YO Increase at the Edge
A yarn-over increase at the edge of a row produces a small decorative eyelet at the edge — a useful decorative shaping for shawls, scarves, and any garment with a visible side edge.
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Method on a knit row
Knit to one stitch before the end of the row. YO. Knit the last stitch. The yarn-over sits between the last knit stitch and the edge.
Method on a purl row
Purl to one stitch before the end. YO (bring the yarn to the front and over the needle). Purl the last stitch.
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Visual effect
A small open hole at the edge, evenly spaced if increases are worked at every other right-side row. Pairs with a paired YO at the start of the row for symmetric edge increases.
When to use
Triangular shawl increases at the side edges. Decorative scarf shaping. Any time an edge needs both an increase and a visible decorative element.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| yo | yarn over |
| k | knit |
Tips
- Use YO increases at the edge for decorative shaping; use M1 increases for invisible shaping.
- Pair edge YOs at both ends of a row for symmetric shaping.
- Block aggressively to set the eyelets.
In depth
Edge YO increases are the simplest decorative shaping in shawl knitting. The combination of an increase and an eyelet in a single motion makes them a popular choice for top-down triangular shawls and any garment where a visible edge is part of the design.