How to: Short Rows
Posted on 04.14.05 by lucia @ 5:43 am

I’m adding short rows to lengthen the back of my top down raglan bolero. (That’s a chunk of words, isn’t it?)

Some patterns call for short rows to shape a garment. Knitters who care about fit used them to create bust darts; in the extreme, they can be used to do things like make ear flaps. Most commonly, they are used to create simple heels on socks. I used them to lengthen the back hem on my cape, and the bolero raglan I am knitting right now. I also use then constantly on the knitting machine; in fact, if you look at those patterns, you man dub me “Queen of MK short rows!”

If you are a hand knitter who likes project variety, you’ll probably need to knit short rows at some point. People often find them confusing. Once you figure them out, they are easy; but the instructions are often brief. (And no, beginners, it’s not you. Typically, even the “how to” explanation in the pattern notes are so brief, only those who already know how to knit short rows would be able to follow the directions. In many cases, the simple addition of the words “turn rows” would help people understand.)

This lesson shows I usually work short rows without leaving a little hole every time I turn the work.

  • Knit side facing.
  • Knit up the number of stitches indicated in the instructions. This will be fewer than the number of stitches in the row.
  • Bring yarn forward as to purl. Photo #1 below, shows the yarn brought forward. (Bear in mind, I’m taking all photos. I dropped the yarn to hold the camera.)
  • Slip next stitch. Bring yarn back as to knit.  In photo # 2 below, the stitch is slipped and the yarn has been taken to the back of the work.

1. yarn forward 2. Slip & Wrap Knit Side

  • Turn so purl side faces. The stitches you knit and the stitch you slipped are now on the left needle, the stitches you did not knit are now on the right needle.
  • Slip first stitch. (This is the same stitch you slipped before. )
  • Purl next stitch.  In photo #3 to the left and below, I have placed the yarn to purl.
  • You have now formed a wrap. I turned the work and took a photo from the front to show how the wrap looks from the front (figure 4.) Notice the loop of yarn wrapped around the second stitch from the left; that’s the wrap.They are difficult to see from the back. ( Many knitters don’t think these are conspicuous, so they just leave them as is. However, it is possible to make them disappear when you finish the whole process. I didn’t think about that while working this particular project, and I didn’t take any photos! )

3. Purl After Turn and Slip 4. Turned to show


Now, to work the wrap on the other side.

  • Purl across the row as far as the directions indicate.
  • Slip next stitch.
  • Bring yarn back as to knit.
  • Turn work so knit side faces.
  • Slip stitch.
  • Bring yarn back as to knit.
  • Knit next stitch.
  • You’ve now finished wrapping on the right hand side with the right side of the work facing.

You can now continue working more short rows if required.

  • Knit across row as far as indicated by instructions. (When you are still working short rows, you will repeat the steps above. If you are done knitting short rows, you knit to the end of the row.)
  • After finishing all the short rows, you will either just knit to the end of the row or start knitting longer and longer short rows. When you come to a wrap, you can just knit across, ignoring the wraps. But, heck, just for kicks, when you get to a wrap, poke your needle tip into the wrap, then into the stitch and knit the two together. Decide if you think that makes the wrap disappear. Guess what? You have just figured out for yourself how to make the wrap vanish.

5. Slip, yarn back as to knit 6. Knit after Wrap and Slip

That’s it. I hope this helps people who are having trouble knitting short rows.

Added 10/23: A more invisible method to knit short rows.


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Please leave comments! 36 Comments

36 Comments »

  1. This was so helpful. Thank you!

    Comment by Tessa — 6/10/2005 @ 7:20 pm

  2. Thank you, thank you, – I have been working on the ribbing around the neck area for a bolero sweater. It called for short rows – when it said turn – I turned had a hole and went back to beginning. Couldn’t figure out how the other side of the bolero was going to get ribbed!!!! Your instruction are great and so simple since you explained what to do when you have to TURN. Thanks again,

    Comment by Pam — 8/20/2005 @ 1:09 pm

  3. I love your directions for short rows with the fabulous pictures. How clever of you to use the pink ribbon stuff it shows up sooooo well. Tomrrow night i hope to sit here and experiment with your pictures in front of me.

    Thanks,

    Joanie

    Comment by Joan Forman AKA Joanie — 9/11/2005 @ 9:18 pm

  4. Thank you for the help with short row, but I have to work right side of the front of sweater – got instructions for left side – how to work the right side of short row.

    the instrustions said work opposite but just don’t quite understand it.
    thanks
    veronica

    Comment by veronica armstrong — 9/12/2005 @ 8:41 am

  5. Hi verinonica.
    I edited the directions a bit, I hope they are clearer. The part you want it after photo’s 3 & 4.

    Comment by lucia — 9/12/2005 @ 9:23 am

  6. [...] Weave in any loose ends, block, wear. 1. You will want to use some method to seal the short rows, but I don’t discuss this when describing the hat pattern. My current favorite method is “yarn over short rows”, which I describe here. You can also wrap and turn, as described here. function divide() {}; function mult() {};function add(){}; function sub(){};function subFloor(){};function justRound(){}; Previous posts: ( Ear Flap Hat Illustrated | Home )   [...]

    Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Spiral Top Hat: Calculator. — 11/9/2005 @ 3:52 pm

  7. yes, thank you very much. I kept reading instructions and getting stuck one look through your directions with the photos and descriptions got me on my way. THANKS!!!

    Comment by rincy — 12/5/2005 @ 2:53 pm

  8. [...] 1. Wrap and Turn when working a knit row: When you reach the stitch to be wrapped, bring yarn forward as to purl, slip the stitch purlwise, bring yarn back as to knit, turn so knit side faces, slip first stitch on on the left needle tip. This stitch is now wrapped. Notice you have already turned to begin working purl row. [...]

    Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Hundred Meter Socks: Sock-u-lator III — 12/19/2005 @ 8:08 am

  9. [...] To double wrap, you begin by wrapping when you work the decreasing short rows. I illustrated that in my first article on wrapping, which you can read here.. For convenience, I’ll repeat the text directions here. When working a knit row: [...]

    Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Short Row Toe or Heel– Increasing portion. — 12/20/2005 @ 10:26 am

  10. [...] 1. Wrap and Turn when working a knit row: When you reach the stitch to be wrapped, bring yarn forward as to purl, slip the stitch purlwise, bring yarn back as to knit, turn so knit side faces, slip first stitch on on the left needle tip. This stitch is now wrapped. Notice you have already turned to begin working purl row. [...]

    Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Sock-u-lator IV — 12/30/2005 @ 2:42 pm

  11. [...] 1. Wrap and Turn when working a knit row: When you reach the stitch to be wrapped, bring yarn forward as to purl, slip the stitch purlwise, bring yarn back as to knit, turn so knit side faces, slip first stitch on on the left needle tip. This stitch is now wrapped. Notice you have already turned to begin working purl row. [...]

    Pingback by The Knitting Fiend » Blog Archive » Sockulator V — 1/9/2006 @ 11:34 am

  12. Thank you so much for clarifing the how to do a wrap. I took a sock class and we did the wrap in class but when I started the second sock, I could not work the stitch. It also he the how to without telling me anything. I am a new knitter.
    Thanks again.

    Comment by Pat Denson — 3/14/2006 @ 12:38 pm

  13. Awesome site!! I looked in two of my knitting books (I am a beginner) and could not understand how to short row. Your explanation and pictures did the trick. Maybe you should write a book!! Thanks, Karon

    Comment by Karon — 4/16/2006 @ 12:59 pm

  14. Thank you soooo much! I was having a lot of trouble trying to turn the heel of my sock, and I could not find directions for short-rowing anywhere. Thanks again!

    Comment by Briana — 4/29/2006 @ 5:58 pm

  15. I finally know how to swt, i.e. do short rows. Thanks.

    Comment by Rhona — 7/1/2006 @ 1:19 pm

  16. Your articles are extremely informative. thanks for being around because you’ve helped me alot.

    Comment by Dagmar Ballard — 8/8/2006 @ 7:01 am

  17. I think I have the concept down pat but I still can’t figure out how many sts to pearl between wraps and do you keep doing this on the same row to increase or do you only do it once every other row? How exactly does this work to increase the bust size on a sweater.

    Comment by Ellie Reuter — 11/3/2006 @ 3:32 pm

  18. Hi, I have one more question about inserting short rows. Is it possible to use this technique when knitting from the top down? Thank you for your help. Ellie

    Comment by Ellie Reuter — 12/27/2006 @ 4:24 pm

  19. I understand these directions for short rows but I have trouble when it comes to short rows on the end. Help?

    Comment by Judy — 4/18/2007 @ 9:49 am

  20. I’ve been knitting for more than 50 years. In all that time, I had never heard the term “wrap and turn”, even tho I’ve knitted socks and turned heels. I found your pattern for Twinkle Toes on the Knitty Gritty site – in reading the pattern I saw “w&t” for turning the heel and had to look it up – your instructions are clear and concise and easily understood. I will now proceed to make Twinkle Toes. Thank you!

    Comment by Sandra — 5/16/2007 @ 12:32 pm

  21. Thank you, so much. It has benn the biggest struggle to have someone explain this to me. I’m so relieved that this page is added to my favourites!!

    Comment by Jenni — 5/30/2007 @ 9:24 am

  22. Thank you so much! I’ve been trying to understand how to turn forever! These instructions are so clear and easy to understand!

    Comment by Sandra — 6/19/2007 @ 10:10 am

  23. I wanted to thank you for your great tutorial. I’ve tried short rows before but had a friend hold my hand the whole time, so I never really understood it. That was a couple of years ago, and this time I was out of time. No friend or LYS to help me, just the web. Your tutorial did the trick and now I feel like I understand what to do. I completed short-rowing in my tank pattern and all thanks to you. Again thanks so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to document it and give such thorough notes on the process, it really saved me. I almost gave up on this project and have my friend help me again. I’m thrilled that I can say that I did it this time, with help, but that I could figure it out!!

    Comment by Wanda — 6/20/2007 @ 2:18 pm

  24. Excellent explanation. Thank you so much for your help.

    Comment by dorothy — 8/7/2007 @ 2:21 pm

  25. I can’t thank you enough I was getting so frustrated until I found this page:0)

    Comment by Rebecca — 9/23/2007 @ 2:34 pm

  26. [...] complicated, but you get the hang of it real quick so it’s no big deal. you can see some photos here if you need to see it being [...]

    Pingback by do stuff! » short-rows waves hat — 10/15/2007 @ 10:05 pm

  27. Thank you so much. I have had so much trouble with making short rows knitting in the round. I hope that with the clear pictures I can get it done without leaving holes.It seems like it is different when knitting in the roound; on the last row I have hole in one direction. I tried to follow a pattern that called for short rows in the back by the shoulder blades.
    I will give it another try with your directions. Ute

    Comment by Ute — 10/28/2007 @ 9:45 am

  28. Your directions are really helpful, but I still don’t quite understand how to return to knitting “normally” after doing short rows. In a garment I am making, I have to use short rows to shape the chest. But if I just work them as stated, what do I do when I am finished? Just go back to knitting all of the stitches on the left needle, or will that make a bobble?

    Comment by Stefanie — 10/30/2007 @ 3:13 pm

  29. Thank you very much for your detailed description of short row knitting and the photos. It was a great tutorial!

    Comment by Cassandra — 11/10/2007 @ 6:35 pm

  30. thanks so much. this was not only the exact tutorial i was looking for but it was very easy to understand and copy. i tried about 8 page before this and they were all terrible! thanks again!

    Comment by ashleigh — 1/24/2008 @ 10:36 pm

  31. [...] “byaaaaargh!” because that is what I say when I have to knit exorbitant amounts of short rows. Specifically for Interweave’s Short Row Hat (it’s at the bottom of the page). [...]

    Pingback by B! « stances and stitches — 2/4/2008 @ 2:50 pm

  32. Thank you for your great tutorial WITH PICTURES! There are so many things in knitting that are easy once you SEE what you’re supposed to do.

    Comment by SuEllyn Rody — 7/10/2008 @ 10:41 am

  33. I too use short rows a lot and checked this thread out to see if there was some technique that I hadn’t yet figured out. The instructions are wonderful and clear as are the pictures but I already knew how to do what Lucia was demonstrating. I figure if I cannot learn something here, I might as well share something while I am in the neighborhood.
    So. . . being the lazy person I am, I got sick of the time wasted in turning my work especially when I was working the shortest of my short rows. The solution to my problem was to knit backwards rather than turning my work. It really isn’t hard to do.
    I took some left over yarn from another project; cast on a few stitches and then knit about three or four inches. Once I had enough knitted to be able to easily work my yarn, I began paying attention to the way my needle looked in relationship to the rest of my work as I went through the normal steps of knitting. Then I began reversing each step until I was able to knit up one whole row and back without turning my work. It was a revelation.
    After that, I worked on purling in reverse until I could do that without thinking. Voila, all is right with a lazy knitter’s world. I was originally taught to knit by my grandmother who, after repeated attempts to get me to regulate my tension, gave up on me and lovingly suggested that I just stick with crochet because I was really good at that.
    After years of taking Grandma’s advice I moved to Belgium with my teacher husband and met a blind woman who had had to teach herself to knit by feel. There were not books for her or teachers so she became the most accomplished, self taught knitter I have ever met. Her work was astonishingly detailed and beautiful. Under her skillful hands I finally master the problem of uneven tension, garment construction that appeared almost seamless and designing my own patterns. Her greatest gift to me, however, was confidence in my own innate ability. That confidence now lets me experiment without fear. It sends me off in directions I never would have considered before and it is amazing what I find out there when I just ask what if.
    Shelley

    Comment by Shelley — 10/1/2008 @ 4:59 am

  34. Thanks so much, I’ve watch video tutorials and for the life of me they looked sooo hard. You made it super easy! I can now confidently try it out when before it stopped me in my tracks.

    Comment by Cheryl — 3/5/2009 @ 5:30 pm

  35. Couldn’t figure out how the other side of the bolero was going to get ribbed!!!!

    Comment by John Decart — 3/9/2009 @ 11:14 am

  36. THANK YOU! I have been working on the same diaper soaker for 2 weeks now, only because I could ever figure out these dang short rows. I love you!!

    Comment by Teresa — 7/13/2009 @ 6:15 pm

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