YON stands for yarn over needle. It is a knitting instruction directing the maker to drape the working yarn over the top of the right-hand needle before working the next stitch. This action adds a new loop to the needle, which increases the total stitch count by one and creates an intentional eyelet hole in the finished fabric. Pattern writers frequently use it in lace designs to form open, airy textures.
Heard on the job
Row four is just knit three, YON, purl two together across the whole body.
Insider tip
British knitting patterns traditionally use YON specifically when transitioning from a purl stitch to a knit stitch, whereas American patterns often group all such wraps under a general yarn over.
Also heard as
- yarn over needle