Yarn Over Short Row

Today is the day to talk about the Yarn Over short row technique.  To those not hip to what's been going around here the last few days, let me fill you in.  Last week, nona decided to conduct a Short Row Experiment.  In this experiment, I knit 3 swatches using 3 different short row techniques -- the wrapped stitch short row, the yarn over short row, and the Japanese short row.  You can find the results of the experiment and directions for the swatch here and details about the wrapped stitch short row here.

Now back to the Yarn Over short row technique.  I first discovered a variation on this technique when knitting footlet socks from the toe to cuff.  This technique is easy to execute and produces a nice result.  Let's take a look at how the Yarn Over technique handles the turning point and closing the gap.   

Yarn Over Technique - Front and Back

Turning Point
Each short row has a turning point, where the knitting is turned without completing the row. 

On the knit side:

• Knit to the turning point in the row
• Turn - you're now on the purl side with the yarn in front
• Backward Yarn Over - take the yarn to the back between the needles and then over the right needle to bring the yarn to the front.
• Continue

On the purl side:

• Purl  to the turning point in the row
• Turn - you're now on the knit side with the yarn in back
• Yarn Over - take the yarn to the front between the needles and then over the right needle to bring the yarn to the back
• Continue

Knit and purl turning points -- notice the yarn overs

Closing the Gap
A gap is formed at each turning point, which is closed when the gap is next encountered.  With the Yarn Over technique the gap is quite noticeable due to the yarn over sitting there.  When you encounter a yarn over, close the gap by working the yarn over with the next stitch.

On the knit side:

• Knit until you reach a yarn over.
• Correct the mount of the yarn over.  If you're wondering what the hell, "correct the mount" means, let nona fill you in.  A stitch is properly mounted if its right leg is in the front of the needle and its left leg in in back.  Look at your yarn over -- see how its left leg is in front of the needle?  Simple turn the yarn over around so its right leg is in front.  Easy!
• Knit the yarn over together with the next stitch.

On the purl side:

• Purl until you reach a yarn over.
• Slip the yarn over, knitwise, to the right needles
• Slip the next stitch, knitwise, to the right needles
• Return both stitches, purlwise, to the left needles
• Purl these 2 stitches together through the back loop.

Knit and purl gaps closed