Yarn Forward and Yarn Back

The yarn forward and yarn back is a way to manipulate the yarn to make interesting patterns. A yarn forward brings the yarn to the front of your work and a yarn back takes it to the back of your work. Some stitch patterns that use this technique are mentioned at the bottom of this post and can be found in the Stitch Library.

How to Yarn Forward and Yarn Back

The Yarn Forward

1. Get to the point in your work where you need to yarn forward.

Continental

English

2. Pass the yarn between your needles bringing it to the front

Continental

English

3. Continue with the next stitch.

The Yarn Back

1. Get to the point in your work where you need to yarn back.

Continental

English

2. Pass the yarn between your needles taking it to the back

Continental

English

3. Continue with the next stitch.

Reading the Stitch in a Project

As this is a way to manipulate the yarn rather than a stitch the only real way to read this in a project is to look at where a knit stitch is next to a purl stitch.

Reading the Stitch in a Pattern

In a written pattern the yarn forward is abbreviated to ‘yf’ or ‘yfwd’ and the yarn back is abbreviated to ‘yb’.

Stitch Combinations

Plain Rib                 Labyrinth                                 Plain Diamonds

Embossed Diamonds         Dot Stitch                                 Farrow Rib

Box Stitch                 Moss Stitch                         Double Moss Stitch

Oblique Rib         Lizard Lattice                         Stocking Stitch Triangles

Cross Motif Pattern         Moss Stitch Parallelograms                         Moss Stitch Triangles

Moss Stitch Squares         Chevron Stripes                                 Hexagon Stitch

Moss Stitch Diagonal         Seed Stitch Checks                         Moss Stitch Panes

Vertical Zigzag moss stitch         Top Hat Pattern                                 Diagonal Garter Ribs

Checkerboard         Beaded Rib                         Two-Stitch Ribs

Four-stitch Ribs                 fleck stitch                                 double basket weave

Maze Pattern         Double Parallelogram Stitch                         Double Signal Check

King Charles Brocade         Garter Stitch Triangles                                 Diagonals

Diamond and Block         Divided Triangles                         Purl Triangles

Textured Triangle Stack         Moss Stitch Diamonds                         Check Stitch

Double Fleck Stitch         Garter Stitch Checks                         Moss Stitch Double Parallelograms

Flag Pattern         Reverse Stocking Stitch Chevrons         Ladder Stitch

Small Basket Stitch         Double Moss Stitch Triangles         Dotted Ladder Stitch

interrupted rib         uneven rib                         stocking stitch checks

ridged rib                 Lattice Stitch                 Slanting Diamonds

Steps         Harbour Flag                 Basket Weave

Alternating Triangles         Triple Wave                         Purled Ladder Stitch

Broken Rib                 Moss Rib                         Garter Stitch Steps

Ridge and Furrow         Divided Boxes                         Tile Stitch

Diagonal Checks        Diagonal Rib 1                         Diamond Net Mask

Moss Panels         Anchor                 Moss Diamonds

Pyramid Triangles         Unusual Pattern Check                 Chevron Rib

Woven Stitch 2                 Centipede Stitch                         Caterpillar Stitch

Little Chevron Rib         Waffle Stitch                 Horizontal Dash Stitch

Diagonal Rib 2                 Large Basket Weave                         Broken Rib Diagonal

Stripe Pillars         Diamond Panels                         Textured Tiles

Enlarged Basket Stitch         Chevron                         Intertwined Texture Stitch

Bobble Rib                 Pique Rib                         Ladder Tile

Spiral Rib                 Dotted Chevron                         Tweed Pattern

Diamond Pattern                 Pyramids 2                 Zigzag Stitch

Spaced Checks                 Fancy Diamond                         Berry Ladder

Slanted Bamboo                 Squares                         Crossroad Squares

Triangle Ribs         Ocean Wave                 Elongated Chevron

Moss Stitch Zigzag      Close Checks