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.
