wyib — With yarn in back (Abbreviation)
wyib stands for "with yarn in back" — positioning the working yarn behind the fabric while a stitch, typically a slipped one, is worked, keeping any resulting strand hidden from the public-facing side. It's the counterpart to wyif, which positions the yarn in front instead.
The default most plain slips assume
When a pattern says simply "sl 1" with no yarn-position instruction attached, wyib is the more commonly assumed default in most published patterns, specifically because keeping the strand tucked behind the work is the less visually disruptive choice for a plain slip that isn't meant to show as a colorwork or texture element. Always check a pattern's own stated convention rather than assuming, though, since this default isn't universal.
What changes when a strand is hidden versus shown
A wyib-slipped stitch's strand sits on the wrong side, invisible from the front — functionally useful anywhere a slip needs to happen (as part of a decrease sequence like ssk or psso) without leaving any visible trace on the public face. This is different in purpose from wyif's slips, which deliberately expose the strand as a design element.
Where it shows up
Inside most decrease sequences that begin with a slip step, and in any slip-stitch colorwork or textured pattern that specifically wants the carried strand tucked away rather than shown.
Related abbreviations
- wyif — with yarn in front, the direct counterpart
- ssk / psso — decrease sequences whose initial slip step is typically worked wyib by default
FAQ
Does a decrease like ssk need an explicit wyib instruction, or is it assumed? Almost always assumed rather than explicitly stated — since ssk's slip step exists purely to set up the following knit-together action, not to create a visible strand, patterns rarely bother spelling out wyib for it specifically.
Can wyib strands be seen at all if you look closely at the wrong side of the fabric? Yes — "hidden" means hidden from the public-facing side specifically; the strand is still physically present on the reverse and visible if you turn the fabric over to look.