Question re y/o in pattern

Pattern Central
1

I’m trying to make a shawl. This is the pattern:

CO 1:
Row 1: K into fr and back-2 sts.
Row 2 and all WS rows-P
Row 3: (K into fr and back of st) twice-4 sts.
Row 5: k2, yo, k2-5 sts.
Row 7: k2, yo, k1, yo, k2-7 st.
Row 9: K2, yo, k to the last 2 st, yo, k2-9 sts.
Rep (Rows 8 and 9) 60 times.

Okay, question:

  1. Is a yo the same as bringing it forward if I’m doing a knit stitch or do I wrap it?
  2. The yo stitches are making holes. How can I get around this? Can I substitute another stitch?

Thanks,
Laura

2

A yo is like making a knit stitch only you don’t have your right needle inserted into a st on the left needle - I call them `air’ stitches. They’re supposed to make holes, it’s quite common to use them in shawls for a lacey effect. If you don’t want to use them you can use a M1 increase instead.