Yarn Over - Knitting

Yarn overs are used in various knitting techniques. They are most often used in lace knitting to create an airy and light effect, although they are also used to create a row of holes for threading drawstrings, a decorative increase, the picot edge in picot hems, and for other decorative techniques such as knotted i-cord.

Working a yarn over before a knit stitch

Abbreviations

O (over) YO (yarn over) “Wool over” and “thread over” are also used in older British patterns.

How to work it

Bring your yarn to the front of your work between the needles and

knit the next stitch/es according to your pattern. The next stitch might be “knit 1”, “knit 2 together”, “knit 3 together”, “slip 1, k1” and so on.

Working a yarn over before a purl stitch

Abbreviations

O (over) YO (yarn over) WRN (wool round needle) YRN (yarn round needle) Thread round needle

In antique patterns, especially those from the Victorian era, a yarn over made after a knit stitch and before a purl stitch was often written as “over twice” (or a variation), even though you are only supposed to work a single yarn over.

How to work it

If the stitch you worked before your yarn over is a knit stitch, bring your yarn to the front of your work between the needles.

If the stitch you worked before your yarn over is a purl stitch your yarn will already be at the front of your work.

Bring your yarn over the right hand needle and back to the front of your work and

purl the next stitch/es according to your pattern. The next stitch might be “purl 1”, “purl 2 together”, “purl 3 together”, “slip 1, p1” and so on.

Working a yarn over at the beginning of a row before a knit stitch

Bring your yarn to the front of your work and

knit the first stitch/es according to your pattern

Working a yarn over at the beginning of a row before a purl stitch

Twist a loop in your yarn and put it on your right hand needle.

Purl the first stitch/es according to your pattern.

Working multiple yarn overs

To work a multiple yarn over repeat the appropriate yarn over action however many times the pattern states before working your next stitch.

For this example I have worked “yarn over three times”, worked before a knit stitch. This has created three loops around my needle.