A yarn over is a deliberate loop you create by wrapping yarn around your needle to add stitches and make decorative holes

A yarn over (abbreviated YO in knitting patterns) is one of the simplest techniques in knitting, but it looks more complicated than it is. You wrap working yarn around your needle to create a new loop, which adds a stitch to your row and leaves a small hole in the fabric. That hole is intentional—yarn overs are the foundation of lace patterns, eyelet details, and decorative openings in sweaters and shawls.

The basic motion takes two seconds once you understand the direction. The wrapping direction changes slightly depending on whether you're working on a knit stitch or a purl stitch, but the principle is the same: yarn goes around the needle, and the next stitch secures it in place.

Key Takeaways

  • A yarn over wraps working yarn around your needle to create a new stitch and a decorative hole in one motion.
  • For a yarn over before a knit stitch, bring yarn to the front of your work, then knit the next stitch normally—the yarn automatically wraps around the needle.
  • For a yarn over before a purl stitch, wrap yarn around the needle from front to back, then purl the next stitch.
  • Yarn overs are used in lace patterns, eyelet buttonholes, and decorative details, and they always increase your stitch count by one.
  • If your yarn over looks twisted or uneven, check that you wrapped in the correct direction for the stitch that follows it.

Yarn Over Before a Knit Stitch (the most common version)

This is the yarn over you'll use most often. Bring your working yarn to the front of your work (between the needles, toward you). Then knit the next stitch as normal—insert your right needle into the stitch, wrap yarn around, and pull through. When you do this, the yarn naturally wraps around your right needle, creating the new loop.

The key is that your yarn is already in front when you knit. The knit stitch itself completes the wrap. You don't need to do anything extra—just move your yarn forward and knit. That's it.

Yarn Over Before a Purl Stitch

Before a purl stitch, you need to wrap the yarn around the needle deliberately because purl stitches work differently. Bring yarn to the back of your work (away from you), then wrap it around your right needle from front to back—going over the top of the needle. Then purl the next stitch normally.

Think of it as a full wrap: yarn comes from the front, goes over the needle, and ends up in back ready for the purl. The purl stitch then secures that wrap in place.

Why Yarn Overs Create Holes

A yarn over adds a stitch without decreasing one elsewhere (unless the pattern tells you to decrease). This extra stitch has to go somewhere, and it creates a small opening in the fabric. That opening is the decorative hole you see in lace patterns.

If you're making a lace shawl or an eyelet buttonhole, those holes are the whole point. If you accidentally yarn over when the pattern doesn't call for it, you'll create an unwanted hole and throw off your stitch count, so always check your pattern before each row.

Reading Yarn Over Symbols in Patterns

Patterns use "YO" as shorthand, sometimes written as "yo" or "Y.O." You might also see a small circle (○) in charted patterns, which represents a yarn over. When you see YO in your pattern instructions, it means "create a yarn over at this point in the row."

Some patterns group yarn overs with decreases—for example, "K2tog, YO" means knit two stitches together (which decreases by one), then yarn over (which increases by one), keeping your stitch count the same while creating a hole. This is how lace patterns maintain their width while building decorative openings.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The most common mistake is wrapping yarn in the wrong direction before a purl stitch. If your yarn over looks twisted or sits at an odd angle, you likely wrapped it backward. Twisted yarn overs still count as stitches, but they look sloppy. Redo the row if you're early enough, or accept it and move forward—one twisted yarn over won't ruin your project.

Another mistake is forgetting to move your yarn to the correct position before the yarn over. If you're supposed to yarn over before a knit stitch but your yarn is still in back, you'll accidentally purl instead. Always check your yarn position before you start the stitch that follows the yarn over.

If you're losing stitches or your fabric is getting wider than expected, you may be creating accidental yarn overs. This usually happens when you move yarn between stitches without meaning to. Keep yarn tension consistent and move it deliberately only when the pattern calls for a yarn over.

Using Yarn Overs in straightforward Lace Patterns

Lace patterns combine yarn overs with decreases to create repeating designs. A basic lace repeat might look like: knit 2, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit 2. The yarn over creates a hole, and the knit 2 together removes a stitch, so your row stays the same width. Repeat this sequence across the row, and you get a line of evenly spaced holes.

Eyelet buttonholes use a single yarn over surrounded by decreases. For a small buttonhole, you might do: knit to the buttonhole spot, yarn over, knit 2 together, then continue. The hole created by the yarn over is just big enough for a small button to pass through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to decrease after every yarn over?

No. Yarn overs add stitches, so if you don't decrease elsewhere, your row will have more stitches than you started with. Lace patterns pair yarn overs with decreases to keep stitch count steady. But if your pattern calls for yarn overs without decreases, your fabric will intentionally get wider—this is normal for some shawl and edging patterns.

What if I yarn over but the hole doesn't show?

The hole may be too small to see, especially in thick yarn or tight knitting. Yarn overs are always there—they're structural increases. If you're making lace and the holes aren't visible, try loosening your tension slightly or using thinner yarn so the openings are more obvious.

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

If you catch it on the same row, drop the stitch and redo it. If it's several rows back, you can either frog (rip out) back to that point or leave it—one misplaced yarn over usually won't be noticeable in a finished project unless it's in a very visible spot.

Is there a difference between a yarn over and an accidental hole?

Yes. A yarn over is intentional and creates a neat, defined hole with a loop edge. An accidental hole from dropped stitches or loose tension looks ragged and unfinished. Yarn overs are always part of the stitch structure; accidental holes are damage.