How to do a yarn forward (yfd) in 5 easy steps

A yarn forward is used in knitting for a few different things from making a button hole or eyelets to thread ribbon or a finger knitted chain through. Learning to knit doesn't have to be hard, to make it easier to understand I have created 5 easy steps to make a yarn forward. Each step by step in the tutorial has a photo to go with it.

[Start of image description for image above: A photo of Arjaye doing a yarn forward with a wooden table in the background. At the top is a white rectangle with the words "Tutorials". At the bottom is a sage green rectangle with the words "How to do a yarn forward in 5 easy steps. End of image description.]

Step by step guide to yarn forward

[Start of image description: A large sage green square in the top left hand corner with the words how to do a yarn forward in 5 easy steps underneath it says by Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits.  On the right and underneath are the steps to do a yarn forward. (each of these steps in written in full in the post below with descriptions for each step). In the bottom left hand corner is the Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]

You can grab your free printable guide on how to do a yarn forward in 5 easy steps here 

1. Knit to where you would like a button hole.

[Start of image description: A wooden table with Arjaye holding a pair of knitting needles knitting with lemon yarn to where she would like to make the button hole. In the bottom left hand corner is Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]

2. To make the yarn forward put the yarn over the top of the needle, so it looks like the photo below:

[Start of image description: A wooden table with Arjaye holding a pair of knitting needles she has grabbed the yarn and put it over the top of the knitting needle to make the yarn over. In the bottom left hand corner is Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]


3. Pick up the yarn and hold the yarn to start knitting again. The yarn forward should look like another stitch like the photo below:

[Start of image description: A wooden table with Arjaye holding the pair of knitting needles ready to knit again.  The yarn forward looks like another stitch. In the bottom left hand corner is Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]


4. Knit to the end of the row.  Knit the next row and when you get to the yarn forward knit as you would normally to create a hole for the button.

[Start of image description: A wooden table with Arjaye holding a pair of knitting needles knitting, she has gotten up to where the yarn forward is which she will knit like a normal stitch. In the bottom left hand corner is Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]

5. The knitted piece will have a tiny hole for the button, as shown in the image below: 

[Start of image description: A wooden table with Arjaye holding a pair of knitting needles knitting she is showing you what the tiny hole for the button hole looks like it is approx the size of a pea. In the bottom left hand corner is Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits watermark. End of image description.]

Below is a close up of the button hole once you have knitted a few more rows after the yarn over.

[Start of image description: A close up of the item knitted in lemon yarn showing what the tiny button hole which is approx the size of a pea looks like after a few more rows have been knitted. End of image description.]


I hope you found the tutorial on how to do a yarn forward in 5 easy steps helpful. If you have any questions please contact me. I'd be happy to help you work through the steps.