TIp Tuesday: The Yarn Over Stitch (yo)

The yarn over (yo) knitting increase is an easy way to add a stitch to the following row of your knitting. But it is not an invisible increase in your work. The yo increase is used to not only increase your stitches but to also add a beautiful eyelet detail into your knitting. In our Wayfarer pattern for example, the yo stitch is used to create a lace design throughout the work. The design is created in your knitting simply by decreasing stitches before and after the yo stitch. 

Understanding the yo + decrease combo opens up the doors to lacework and is easier than you might think!

Yarn over stitches are exactly as they sound. The goal is to bring your yarn over your right hand needle to create a new stitch. For a basic yarn over, the direction that you wrap your yarn around your needle depends on two things. The stitch you made before your yo and the stitch you are about to make after your yo. 

Note, in charts, a yo stitch is indicated by an open circle, as seen here in the Wayfarer pattern. 

To yarn over after a knit stitch and before another knit stitch. Simply bring your yarn to the front of your work as if to purl. Then wrap your yarn over the top of your right needle before continuing to knit the next stitch. 

To yo after a knit stitch but before a purl you start by bring your yarn to the front as if to purl. Wrap your yarn over the top of your right needle until it comes all the way back to the front of your work. Then continue in the pattern to your purl stitch.

When you yo after a purl stitch and before a knit stitch you are beginning with your yarn in front. Wrap your yarn over the top of your right needle to the back of your work before continuing to the knit stitch.

The purl, yo, purl combo is the only one that you will not need for the Wayfarer pattern but it’s just as simple as the rest. Your yarn is starting in the front of your work. Wrap your yarn over the top of your needle and then continue bringing it back around to the front before continuing to the purl stitch.

Things to note…
Yarn overs are NOT the act of knitting or purling your work, it’s the act of moving your working yarn over your needle. 

The goal of a yo is to have your working yarn go over your right needle before you continue with your knitting. If you have gone over your right needle more than once then you have wrapped your yarn around your needle more times than needed for a single yo. 

When you get to the next row in your pattern your yo stitches should be worked the same as any other stitch. 

If you’re new to yarn overs, remember that practice makes perfect! Swatching is lace work’s best friend. Mistakes will happen, but when thinking back your work go slowly as to not miss any yo stitches in the row below. 

Before you know it you’ll be adding yarn overs like a pro!

Happy knitting!