Glossary / Yarn over (crochet)
yoYarn over (crochet)
Wrapping the yarn around the hook, the single move every crochet stitch is built from.
Also written: yoh, yrh
How to work it
Pass the working yarn over the hook from back to front, so it catches in the throat of the hook ready to be pulled through. Nearly every crochet instruction is a sequence of yarn overs and pull-throughs: a chain is one of each, a single crochet is two of each, and taller stitches simply add more yarn overs at the start. UK patterns often write it yrh, for yarn round hook.
US and UK
This stitch is also called yrh (UK). Always check which term set a pattern uses before you start, since the same name can mean a different stitch across the two.
Common confusions
What does yo mean?
In crochet patterns, yo means Yarn over (crochet). Wrapping the yarn around the hook, the single move every crochet stitch is built from.
Is a crochet yarn over the same as a knitting yarn over?
No, and this is the most common cross-craft mix-up. In crochet a yarn over is just how you catch the yarn to make any stitch, and it adds nothing to your count. In knitting a yarn over is a deliberate increase that adds a stitch and leaves an eyelet. Same words, completely different job.
Which direction do I wrap the yarn?
Back to front, over the top of the hook. Wrapping the other way twists the stitch and makes the loops sit crossed, which shows up as a slightly tighter, uneven fabric. If your stitches look twisted at the top, the wrap direction is the first thing to check.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Yarn over (crochet) | yo |
| Español | Lazada (ganchillo) | no standard code |
| Deutsch | Umschlag (Häkeln) | U |
| Français | Jeté (crochet) | jeté |
| Italiano | Gettato (uncinetto) | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 糸をかける（かぎ針編み） | no standard code |
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted