Short Rows – Wrap and Turn

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The method of short rows is a favourite – I find it the most flexible, as it allows me to design patterns with a wrong side stitch pattern, which other methods of short rows don't always accommodate.

This tutorial is an extract from my first book, 'Going Straight – A New Generation of Knitted Hats', a book which contains many tutorials, including Kitchener and other grafting instructions for eight different combinations, and much more!

Further information about this book can be found here: http://www.woollywormhead.com/going-straight/

The principle of short rows is that a row, or round, isn't complete, and at a given point we stop knitting and turn our work. This allows us to create sculptural effects, which are useful for many things, including the crown shapings in sideways knit Hats.

1) Work the number of stitches specified in the pattern, and then you will be wrapping the next stitch.

2) Bring the yarn forward and slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle.

3) Take the yarn back – you have wrapped the base of the slipped stitch and the yarn is in the right place for the next row.

4) Turn your work, slip the stitch back to the right needle, then carry on knitting as per instructions.

Picking up the Wrap

Once you've worked your short rows, you'll need to pick up the wrap at the relevant point, when you're working across the wrapped stitch, to help hide the short row and leave your work with a neat finish.

5) Knit as instructed until you reach your first wrapped stitch. Pick up the wrap from the front of your work by inserting the needle tip into the wrap from the bottom.

6) Lift the wrap up onto the left working needle, so that it sits next to the slipped stitch as shown.

7) Then knit into the back of both stitches together and slip off the needle as normal.

8) Repeat steps 1 to 3 until all the wrapped stitches have been picked up and worked.

Support

As always, if you have a question about this technique or need some help with it, leave a comment below! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message, but you’re welcome to post in our forums.

The photos in this post were updated on 30 January, 2021.