How to Knit a Twisted Yarn Over Stitch
When I first started knitting crescent shawls, I was a bit dismayed to find that one of the wings was consistently longer than the other; the right side wing was always the shorter one.
Curious about this, I investigated and discovered that the issue stemmed from yarn overs worked when switching between knit stitches (k sts) and purl stitches (p sts).
The typical instruction for Row 2 (WS) is as follows: K3, slip marker (sm), yarn over (yo), purl until the next marker, yo, sm, k3. On the wrong side (WS) of a crescent shawl, the first yarn over (yo) during the WS row marks the transition from the garter stitch border (worked in knit stitches) to the stockinette shawl body.
In stockinette stitch on the WS, we use the purl stitch. At the end of the row, we transition back from purl stitches to the knit stitch garter tab border. I noticed that when working a yarn over between knit and purl stitches, the yarn is wrapped around the needle counterclockwise to create a "full" loop, placing the working yarn at the front.
However, between purl and knit stitches, the yarn over behaves differently, creating a "half" loop. While this might be insignificant in a small sample, on a larger project, the missing half of the yarn over can quickly add up, resulting in an uneven shawl.
The solution is simple: wrap the yarn around the needle in the opposite direction, clockwise. This creates a full loop around the needle (similar to the other side) and properly positions the yarn to the back for knitting the next stitches. When you return to the right side (RS) of the work, the yarn over may appear twisted on the left-hand needle. You can use your right-hand needle to reposition the stitch legs before continuing. I call this the twisted yarn over stitch!
The twisted yarn over is a subtle but crucial technique, particularly for shawls made with stockinette stitch that feature yarn over increases on both sides. This method ensures that the yardage used for yarn overs remains consistent on each side of the shawl.
To recap:
Between a knit stitch and a purl stitch: Use a regular yarn over by wrapping the yarn around the needle counterclockwise.
Between a purl stitch and a knit stitch: Use a twisted yarn over by wrapping the yarn around the needle clockwise.