Quick fix: Tink back to the missed yarn over, deliberately bring the yarn over the needle to create the YO, then continue the row. You cannot add a missing yarn over after the fact without tinking back first.
What you are seeing
In a lace pattern, a missed yarn over (YO) creates an unexpected solid stitch where an eyelet (hole) should appear. The lace pattern looks wrong — a solid knit stitch sits where the decorative hole should be, throwing off the repeat.
Why it happens
- Moving too quickly through a lace repeat and forgetting to bring the yarn forward before the YO
- Confusing which step is the YO and which is the actual knit stitch
- Losing place in the lace chart and skipping the YO step
Fix it now
- Identify exactly where the YO was missed by comparing to the lace chart — find the solid stitch where a hole should be.
- Tink back stitch by stitch to just before the position where the YO should have been.
- Bring the yarn to the front (or over the needle, depending on what follows the YO in the pattern).
- Work the YO: bring yarn over the needle from front to back, or wrap as the pattern specifies.
- Continue the row following the chart exactly.
- Count stitches at the end of the row to confirm the repeat is correct.
Prevent it next time
- Use a lifeline at the start of every lace repeat row — if you make a mistake, you can frog safely to the lifeline.
- Say the row instructions aloud as you work: "k2tog, YO, k3" — the verbal cue keeps you on track.
- Use a magnetic board with a chart row guide so you never lose your place in the lace repeat.