There are several ways to do short rows and I’ve probably tried most of them—wrap and turn, Japanese, yarn over, make 1—and the one that I prefer has changed over the years. For the past several though, I’ve been a wrap and turn girl. Why? It just seems to be the simplest method for me and never produces a hole.
If you have a different preferred method by all means continue using it! If it looks good and it works for you then that’s all you need.
Wrap & Turn on a knit row
If your pattern says “knit 10, w&t” you would knit 10 sts and then perform the w&t on the 11th stitch as follows:
You’ve now wrapped your stitch (in our example it is stitch number 11) and the working yarn is in the correct place for you to begin working the next row.
Wrap & Turn on a purl row
If your pattern says “purl 10, w&t” you would purl 10 sts and then perform the w&t on the 11th stitch as follows:
You’ve now wrapped your stitch (in our example it is stitch number 11) and the working yarn is in the correct place for you to begin knitting the next row.
IMPORTANT: You DO NOT pick up wraps if you’re working in garter stitch.
Picking up a wrap on a knit row
Picking up a wrap on a purl row
More Like This
Hi! I’m knitting the Cascia Diaper Cover ( https://knotions.com/cascia-diaper-cover-shannon-donald/#comment-13681 ) and I have some questions about the st st short rows… On the part “Back Wing/Seat of Wrap; St St Short Rows” it says:
“Row 1 (RS): CC: k4 (4, 4, 6, 6), MC: k to second stitch marker (first marker after st 18 and second marker after st 41), w&t.
Row 2 (WS): MC: p to stitch marker, w&t.
Row 3: MC: k until 4 (4, 4, 6, 6) sts rem, working wrap with st, CC: k4 (4, 4, 6, 6).
Row 4: CC: k4 (4, 4, 6, 6), MC: p until 4 (4, 4, 6, 6) sts rem, working wrap with st, CC: k4 (4, 4, 6, 6).”
The first and second rows ok, but I’m not sure how to do row 3 and 4… when it says “working wrap with st”, must I wrap and turn? Or just wrap each st? (I don’t know if it is possible, to wrap a lot os sts in the same row). So, how to arrive until the last 4 sts rem?
Thank you!
It’s telling you to put your needle under the wrap and knit that stitch. You don’t wrap and turn at that point. She just wants to make sure that you don’t just whiz by it.
Btw, “working wraps with st” is a common instruction, so you should become familiar with it 🙂
Thank you!!! I’ve knitted a lot of things, but i’m spanish and it’s my first time with an english pattern :S
Hi,
This tutorial was extremely helpful (very detailed and great photos) and
came just in time to help me out. Thank you for an excellent detailed
explanation with great pictures.
i’m so glad it was helpful for you!
short rows aren’t scary – so, i’m glad this helped you out 🙂
Good day,
Im currently making a romper and this is my first time working short rows. I already have an idea on how to do the yarn over short row through various tutorials, however i am a bit confused with the pattern i am following which says:
“work short row shaping on the back (while continuing in stockinette st) as follows:
Work to 4 sts before the marker, turn, yo, work back to 4 sts before the other marker, turn. Repeat until you have worked 4 turns on both sides. Begin again working in the round while at the same time working the yo’s together with the “neighbouring” st to avoid holes.”
If its says to do 4 turns, would that mean there will be 8 rows? And on every turn should i always work 4 sts before the marker then work back to 4 sts before the other marker?
Because if i work the yo’s every time i turn again, there will be lesser sts before the markers.
I already emailed the owner of the pattern but no reply yet. Hope you could help me with this.
Thank you!
I don’t know what the designer intended but 2 things:
1. You also need a YO when you do that second turn. You might have just missed typing it but just to be sure.
2. Yes, future short rows will only be 3 sts apart.
Hi! I’m knitting a pull-over pattern in the round and am using the wrap and turn technique to shape the bottom edge of the body. I followed the instructions for every row, but at the last one I end up with 2 more stitches on one side of the short row than on the other. Is this normal? Thanks in advance!
Hi!
It’s not normal. My guess is that you either didn’t do them completely evenly or maybe you added 2 stitches.
Do you have the number you started with? How did you divide? There should have been the same number in each side when you started.
Hi, I hope you can help me. This is my first time knitting socks and the pattern states to knit 41 stitches w&t the next stitch. The instructions for the w&t state “Work until the stitch to be wrapped.” w&t next stitch. “Continue across row.” Does this mean I should continue knitting across the same row after the wrapped stitch?
I don’t have the pattern, but most w&t have you working the other way at that point. So it’s after the turn part.
Does that help?