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Yarn Over – Video Tutorial for Beginner Knitters

Yarn Over – Video Tutorial for Beginner Knitters

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Welcome to a new video from the Gründl Knitting School. This time, it's all about yarn overs. We'll explain what yarn overs are used for, what types of yarn overs there are, and how you can easily knit them. Have fun.

Simple Yarn Over

What does a yarn over do and what is the method used for?

If you want to knit yarn overs for a lace pattern, the general rule is: as soon as a yarn over is knitted, increasing a stitch, another stitch is decreased to prevent your knitting from unintentionally widening.

Yarn overs are used very frequently.

What does a yarn over look like on the front side?

Once you've knitted a yarn over, it appears as a new stitch on your right needle. You've increased a stitch. The yarn over is now visible as a new stitch between your other stitches.

What does a yarn over look like on the back side?

A yarn over is very clearly visible on the back side because there is no stitch under the needle – a hole is visible.

How do I knit a yarn over?

There are two ways to knit a yarn over:

1. Pass the right needle under the yarn so that the yarn runs from front to back over the right needle.

2. Alternatively, you can guide the needle a bit more with your finger and thus loop the yarn from front to back over your right needle. The important thing is that the yarn always runs from back to front.

In principle, yarn overs are possible in both the right-side row and the wrong-side row, depending on the pattern.

That's all there is to it. After you've put your yarn over on the right needle, you can hold it in place a little with your right hand and immediately continue knitting a normal knit stitch.

How do I knit a single yarn over on the back side?

Depending on how you want your yarn over to appear, there are two ways to knit the stitch you created with your yarn over on the back side – it's best to follow the instructions in your knitting pattern.

1. Knit purl/knit through the back loop (depending on whether it's the front or back side):
no hole is created because the stitch becomes tighter

2. Knit normal purl/knit (depending on whether it's the front or back side):
create a lace pattern and an increase

Double Yarn Over

What is a double yarn over?

A double yarn over means that two yarn overs are knitted directly one after the other. If you want to knit a double yarn over, the same principle applies as with a single yarn over – with the difference that two yarn overs are knitted directly one after the other. A double yarn over is needed, for example, for larger holes.

How do I knit a double yarn over?

The needle is passed under the yarn so that the first yarn over is on your right needle. Hold it firmly with your right hand and loop the yarn around the needle again so that there are two yarn overs on your right needle. Hold them in place with your fingers and now continue knitting normally. As with the simple yarn over, double yarn overs are possible in both the right-side row and the wrong-side row, depending on the pattern.

How do I knit a double yarn over on the back side?

Depending on whether the yarn overs are knitted purl through the back loop or normal purl on the back side, either a hole is created or a tight, normal increase is made. Please consult your knitting pattern here.

To create a large hole, both loops are knitted differently. (In general, depending on whether you are on the front or back side: 1st loop knit/purl, 2nd loop knit/purl through the back loop)

This means that in our case, the first stitch you created with a yarn over is knitted purl on the back side, and the second stitch is knitted purl through the back loop. Purl through the back loop means knitting through the back leg of the stitch.

Knitting Patterns with Yarn Overs

Knitting Lace Patterns

Knitting Lace Patterns

Discover the corresponding video now and learn step-by-step how to knit lace patterns.

Knitting Drop Stitches

Discover a thematically related video now and learn step-by-step how to knit a drop stitch pattern.

Knitting Projects with Yarn Overs

To help you immediately apply your newly learned knitting technique, we have listed three projects that include yarn overs. Have fun knitting! Socks, triangular shawl, or scarf – what will you choose?

Knit Your First Scarf – at Gründl Knitting School

You can download the free pattern here and order the matching yarn in the colors of your choice at the same time.