Short Rows Tutorial

Short Rows tend to strike fear into the hearts of the uninitiated, but, like all knitting, there's really nothing so mysterious about it.

Short Rows are used to create triangles or wedges within your knitting. They shape everything from bust darts to ear flaps. Basically, a Short Row is just that: a row that you don't knit to the end of the needle. Instead, you work part of the way across the row, do something called a "wrap and turn", and then work back the other way, sometimes to the end and sometimes to another wrap and turn.

Wrap and Turn on the Knit Side

Keeping the yarn in back, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle.

Bring the yarn forward as if to purl.

Slip the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle.

Bring the yarn to the back of the work as if to knit.

Turn the work so the purl side is facing you, ready to purl.

Wrap and Turn on the Purl Side

Keeping the yarn in front, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle.

Bring the yarn back as if to knit.

Slip the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle.

Bring the yarn to the front of the work as if to purl.

Turn the work so the knit side is facing you, ready to knit. 

Once you've completed your Short Rows, you'll notice gaps in the knitting where you wrapped the stitches. To rectify this, you work across the entire row, closing the gaps by "picking up the wrapped stitches". 

Picking up the Wrapped Stitch on the Knit Side

Pick up the wrap with the right needle from front to back.

Then insert the right needle into the stitch that is wrapped.

Knit the wrap and the stitch together.

Picking up the Wrapped Stitch on the Purl Side 

Pick up the wrap with the right needle from back to front.

Place the wrap onto the left needle. 

Purl together the wrap and the stitch that is wrapped.

That's Short Rows! Not so scary! 

Comments

[Cheryl]

Thank you so much. I have been trying to knit a skirt for my daughter and it has short rows. I understood the concept of W^T but the only info I could find told me to bring the yarn to the front every time, but I was sure you had to do something different if you were purling.

[Jennifer]

So helpful! Your tutorial was great--very clear and concise. In the past I had been scared of W & T because I've encountered several different methods and didn't know what to do. I finally felt comfortable with the W&T and didn't avoid a pattern that incorporated short rows, when I got confused by how to pick up wraps on the purl side. Thanks for the help!

[smargot]

Thanks this was totally useful. M.

[Kmbold]

It would be helpful if there was an illustration of how this looks in a project.

[Caroline]

Thank you for this! I was having a hard time finding an online tutorial on short-rowing while purling. Perfect. Pictures are so helpful. I also adore your header image!

[Kathy Young]

W & T has been driving me insane (not that I'm not already there). I have been trying to learn via videos and, although they are useful, it is hard to watch the video and do the stitch at the same time.
This tutorial is excellent. I am able to print it out and really concentrate on each step and I am pleased to say I have conquered this technique.
Thank you.

[Jess]

So so glad you had some pics!! The word only directions were not working for me, but it looks like this did!

[Lia]

Thank you!! These are the first directions (video, photo or written only) that have helped me to get it!

[CJ]

Thank you! I was struggling with how to pick up the wrap on the purl side row. Your explanation and picture made all the difference. I can finish my dress now. :)

[daruth]

This was very helpful, The pictures are great! I was scratching my head as to what to do. Like cables to me, looked hard but it really wasn't. Thanks

[Rach]

Thank you so much for this! I have done other kinds of short rows, but this pattern (for a friends newborn) called for wrap & turn & I'm not comfortable enough with short rows to substitute. Thank you!

[Capless]

I've been avoiding patterns that use short rows that require W&T's. But after your tutorial I'm going to give them another try. Thanks for sharing this!

[Joanne Tinley]

Thank you - exactly what I needed!

[Katie]

What a beautiful tutorial! Thank you for posting! Excellent pictures which just might get me through my first toe-up socks!

[Diane Roth]

thank you for this. gives me hope that I will be able to figure this out. I've been working on sloping the shoulders for a sweater and not getting it. This is complicated by the fact that I am left-handed. I'm hoping that by carefully looking at your pictures, I can figure out the mirror image for how I can do it.

[SwamPee]

I think I can try a pr of socks now. The directions were clear & easy.

[denise]

I'm not sure if the following is considered a short row but I desperately need some help because I ended up with a mess.
The pattern says: 5/3 RPC Dec sl 3 to cn, hold to back, ssk, k1, k2tog; turn, p3, turn, k3tog; p3 from cn.
I fully understand the concept but I think I get messed up with the turning of my work and stitches get in a bunch. Also i wondered what the RPC means. Thanks for any help.

[purlbee]

Hi Denise,

No, this doesn't have anything to do with short rows. It actually looks like you have a pretty complicated cable pattern going. The RPC Dec stands for "right purl cable decrease." The 5/3 refers to the number of stitches you put on your cable needle (3) and the number of stitches you work after that (5).

So here's what I think you have to do: Slip 3 stitches onto your cable needle and hold the cable needle to the back of the work. Then working the next 5 stitches that are on your left needle, ssk, k1, k2tog. Now turn the whole piece and p3 (the ssk, k1, k2tog stitches), turn again and knit those same 3 stitches together. And finally, purl the 3 stitches off your cable needle.

If you keep getting your stitches in "a bunch" you may need to remember to always use your right needle to work the stitches from the left needle.

It's definitely a doozie of a move! But if you just go step by step I think you'll get it and I'm sure it will be beautiful!

Good luck!
Whitney

[carroe]

When I do w+ t, it turns out correct, when picking up wraps, the wrapped stitch is tight to deal with on the k2together ing, is this common. And correct?

[purl bee]

HI Carroe,

The wrapped stitch shouldn't be tight, so I do wonder if you're wrapping and turning correctly. Make sure you're following the steps very carefully, and if that doesn't work, I wonder if maybe the rest of your knitting is really tight? In that case, I would say to just ease up on the wrap a little.

I wish I could walk through the steps with you in person! Good luck with the photos and please let us know if you need more help!

Whitney

[Cotton100]

The best I have found. Explained the whole process , not just bits and pieces. Hooray!