A yarn over is a deliberate loop you create by moving your yarn to make a new stitch

A yarn over (often written as YO in knitting patterns) is the simplest way to add a stitch to your needle and create a hole in your fabric at the same time. Instead of working yarn through an existing stitch, you wrap the yarn around your needle to form a new loop. The hole that results is intentional — it's what makes lace patterns, eyelet details, and decorative openings in sweaters and shawls.

The basic motion is the same every time: you move your working yarn from one side of the needle to the other, then work the next stitch as normal. The yarn over itself counts as a stitch. When you knit or purl the stitch after it, you'll see the loop sit on your needle, and on the next row, that loop becomes a hole.

Key Takeaways

  • A yarn over is made by moving your yarn around the needle without working it through a stitch, creating both a new stitch and a decorative hole.
  • The exact hand motion depends on what stitch comes before and after the yarn over — between knits, between purls, or between a knit and a purl.
  • Yarn overs are used in lace patterns, eyelet buttonholes, and any design where you want a visible opening in the fabric.
  • If you accidentally create a yarn over when you didn't mean to, it shows up as an extra stitch and a hole in the wrong place.

Yarn over between two knit stitches

This is the most common yarn over. After you knit a stitch, your working yarn is at the back of your work. Bring the yarn forward under the right needle (the needle with stitches on it), then take it back over the top of the right needle. Now your yarn is at the back again, ready to knit the next stitch. When you knit that next stitch, the loop you created stays on the needle as a new stitch.

The motion is: yarn forward, then yarn back over the needle. The yarn makes a complete loop around the needle. On the row below, you'll see a hole directly under where you made the yarn over.

Yarn over between two purl stitches

After you purl a stitch, your working yarn is already at the front of your work. Take the yarn back over the right needle, then bring it forward again under the needle. Now your yarn is at the front, ready to purl the next stitch. The loop stays on the needle as a new stitch.

The motion is: yarn back, then yarn forward under the needle. This creates the same hole as a knit-to-knit yarn over, but the hand position is different because you're starting with the yarn in front instead of in back.

Yarn over between a knit and a purl stitch

After you knit a stitch, your yarn is at the back. Bring it forward under the right needle to purl the next stitch. That forward motion is your yarn over — the yarn has already wrapped around the needle. Purl the next stitch as normal.

The motion is straightforward: yarn forward to purl. You don't need an extra wrap because moving the yarn to the front for the purl stitch creates the loop automatically.

Yarn over between a purl and a knit stitch

After you purl a stitch, your yarn is at the front. Take it back over the right needle to knit the next stitch. That backward motion is your yarn over. Knit the next stitch as normal.

The motion is straightforward: yarn back to knit. Moving the yarn to the back for the knit stitch creates the loop without any extra step.

Reading yarn overs in a knitting pattern

Patterns write yarn overs as YO, and they always pair with a decrease stitch — usually a knit two together (K2tog) or slip, slip, knit (SSK). The yarn over adds a stitch; the decrease removes one. Together they keep your stitch count the same while creating the hole. If a pattern says "K5, YO, K2tog," you knit five stitches, make a yarn over, then knit two stitches together.

Some patterns use yarn overs in every row to create lace. Others use them only in certain rows for eyelet details. Always count your stitches after the first row of yarn overs to make sure you have the right number — if you have extra stitches, you accidentally made yarn overs where the pattern didn't call for them.

Common mistakes with yarn overs

The most frequent error is accidentally making a yarn over when you didn't intend to. This happens when you move your yarn to the front or back between stitches without meaning to create a loop. If you bring your yarn forward to purl but then knit the next stitch instead, you've made an accidental yarn over. The result is an extra stitch and a hole in the wrong place.

Another mistake is forgetting to pair the yarn over with a decrease. If you add a yarn over without removing a stitch somewhere else in the row, your stitch count climbs by one each time. By the end of a lace section, you'll have far more stitches than you should. Always check your pattern to see which decrease goes with each yarn over.

Loose yarn overs are also common, especially in lace. If the loop is too big, the hole looks sloppy. Keep even tension on the yarn as you wrap it around the needle, and make sure the stitch after the yarn over is snug enough to frame the hole neatly.

Where yarn overs appear in real projects

Lace shawls use yarn overs in almost every row, creating patterns of holes that form geometric or organic designs. Eyelet buttonholes in cardigans and baby garments use a single row of yarn overs paired with decreases to create a line of small holes for buttons. Leaf motifs, fern patterns, and snowflake designs all rely on yarn overs to make the openings that define the shape.

Even straightforward projects like socks or hats sometimes include a single yarn over for decoration or function — a small eyelet for a drawstring, or a row of holes as a design detail. Once you understand the basic motion, you can read any pattern that uses them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a yarn over and accidentally dropping a stitch?

A yarn over is intentional — you create a new loop by moving the yarn around the needle. A dropped stitch is an accident where a loop falls off the needle entirely. A dropped stitch leaves a gap that runs down multiple rows; a yarn over creates a single hole in one row and sits securely on the needle.

Do I count a yarn over as a stitch?

Yes. A yarn over creates a new stitch on your needle. That's why lace patterns always pair yarn overs with decreases — you add one stitch with the yarn over and remove one with the decrease, keeping the total count steady.

Can I fix a yarn over I made in the wrong place?

If you notice it in the same row, you can drop back to that stitch, unravel it, and fix it. If it's already a few rows back, it's usually easier to keep going and accept the hole, or frog (rip out) back to that row and start over. Prevention is simpler than repair.

Why does my yarn over look bigger than the holes in the pattern picture?

Loose tension is the usual cause. The stitch after the yarn over should be pulled snug to frame the hole neatly. If you're pulling too gently on that next stitch, the loop stays loose and the hole looks oversized. Tighten up slightly on the stitch when ready after each yarn over.

Do I always have to decrease after a yarn over?

In lace and eyelet patterns, yes — you decrease to keep your stitch count the same. In some textured patterns, yarn overs might be paired with other shaping techniques, but they're almost always paired with something that removes a stitch. Check your pattern to see where the decrease belongs.