Yarn Under

Because of how important it is to understand yarn unders, it is described in the Basic Stitches as well as here, at the top of the Basic Stitches category. The information presented in both places is the same. Understanding where the yarn is positioned is key to following the instructions to work stitches.

Yarn under describes the position of the yarn and is considered a type of throw. It does not affect the stitch count, only the position of the yarn. In many basic stitches, yarn unders, specifically the yarn forward and yarn back, are implied in knitting patterns. For example, this pattern:

  • R1 (RS): *K3, P2, K1; rep from * to end
  • R2: *P2, K2, P2; rep from * to end
  • R3: *K1, P2, K3; rep from * to end
  • R4: *P3, K2, P1; rep from * to end
  • R5: *K2, P2, K2; rep from * to end
  • R6: *P1, K2, P3; rep from * to end
implies the following:
  • R1 (RS): *yf K yf K yf K yf P yf P yf K; rep from * to end
  • R2: *yf P yf P yf K yf K yf P yf P; rep from * to end
  • R3: *yf K yf P yf P yf K yf K yf K; rep from * to end
  • R4: *yf P yf P yf P yf K yf K yf P; rep from * to end
  • R5: *yf K yf K yf P yf P yf K yf K; rep from * to end
  • R6: *yf P yf K yf K yf P yf P yf P; rep from * to end
In other stitches, the yarn unders, specifically the yarn in front and yarn in back, are often used to ensure the position of the yarn. This is most often seem in slip stitches.

yarn forward (yf or yfwd)
yarn back (yb)
with yarn in front (wyif)
with yarn in back (wyib)
  • Bring the yarn from the back (behind the peg) to the front (in front of the peg) of the work.

Yarn forwards are done automatically between knit and purl stitches (the yarn is brought in front of the peg to work the knit or purl stitch). It is assumed that the knitter understands that yf is implied to start to work this stitch and thus is not specificed in patterns.

Yarn fowards are also used in fancy patterns but specific instructions are generally given in these circumstances.

  • Take the yarn from the front (in front of the peg) to the back (behind the peg) of the work.

Yarn backs are done automatically between knit tbl (e-wrap) and purl tbl (method 1) stitches (the yarn is taken behind the peg to wrap it and work the knit tbl (e-wrap) stitch). It is assumed that the knitter understands that yb is implied to start to work this stitch and thus is not specificed in patterns. Note that in knit tbl (e-wrap) and purl tbl (method 1) stitches, the yarn changes position to yf and then again to yb to complete a wrap around the peg.

As with yarn fowards, yarn backs are also used in fancy patterns but specific instructions are generally given in these circumstances.

  • Wyif is often found specified with slip stitches when the yarn needs to change positions to the front. This also ensure that it is left on the correct side.

Example of use: slip wyif asks the knitter to bring the yarn forward (yf), slip the stitch and then take the yarn back (yb), so yf slip yb. If the yarn is already in front of the peg at the start of the stitch, leave it there. Remember that if you work a knit or purl stitch afterwards, yf is implied when you start to work the stitch. See yarn forward and yarn back above for more information.

  • Wyib is often found specified with slip stitches when the yarn needs to change positions to the back. This also ensure that it is left on the correct side.

Example of use: slip wyib asks the knitter to bring the yarn back (yb), slip the stitch and then take the yarn front (yf), or yb slip yf. If the yarn is already in back of the peg at the start of the stitch, leave it there. Remember that if you work a knit tbl (e-wrap) and purl tbl (method 1) stitch afterwards, yb is implied when you start to work the stitch. See yarn forward and yarn back above for more information.