yarn Over in Knitting

The yarn over in knitting is one of those techniques that can transform your projects from basic to breathtaking with just a simple flick of your needle. Whether you're looking to create delicate lace patterns or practical buttonholes, this versatile stitch is an essential skill for knitters at any level.

Ready to add a beautiful new dimension to your knitting? In this beginner-friendly guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about yarn overs—from the basic technique to troubleshooting common mistakes. By the end, you'll be confidently adding those intentional "holes" that give knitted pieces their distinctive charm and professional look!

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What Is a Yarn Over in Knitting?

The yarn over is one of the most basic and versatile techniques in knitting. It creates an intentional hole in your fabric and adds an extra stitch at the same time.

Definition and Basic Function

A yarn over (abbreviated as "YO" in knitting patterns) means bringing your working yarn over your needle between stitches. Unlike normal knitting stitches, a yarn over creates a new stitch without using a previous loop as its base.

When you make a yarn over, you create a small opening in your fabric. This technique is essential for making lace patterns and decorative holes.

You'll often see "YO" in patterns when an increase is needed along with a decorative element. If you're knitting, bring your yarn to the front, then over the needle to the back before working your next stitch.

If you're purling, the yarn goes over the needle from back to front.

How Yarn Overs Create Holes in Fabric

Yarn overs create holes because they lack the structure of a normal stitch. A regular knit or purl stitch pulls yarn through an existing loop, connecting to the previous row.

When you make a yarn over, you drape the yarn over the needle. This creates a gap in your fabric without the usual tension holding stitches together.

The size of the hole depends on your yarn weight and needle size. Thicker yarn and smaller needles create smaller holes.

These decorative openings are the foundation of lace knitting. By combining yarn overs with decreases like k2tog or ssk, you can create patterns of holes that form flowers, leaves, or geometric designs.

How to Perform a Yarn Over

A yarn over is a simple technique that creates an eyelet or hole in your knitting while increasing a stitch. The movement is straightforward but changes slightly depending on which stitches come before and after the yarn over.

Yarn Over Between Knit Stitches

When performing a yarn over between two knit stitches, follow these steps:

1. Complete the knit stitch before the yarn over.
2. Bring the working yarn from the back of the work to the front.
3. Move the yarn over the right needle from front to back.
4. Continue to the next knit stitch with the yarn at the back of the work.

This creates a counterclockwise loop around your right needle. The loop will form a new stitch and a small hole in your work.

After working the next row, you should see an extra stitch on your needle. This is the most common yarn over and often appears in lace patterns.

Yarn Over Between Purl Stitches

For a yarn over between two purl stitches:

1. Complete the purl stitch before the yarn over.
2. Bring the working yarn from the front to the back of the work.
3. Wrap the yarn all the way around the right needle (counterclockwise).
4. Return the yarn to the front of the work for the next purl stitch.

Your working yarn should now be in position to purl the next stitch. The movement creates a complete loop around the needle.

Hold the yarn in front for purl stitches. The yarn over might feel loose at first, but it will stabilize when you work the next row.

Yarn Over Between Knit and Purl Stitches

When moving from a knit to a purl stitch with a yarn over:

1. After completing the knit stitch, keep the yarn at the back.
2. Bring the yarn over the top of the right needle to the front.
3. The yarn is now positioned correctly to purl the next stitch.

For a yarn over between a purl and knit stitch:

1. After the purl stitch, your yarn is in front.
2. Bring the yarn over the top of the needle to the back.
3. The yarn is now positioned to knit the next stitch.

This transition creates the necessary loop while positioning your working yarn for the next stitch. Pay attention to where your yarn starts and where it needs to end up.

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Common Yarn Over Applications

Yarn overs serve many purposes in knitting beyond simply creating increases. They form the foundation for several decorative and functional techniques that can elevate your knitting projects.

Creating Lace Patterns

Lace knitting relies heavily on yarn overs to create its open, airy appearance. When you work a yarn over followed by a decrease like k2tog or ssk, you maintain the same stitch count while creating decorative holes.

This combination forms the basis of most lace patterns. Basic lace motifs often include:

• Feather and Fan: Alternating yarn overs and decreases create wave-like patterns.
• Leaf Patterns: Strategic placement of yarn overs creates leaf shapes.
• Medallions: Circular arrangements of yarn overs form flower-like designs.

In lace knitting, yarn overs are usually worked on the right side rows. The wrong side rows are typically purled without any special treatment of the yarn overs from the previous row.

Decorative Eyelets

You can use yarn overs to create decorative eyelets in your knitting projects. These small holes add visual interest to borders, edges, and within stockinette stitch backgrounds.

Common eyelet applications include:

• Evenly spaced eyelets along hems or cuffs.
• Eyelet rows that separate sections of a garment.
• Decorative bands running through scarves or blankets.

To create a basic eyelet pattern, work [yo, k2tog] repeatedly across a row. This keeps your stitch count steady while creating a line of small holes.

Double yarn overs create larger, more dramatic eyelets. Simply wrap the yarn around the needle twice instead of once. On the following row, work the first loop as a knit stitch and drop the second loop.

Buttonholes

Yarn overs provide a simple method for creating buttonholes in your knitting projects. The basic buttonhole technique uses a yarn over paired with a decrease.

To create a basic buttonhole:

1. Work to where you want the buttonhole.
2. Make a yarn over.
3. Work a decrease (k2tog or ssk).
4. Continue with your pattern.

For larger buttons, you can create wider buttonholes by using multiple yarn overs in a row or binding off several stitches, then casting them on again in the next row.

Match your buttonhole size to your buttons. Test your buttonhole with your actual button before finishing your project.

Troubleshooting Yarn Over Mistakes

Even experienced knitters make yarn over mistakes. Learning to identify and fix these common errors will save you time as you work on your projects.

Missing Yarn Overs

Missing yarn overs can throw off your stitch count and pattern design. Fortunately, you can fix this mistake without starting over by following these simple steps:

If you notice in the next row:

1. Identify where the yarn over should have been placed.
2. Lift the strand between the needles at this spot.
3. Place this strand onto your right needle.
4. Continue knitting as normal with your new yarn over in place.

If you discover several rows later:

1. Insert your crochet hook from front to back where the yarn over should be.
2. Grab the running thread from the row above.
3. Pull it through to create a new loop.
4. Place this loop on your needle.
5. Check and adjust tension in surrounding stitches to maintain evenness.

Loose or Uneven Yarn Overs

Yarn overs that look too loose or uneven can make your knitting appear sloppy. Here's how to achieve consistent results:

1.  Monitor your wrapping technique - maintain even tension as you wrap the yarn.
2. Avoid pulling too tightly on the stitch after a yarn over, which creates excess slack.
3. Make a gauge swatch before starting to practice consistent yarn over tension.
4.  Work yarn overs on knit rows initially if you're struggling with consistency.
5.  Remember that yarn overs naturally look more uniform on knit sides than purl sides.

Fixing Unintentional Yarn Overs

Sometimes you might accidentally create a yarn over where none was intended. Here's how to correct this common mistake:

1. Identify the unintentional yarn over - it appears as an extra loop different from regular stitches.
2. If noticed immediately, simply drop it from your needle without working it.
3. If already worked into it, carefully drop just that stitch down to where the mistake occurred.
4. Use a crochet hook to work the stitch back up correctly.
5. Count stitches frequently to catch mistakes early, especially with multiple yarn overs.
6. Place stitch markers around pattern repeats to quickly notice when stitch counts are off.

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Conclusion: Yarn Over in Knitting

With a little practice, yarn overs will become one of the most valuable techniques in your knitting repertoire. This simple movement opens up a world of possibilities for creating lace, decorative elements, and practical features in your projects.

Don't be discouraged if your first attempts aren't perfect—even experienced knitters occasionally miss a yarn over or struggle with tension. Keep your needles moving, and soon you'll be incorporating this versatile stitch into beautiful designs with confidence!

Ready to expand your fiber arts skills? Check out our Crochet Ideas for Beginners for more creative inspiration!

Frequently Asked Questions: Yarn Over in Knitting

What is the meaning of yarn over?

A yarn over is a knitting technique that creates an extra stitch and a decorative hole in your work. It's an increase method where you wrap yarn around the needle before working the next stitch. This technique forms the foundation of lace patterns, decorative edges, and anywhere you need airy openness.

How to do a yarn over in knitting?

For a yarn over between knit stitches, bring yarn to the front, wrap over the right needle to the back, then knit the next stitch. Between purl stitches, wrap yarn over the right needle and return to front position. For knit-to-purl transitions, bring yarn forward, over, and keep in front; for purl-to-knit, take yarn over the needle to the back.

What is the difference between yarn over and yarn under in knitting?

A yarn over wraps the yarn over the right needle counter-clockwise, creating an open, decorative hole. A yarn under wraps clockwise, producing a tighter, less visible increase. Most patterns specifically call for yarn overs rather than yarn unders.

Is yarn over the same as yarn forward?

Yarn over and yarn forward aren't exactly the same, though often used interchangeably. Yarn forward means bringing yarn from back to front between needles, while yarn over wraps yarn around the needle creating a new stitch. British patterns might use "yfwd" (yarn forward) while American patterns typically use "yo" for yarn over.