YO (Yarn Over)
YO means wrapping the yarn over the needle before the next stitch, creating both a new stitch and a small hole. Fundamental to lace knitting.
Explanation
YO (yarn over) is worked by bringing the yarn over the needle before knitting the next stitch, without knitting a stitch out of the wrap itself. This increases the stitch count by one while creating a small, decorative hole in the fabric. YO is the basic building block of lace knitting and many decorative patterns, and is almost always paired with a matching decrease (like k2tog or ssk) elsewhere in the round to keep the total stitch count stable.
Also known as: Yarn Over, yo
How to make a yarn over
Bring the yarn over the right needle without working a stitch, then knit the next stitch as usual. On the following row the yarn over is worked as an ordinary stitch, leaving a hole.
Between two knit stitches the yarn goes front to back over the needle. Between a knit and a purl, the yarn has to travel an extra time around — otherwise the yarn over disappears.
Holes on purpose
The yarn over is the only increase that deliberately makes a hole, which makes it the building block of all lace. It is also used for buttonholes and for decorative increases along shawl spines.
An accidental yarn over is at the same time the most common reason a stitch count suddenly grows. An extra stitch with a small hole beneath it is nearly always this.
Common mistakes
- Making a yarn over unintentionally when the yarn crosses the needle.
- Forgetting the extra wrap when the yarn over falls between a knit and a purl.
Keywords
- yarn over
- YO
- lace knitting
Frequently asked questions
Why is my stitch count growing for no reason?
Almost always accidental yarn overs. They look like extra stitches with a small hole beneath them.
How do I make an increase without a hole?
Then a yarn over is not what you want. Use M1L or M1R, which make the stitch from the strand between two stitches and close the hole.