How To Knit Short Rows

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:

Step 1: Slip the next stitch purlwise.	Step 2: Bring the working yarn to the front.
Step 3: Return the slipped stitch to the left needle.	Step 4: Turn your work.

You’ve now wrapped your stitch (in our example it was stitch number 11) and the working yarn is in the correct place for you to begin purling 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:

Step 1: Slip the next stitch purlwise.	Step 2: Bring the working yarn to the back.
Step 3: Return the slipped stitch to the left needle.	Step 4: Turn your work.

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.

Picking up a wrap on a knit row

Knit until you’ve reached the stitch that has been wrapped.  The wrapped stitch will be unworked and on the left needle. Take your right needle and put the tip underneath the wrap and then through the knit stitch in the same way you always insert a needle when doing a knit stitch.	Pull the yarn through to make a stitch.  Note that this may take a little finessing to get it working.
Slip the stitch off the left needle.  Wrap has been picked up and worked—you’re done!

 

Picking up a wrap on a purl row

Purl until you’ve reached the stitch that has been wrapped.  The wrapped stitch will be unworked and on the left needle.	Take your right needle and put it underneath the wrap. Lift the wrap and place it on the left needle.
Purl both the wrap and the stitch it was wrapping as one—just as you would do a p2tog. Slip both the stitch and the wrap off the left needle.  Wrap has been picked up and worked—you’re done!

Continue to How to Add Short Rows to Your Sweater.