How to Work a Double Yarn Over

By Jen Lucas

a pink and a blue knitting project showing a double yarn over

Double yarn overs are a fun stitch, commonly used in lace knitting. You can find tons of knitting stitch patterns that contain these large holes, and it’s fun to incorporate them into your knitting projects.

Twice Around The Needle

A double yarn over is created by working two yarn overs right next to each other. Sometimes these yarn overs can be used as increases in a project or they can be paired with decreases to create a lace pattern.

close up of knitting instructor showing a double yarn over stitch with blue yarn

The double yarn over is worked by bringing the yarn around the needle twice on the Right Side.

On the Wrong Side

When you come to the double yarn overs on the Wrong Side Row, you’ll need to knit into one yarn over and purl into the next (or vice versa – it’s just important that one of the yarn overs is knit and one is purled on the Wrong Side; they can be done in either order). If you were to try to knit both the yarn overs or purl both the yarn overs, the double yarn over comes unraveled and makes one big stitch, rather than maintaining the two stitches on the needle.

a close up of a completed double yarn over stitch with blue yarn

On the Wrong Side, the first yarn over was knit and the second yarn over was purled.

Make Something!

Once you’ve mastered the double yarn over, you can go forth and knit all sorts of fun knitting projects! For example, check out Rhododendron in our pattern shop. The knitted-on edging of the shawl incorporates double yarn overs to make a pretty and delicate detail to the bottom of the shawl.

a close up of a completed pink shawl using double yarn over stitch

Check out Rhododendron in the pattern shop here.

Related Class: Mastering Stitchwork: Increases & Decreases

Have you tried double yarn overs? Let us know in the comments where you’ve used them in your knitting projects!

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

Make a comment:
characters remaining

8 Responses to “How to Work a Double Yarn Over”

  1. Bonnie

    What if you are knitting in the round? Since you are never working the wrong side, would you still knit one and pearl one?

  2. Sudha Sarda

    Nice work ,love to have patterns I am a knitter so if someone wants me to knit for them it will be great thanks

  3. Rakiya

    Saw your post on how to increase on the knit and purl sides. Thanks.

  4. Hilary Dodds

    I've asked previously, I wished to save the method of using round needles to make a yarn cord, cant remember if it was 3 stitches only can you help please

  5. Denise Barowicz

    It would be helpful to show a video, since that is what u are all about.

  6. Lu

    Unsubscribe to news letter. Please. Thank you

  7. Beverly Lee

    Love to knit.

  8. H A R R I S C E L L

    Can you send a copy of kniting