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How to Yarn Over (YO) Continental Style

The Wrap (Yarn Over)
Wrapping To Create Stitches

To perform a yarn over (yo), simply wrap the yarn around the right hand needle the same way you would as when making a knit stitch.
When performing a yarn over in the middle of a row that you are primarily purling, be sure to wrap the yarn all the way around the needle (in the same direction that you normally wrap). It can seem like you are wrapping more than when you YO on a knit row, so make sure after you work the next stitch that you've only created a single yarn over.

Yarn Over By Another Name (Wyf, Wyb)
The most common way to describe a yarn over is the YO abbreviation. However, I have seen patterns that tell you to move the yarn front or back, such as 'wyf' = 'working yarn front' or 'wyb' = 'working yarn back' followed by a knit or purl instruction, which then produces a yarn over. This is the same way that beginners often accidentally produce yarn overs -- by having the yarn in front when knitting or in back when purling. 

How to SSK (slip slip knit) decrease continental style
ssk continental
How to decrease SSK (slip slip knit) continental style
The SSK (slip slip knit) stitch is done by first adjusting the stitch mount and then knitting stitches together.
Next Step >
Alternate Step: How to YO (yarn over) increase english style
yo english
How to increase YO (yarn over) english style
The YO (yarn over) stitch is simply wrapping the yarn around the RHN (right hand needle) to create a new stitch.
Alternate Step >

How to increase KFB (knit front and back) continental style
kfb continentalHow to increase KFB (knit front and back) continental style
The back of the stitch is the part that is facing away from you. You knit into this right after you knit into the front, before dropping the stitch off the LHN (left hand needle).

< Previous Step

Advanced Step: How to tension the yarn for continental knitting
tension continental knittingHow to tension the yarn for continental knitting
If you want to learn to continental knit, this video will help you understand how to hold the yarn in your hands to be the most successful at it.

Advanced Step >

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tink unknitHow to Tink (unknit)
How to Tink (unknit)
Learning to tink is just as important as learning how to knit. It is learning how to unknit. We all make mistakes, the key is knowing how to recognize when you've made them and recover quickly.

Learn to Tink
psso continentalHow to decrease PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) continental style
How to PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) continental style
The PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) stitch is also called SKP (slip knit pass) in some patterns. Either way it's the same decrease stitch.

Learn to PSSO

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