Yarn-Over (YO)

What is yarn-over? Yarn-over is a method for increasing a stitch. It is an essential increase method to all lace patterns in knitting.

A yarn-over increase is made by simply winding the yarn once around the right needle. We can make one stitch by Yarn-Over between two knit stitches, two purl stitches, after a knit stitch and before a purl stitch or after a purl stitch and before a knit stitch.

I am going to show you the way I make a Yarn-Over with the above mentioned methods respectively.

First, take the yarn on the knit stitch that you have created at the right needle, bring it forward (facing to your body) between the two needles. Then return it to the back of the right needle, the yarn is wrapped from front to back on the right needle as shown is the first photo. Now the yarn is in the correct position for you to knit the next stitch as usual until the end of the row.

One stitch is increased between two knit stitches. Look at the arrow shown in the second photo, you will find that this increase method creates a hole between two knit stitches. Anyway this is the way we usually use to create lace patterns in knitting.


 

First, take the yarn on the purl stitch that you have created at your right needle, wrap it over the top of the right needle counterclockwise. Now the yarn is in the correct position for you to purl the next stitch as usual until the end of the row.

One stitch is increased between two purl stitches. Look at the arrow shown in the second photo, you will find that this increase method also creates a hole between two purl stitches.

Bring the yarn forward between the two needles and then wrap the yarn over the right needle counterclockwise, again the yarn is brought forward between the two needles. The yarn is now in front of the right needle for pulling the next stitch.

One stitch is increased after a knit stitch and before a purl stitch. Look at the arrow shown in the second photo, you will find that there is a hole between the knit stitch and the purl stitch.

 The yarn is in front of the right needle after you work a purl stitch. Take it up over the top of the right needle to the back and knit the next stitch. Automatically, an extra stitch is created.

One stitch is increased after a purl stitch and before a knit stitch. Look at the arrow shown in the second photo, you will find that there is a hole between the purl stitch and the knit stitch.