How to knit short rows part 1: wrap and turn method

One of my favourite knitting techniques, which I use it in most of my patterns, are short rows. They are used to add extra fabric where you need it, for example:

• to raise the back of the neck in a garment with a round yoke (short rows are represented by the blue dashed lines):

• to add extra length at the front of a sweater creating bust darts: 

• or to shape sleeve caps in seamless set-in sleeves: 

There are different ways of working short rows. In this post, I will describe the wrap and turn method.

WRAP AND TURN METHOD OF WORKING SHORT ROWS

When you work short rows using the wrap and turn method, you knit only part of a row/ round, as instructed in the pattern, then stop, wrap the next stitch on your left hand needle to prevent a hole that would appear otherwise, turn work and purl another partial row, wrapping a stitch again before you turn. The photo tutorial below shows all steps needed to complete short rows. If you would like to download 2-page printable version of the tutorial, click on the link at the bottom of this post.

Abbreviations used: st(s) = stitch(es), LH = left hand, RH = right hand.

Wrapping a stitch on a knit row

STEP 1: Knit to the position of the wrap – the st to be wrapped is on LH needle and is circled. 

STEP 2: Slip the st onto RH needle as if to purl, with yarn in front. 

STEP 3: Bring yarn to the back, and slip the st back onto LH needle.  

STEP 4: Turn work and purl the first st on LH needle loosely so that the wrap (circled) around st remains loose, approx. the size of a regular st. Work remaining sts as instructed in the pattern.  

When you get to the end of this short row, you will need to wrap a stitch again, here’s how you do it:

Wrapping a stitch on a purl row

STEP 1: Purl to the position of the wrap – the st to be wrapped is on LH needle and is circled. 

STEP 2: Slip the st onto RH needle, as if to purl, with yarn in back.   STEP 3: Bring yarn to the front, and slip the st back onto LH needle. 

STEP 4: Turn work. The wrapped st is on your RH needle (circled), yarn at back. Knit first st on LH needle loosely so that the wrap around st remains loose, approx. the size of a regular st. Work remaining sts as instructed in the pattern.  

At some point, depending on the pattern, you will need to hide the wraps by either knitting or purling them together with their stitches. This is how you knit a wrap with its stitch:

Knitting a st together with its wrap

STEP 1: Knit to the position of the wrapped st.  

STEP 2: With yarn in back, pick up the wrap inserting RH needle under wrap, as if to knit, in front of its st.  

STEP 3: Knit the wrap and its st together.  STEP 4: The wrap should not be visible from RS: it is hidden behind the st (circled). Continue working remaining sts on LH needle as instructed in the pattern.  

Purling a st together with its wrap

STEP 1: Purl to the position of the wrapped st (circled). 

STEP 2: With yarn in front, pick up the wrap inserting RH needle under the back of wrap, behind its st. Then insert RH needle into the st, as if to purl, slip both back onto LH needle, and purl them together.  

STEP 3: St shown after it has been purled tog with wrap. The wrap can be seen from WS, it should not be visible from RS. Continue working remaining sts on LH needle as instructed in the pattern.  

Other resources:

• How to knit short rows, by knitpicks
• Short Rows, a free online class by Carol Feller on craftsy.com/classes/knitting, showing 3 ways of working short rows

Tagged as: pattern help, photo tutorial, short rows, techniques, w&t, wrap and turn