Short Rows: Wrap + Turn
Short Rows tend to strike fear into the hearts of first-timers, but, like all knitting techniques, once you try short rows, you’ll see they’re not so hard after all!
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. There are lots of ways to turn your work partway through a row, but our favorite is called a Wrap + Turn (wrp-t). This simple method prevents holes along the Short Rows and works well with many different stitch patterns.
Note that there are a few stitch patterns, including Garter Stitch, that don’t require any sort of special technique when it’s time to work back the other way. For these stitch patterns, you just turn the piece and work back the other way. Easy!
Video Tutorial
TIME STAMPS
(Just click the “Chapters” icon in the lower right corner of the video to skip to any of these topics!)
00:00 – Intro
00:23 – Wrap + Turn on the Knit Side
01:40 – Wrap + Turn on the Purl Side
02:34 – Picking Up the Wrapped Stitch on the Knit Side
03:30 – Picking Up the Wrapped Stitch on the Purl Side
04:33 – Bonus Clip: Picking Up a Purl Wrap on the Knit Side
Step-By-Step Tutorial
Here’s the same information as our video, but this time shown with still photos and text…
Wrap + 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 + 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, over and behind the stitch it was wrapping.
Purl together the wrap and the stitch that is wrapped.
That’s Short Rows! Not so scary!
Bonus: How To Pick Up A Purl Wrap On The Knit Side
NOTE: See this particular situation in action at minute 4:33 of the video tutorial , above.
When working in the round, you may encounter a stitch that was wrapped on the purl (or wrong) side and needs to be picked up on the knit (or right) side. Here’s how to pick up a purl wrap on the knit side…
Work up to the wrapped stitch.
Use the tip of the right needle to pick up the wrap, inserting the needle from front to back. Place the wrap onto the left needle. Note: If necessary, nudge the wrap so it is after the next stitch on the needle.
Next, slip the first sitch knitwise, then slip the wrap purlwise. Insert the tip of the left needle into the front legs of those two slipped stitches. Wrap your working yarn around the right needle to knit the two together.
The wrap will fall to the wrong side of your fabric… Nice!
NOTE: For the swatches in this tutorial we used Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6-Ply Cashmere in Ivory and Purl Soho’s Understory in the color Willow Bark in our video (we no longer offer Understory, but take a look at our other light worsted/dk weight yarns)!
Hello Nancy,
I was not familiar with Grace Akhrem's Olana Slouch, but I've looked it up on Ravelry and am trying to decipher what these instructions might mean. Could you write back in with the exact wording? I am assuming that rather than working past the previous wrap, you wrap the same stitch again and then turn your work. Would this make sense in the context of the pattern?
Laura
Go to google and search : how to short rows, easier written instructions. Craftsy has a free video class on short rows.
I think I am not understanding row 5. When I K42 I arrive at the point in the front and from your description is sounds like the wraps occur at the back. So what am I missing? The wraps are challenging and the instruction is great; but this has me totally stumped.
Hi Natasza,
I am assuming you are talking about the Short Row Sweater pattern. Let's try and figure this out together. You are correct, in the pattern, when you are working 42 stitches up to the wrapped stitch, you should be purling across the wrong side. On the previous rows, did you work one stitch pasted the wrapped stitch and then wrap and turn? Have you double checked that you casted on the correct number and that you did your first wrap and turn in the right place?
Please write back. Hopefully we can get this figured out.
Laura
Fantastic tutorial,the only one really useful . You are great,thank uou so much.
Hugs
Mimma
Excellent Clear pictures and instructions Thank you so much
Just a little confused with short rows in garter stitch. I am making the Imagine When shawl by Toji as seen on Ravelry. Your tutorial is great!
Did you figure it out for the Imagine when? I
am concerned about the two st before the last wrap.
I am totally confused about the instructions for making the ear flaps for the Garter Ear Flap Hat. Left flap: Once I execute the famous wrp-t on the correct stitch (in my case, 8 stitches before the second marker), what happens? Do I purl back to the beginning-of-the-round marker or to the first marker? And then what? Turn work so I am knitting again (right side) and go to instructions for “Next Row?” If I do that, the working yarn is on the left rather than the right needle, so that’s a problem. Can you offer some clarification? Many thanks.
Hi Nita.
I am so sorry I did not see this comment until now!
Are you still struggling with the short rows? I would love to help you figure this out.
After you wrap and turn, you go to the next line of instructions and so you’ll be knitting back until you’re told to do another wrap and turn. And yes, your working yarn will be on the left needle, like at the beginning of a row, a short row.
Please let me know if you have any questions and again, I apologize for the delayed response.
Laura
Do instructions say (wrap when you turn ) or as my instructions just say turn?
Hi Karen!
Most of the time, instructions for short rows will tell you “Wrap and Turn” or “W & T” at the end of each short row. Sometimes, the directions are included separately, as in, “Wrap the next stitch. Turn.” Very rarely, there are some cases where wrapping is unnecessary, and the directions will just say to turn. For instance, when turning the heel of a sock, you will just turn without wrapping because the gap is closed on the next row with a K2tog.
Thanks for your comment! I hope this clarifies short rows for you! Let me know if you have further questions!
Thomas
Hi Cheryl!
I think the best thing to do in this case is to follow the directions based on what your last stitch is. In other words, it does not matter whether the stitch you are wrapping is a purl or knit; it only matters what your previous stitch is. If you have just made a knit stitch, follow the directions for “on the knit side.” If you have just made a purl stitch, follow the directions for “on the purl side.”
When you come back to the wrap, if you need to pick it up, you need to decide whether to treat the wrapped stitch as a knit or purl based on which side you would like the wrap to hide on. If the wrap is found in one of the “garter” columns, you don’t need to pick it up. If it is in one of the “stockinette” columns, you will want to pick up the wrap based upon whether the wrapped stitch is a purl or knit.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have further questions!
Thomas
I’m having trouble with a sweater that has 6 short rows at the start. I finished the first short row as directed, which leaves me in the middle of the stitches. The directions are:
Rows 1 and 2
CO 153 stitches
moss stitch 22, pearl 15, moss stitch 11, pearl 15, moss stitch 27, wrap next st and turn, moss stitch 27, wrap next st and turn.
I’m fine up until the end of that short row, but it leaves me in the middle of the work. Do I start row 2 from the middle, or do the stitches in reverse order for row 2 to make it symmetrical? There are no instructions as to where row 2 starts. My concern is that if I repeat row 2 from that last wrap and turn, one far side of the work will have 22 stitches, and the other will have 27. In the picture the work is even on both sides.
Hi Kelley,
Let me see if I can help. It’s hard to say without looking at the actual pattern. My guess is that when you turn the second time, the next thing would be to do a third set of 27 in moss stitch. Especially if this is a top-down sweater, I can only imagine that you will reverse the beginning of the row after finishing the 27 moss stitch section the third time.
Thanks for your question; I hope I’ve clarified this for you.
Thomas
HI! I’m working on Fine Tune by Joji and the pattern refers me to this tutorial for doing short rows. I’m confused b/c after I wrap the stitch then turn the work, I need to knit (garter stitch) but the yarn is in the front of my work. What should I do?
Hi Megan!
After turning the work, you should have the “wrapped” stitch on the right-hand needle. If not, go ahead and slip it to the right needle as if to purl. You are correct that your yarn should be in the front; all that is needed is for you to move the yarn between the tips of the needles so that it is ready to knit!
Hope this helps!
Thomas
Wow – so just move it back between the needles? Thank you – this site will stay in my favorites/twitter/etc. Can’t believe I just discovered Purl Bee:). Thanks for the help!
Trying to make the banana cowl. Row 5 says to knit 42, wrap and turn. Do you wrap and turn the 43 stitch? Do you wrap and turn the 42nd stitch? Thank you for your help.
Hi Joan!
Thanks for your question! You should wrap the 43rd stitch. This should almost always be the case in patterns with short rows: you’ll knit a certain number of stitches, then wrap the next stitch.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Thank you for your reply, Thomas.
hi
I have a question about the short rows.
When on row 7 – do I knit all the way across to the wrapped stitch on row 5? or just to the purl wrapped stitch of row 6?
The directions for wrapping and turning are clear – would love to see a bit of this part of the pattern videoed. rows 5-8 and a few repeated …
Maybe picked too advanced of a pattern.
thanks
Any hints on how to see the wrapped stitch with darker,knubby wool?
Hi Kate!
Whenever you are turning back, you will always be past the wrapped stitch from the previous row. On a knit row, you’ll knit to the wrapped stitch from the previous knit row.
Hope this helps!
Thomas
Hello everybody! You are great! I’m an italian girl and I’ve learned knitting by tutorial on the net, mostly in english. The italian knitting is really old-fashioned and it doesn’t stimolate to learn! Therefore, you are fantastic and your tutorial are usefull for me. Now one little question: is it possible to work short-rows with seed stitch?! I can’t immagine it! Thank you so much! Chiara from Florence
Hi Chiara!
We’re so glad that you enjoy our tutorials! Short rows can certainly be done in seed stitch. It’s very possible, however, that the short rows will interrupt your usual pattern. Just be sure to continue knitting in pattern, which I usually do by basing the pattern off of any columns not interrupted by the short rows.
Hope this helps!
Thomas
Hi! The tutorial was great and I was hoping I could get some help on my pattern. The pattern had me increase to 27 stitches (on double pointed needles 9 on each) then says to k3 w1 p6 k3 for round 8. This is 12 stitches total. How do I do this? Any help would be appreciated. A link to my pattern is below.
http://library.ravelry.com/saraek/272084/Bluebird_of_Happiness.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJNNSUP6J3RN4WZYQ&Expires=1419007725&Signature=rdfS7klUUFVpoepMsTFu47YBp%2Bk%3D
Hi Haley!
The important things about short rows is that you are not going to be going around the whole round. It looks like you will knit 3, wrap and turn, then going the other direction you’ll purl 6 past the beginning of round, wrap and turn, and then going back forward again you’ll knit the 3 stitches back to the beginning of the round.
Hope this helps!
Thomas
I am very confused with a pattern given to me for Christmas. It is Carol Feller’s Penrose Tile. The pattern says to w&t in the middle of a row (short row), purl to the end for the following row. My question is for the next row. The pattern says “knit 2 stitches before the previous wrapped stitch, w&t.” Does this mean I knit past the previous w&t (making the rows longer) or before I get to the wrapped stitch (making the rows shorter)? I hope this makes sense to you… Thank you for your help!! Happy New Year!
Hi Morgan!
From you description, it sounds like you are stopping each row before getting to the previous stopping place, so the rows are getting shorter.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Hi! I’ve found your tutorial very useful. I’m knitting Joji’s Inner Peace and have problem : having in pattern “knit to 2 st before last wrapped st” should I count previously wrapped st as one of this 2 ? I hope you can help me:-)
Hi Joanna!
I can’t be completely certain, but it sounds like you need to knit to 2 stitches before, not counting the wrapped stitch. You stop with 2 unwrapped stitches and then the wrapped stitch on your left needle.
Hope this helps!
Thomas
If the pattern says to knit to within 2 sts of last wrapped st. Does it mean overall you are only wrapping every second stitch?
Hi Judith,
Thank you for the comment! Yes, I would assume that the pattern is saying that the short rows will be in increments of 2 stitches which will make every other stitch a wrapped stitch.
I hope that helps and feel free to respond if you have anymore questions!
Good Luck!
Jake
Hi,
I am trying to knit the garter stitch short row hat with ear flaps. I understand the wpt-t concept but I’m trying to figure out how to do it in garter stitch throughout. The directions tell me to slip the stitch purl wise, bring the yarn forward, slip the stitch back to the left hand needle and then bring the yarn back as if to knit. But when I turn the piece as required by the turn part of the wrap the yarn is then in front as if to purl. If I purl that row then I am doing a stockinette row instead of a garter row. How do I keep it in garter stitch throughout?
Hi Lori!
After turning, it is always acceptible (if needed) to bring the yarn through between the two needles to stet yourself up for knitting (or purling as necessary). You should continue knitting all rows to get garter stitch on this pattern.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
my pattern from Cleonis, “Moussaillon, Little cropped cardigan” is translated from French and I’m not sure what this measurement means: Work for 8 , 3″ (8 , 6″ / 9″)
I’m sure this is simple and I’m making it harder than it is, but I want to make sure I’m reading the pattern correctly.
Thanks so much
Hi Betsy!
Here’s my guess (but I can only guess) – I think those numbers are a conversion from a metric measurement. For the three different sizes you would knit for 8.3, 8.6 or 9 inches before continuing. A lot of times, European writing uses commas instead of a period for the decimal.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
HI I JUST found your pattern for the bandana cowl. It is lovely however, being a visual person, I making these short rows at the point in the front of the cowl, correct?
can you tell me how many stitches i will have on needles after all short rows are complete?
one last question: I am basically doing 40 short rows? Is that right?
thanks
Linda
Hi Linda!
The short rows are indeed centered around the point at the front of the cowl. The stitch count does not change throughout the entire short row section. Also, 40 short rows is correct!
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I learned to knit when I was little, but unfortunately have been avoiding trying out some sock and sweater patterns because of my lack of short row knowledge. I’m finishing up the Garter Ear Flap Hat for a gift and then I’ll be ready to tackle something larger! Thank you for all you do to help out the knitters of the world 🙂
Excellent instructions and visuals.
Thanks
W
Wales, UK
I’m working on the Boxy sweater be Joji. Please explain what knit row without picking up wraps means.
Thank you,
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne!
I’m not familiar with the pattern, but a lot of times, you can knit past any wraps you’ve made! A lot of times this happens in garter stitch because the wraps “hide” well in garter. If you are knitting in stockinette, however, you usually have to “pick up” the wraps to hide them on the wrong side.
Thanks for your question!
Thomas
Thank you for the great tutorial. I am about to use short rows on the upper back of a sweater to accommodate a slight hunchback posture. The pattern is cabled. Can I do this without disrupting the cable pattern too much? And how? Any tips you can provide will be appreciated. Thanks!
I am knitting the Bandana Cowl but when I have. Done the ‘repeat Row 7 and 8 eighteen more times’ I still have at least 18 more stitches before the marker? Is there an error in the pattern? Angela
Hello Angela,
Did you repeat both Rows 7 and 8 eighteen more times each for a total of 36 rows? Once you do that, you shouldn’t have any more stitches before the marker. Let me know if you have any other questions so we can get you sorted out!
Alyson
Me gusta mucho el gorro
I am having trouble with the bandana pattern. Row 6, P3 wrap and turn then row 7 how many stitches do you knit 3?then k1, Sorry I’m not understanding this part. Do you do row 7 and 8 , 18 times but how far do you go back to the end of the row?
When you get a chance, please shoot me an email Thanks
I really love this pattern but I’m at a loss.
Sara
Hi Sara,
Glad to hear your enjoying the pattern. Short rowing can be a little confusing in the beginning but it’s really quite simple. When you get to row 7 you will knit to the wrapped stitch (3 stitches) and then knit 1 (4 total). Then in row 8 you will knit to the wrapped stitch again (4 stitches this time) and then knit 1 (5 total). Each row will be 1 more stitch than in the previous row until you’ve repeated it 36 times. You will know when you finish the repeated rows when you reach your stitch markers if you lose count.
Hope this helps and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Jake
So confused. Really wish there was a video for this. Ive tried it 3 times but once on row 7 and on, Im lost. Any chance you can give a specific count, like in the beginning. Help
Hello Summer!
We’re sorry you’re having trouble with the short rows on the Bandana Cowl. Once you start the short rows, you won’t be changing the number of stitches that you have until all the stitches have been incorporated into the short rows and the point of your bandana is formed. The structure of short rows is hard to imagine at first, since you’re not knitting in a round spiral, but instead back and forth (as if you were knitting on straight and not circular needles).
The “wrap and turn” technique allows you to wrap a stitch so that the yarn is oriented correctly to begin knitting or purling in the opposite direction after turning the work to view the opposite side. Once you reach any further wrapped stitches, don’t forget to knit the wrap along with the stitch. Please write back if you are still having questions! Best of luck!
Alyson
I’m knitting the Garter Ear Flap Hat. Love it, but am finding the instructions challenging. Once I have the short rows done I am told to purl the next row, and knit the following row, alternating these two for the rest of the body of the hat. If I am knitting in the round how do I do that? Wouldn’t I end up with a seam needing to be stitched? Why can’t I just keep knitting (no purl rows)…does alternating knit and purl rows allow for the lovely design when decreasing?
Hello Pat!
After you finish the short rows, you will go back to knitting in the round. You won’t be knitting back and forth anymore. In order to keep the garter stitch pattern, you will need to purl one round then knit one round. Don’t forget that the rules for Stockinette and Garter stitch are reversed when knitting in the round! You won’t end up with a seam. If you kept knitting, then you would end up with a portion of the hat in stockinette stitch and the garter pattern would be interrupted.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Alyson
If I’m knitting in the round and switch between stockinette and garter I will have ridges on my hat. What do you mean that the rules for stockinette and garter stitch are reversed when knitting in the round? I love this hat and haven’t given up but I have ripped this out countless times, trying to figure this out. Thanks for your help!
Hi Pat,
Thanks for the response! What we mean is the stitch pattern for stockinette and garter stitch are the opposite when knitting in the round than when knitting flat. When you knit flat to create garter stitch you knit every row. This is because when you knit flat you are turning the work so when you knit on the wrong side of the work it creates the garter ridges on both sides of the fabric and when you knit stockinette you knit the right side and purl the wrong side to make the two sides of the fabric different. When knitting in the round the stitch pattern is opposite. So when you knit every row you are not turning the work so you are never knitting on the wrong side of the work (except when doing short rows!) which will create stockinette. That means that to create garter stitch in the round you have to alternate between knitting a row and purling a row to create garter! So basically the short rows in the pattern are actually considered knitting flat while the rest of the hat is knit in the round.
I hope this clarifies things and please don’t hesitate to write back if you are still confused!
Goodluck!
Jake
Love your video tutorials. Hope you make one for turn and wrap. The pics tutorial is good, but a video would be super. Thanks for all yor knitting guidance.
Hello Peggy,
Thank you for your kind comment! I will be sure to recommend that we do a video!
Happy Crafting!
Jake
Je voudrais réalilser ce petit bonnet mais le texte est en anglais.
Pouvez vous me l’envoyer à l’adresse mail suivante en français.
Merci de votre gentillesse.
armelle.chastillon@wanadoo.fr
Hi Chastillon,
Thank you for the comment! Unfortunately we do not have the pattern translated into french. None of our staff are proficient in the language to accurately translate the pattern. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. If there’s anything else we can help you with please let us know!
Jake
Merci pour le commentaire! Malheureusement nous ne avons pas le modèle traduit en français. Aucun de nos employés sont compétents dans la langue à traduire fidèlement le motif. Je me excuse sincèrement pour les désagréments. Se il ya autre chose que nous pouvons vous aider avec se il vous plaît laissez-nous savoir!
Hello,
I’m confused when doing wrap & turns in double seed stitch. The seed stich pattern isn’t uniform. Is it possible? I’m not sure if my problem is where I position the working yarn when picking up the wraps. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hello Rebecca,
Thank you for the question! Figuring out short rows with these kinds of stitch patterns can be rather tricky. Where you position your yarn should be according to the stitch pattern, so bring the yarn in front when you are purling and bring it in back when knitting. I think it will look cleanest if you try and do all your wrap and turns around stitches that will be purled in the next row. That way when you go to pick up the wraps if you are doing a purl stitch the wrap will disappear better.
I hope that clarifies things a little! If you have anymore issues with it or would like more assistance feel free to contact us directly!
Good Luck!
Jake
Thank you. Very well illustrated and explained. I found it easy to understand. I’ve just started a short row project of my own design but wasn’t sure of the best way to deal with the holes at the wrap and turn points.
This tutorial was a great help. I felt like I was wrapping a child in a beach towel! Thank you so much.
Hello,
I need some help with a pattern please. I am fairly new to knitting and I have grasped the wrap and turn however I am confused when the pattern is a complex set of stitches and the pattern says turn what am I supposed to stitch on the way back?
my example is as follows
1st Row — Slip first stitch [K2, *yfw sl 1, K2, psso
the 2 knit stitches, rep from * to * a further two
times, K1], K10, turn
I know how to execute the first set of instructions but what should I do when I turn? do I do these stitches in reverse? I did try that and it didn’t look right.
Thanks for any help that you can give.
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
Thank you for the comment! Generally patterns should give instructions on the stitch pattern for the next row after turning a short row. Is this a Purl Bee pattern your working with and if so which one? If it’s not a Purl Bee pattern your welcome to bring it to the shop or call us at 212 420 8796 and we are happy to try to help you figure it out!
Good Luck!
Jake
hello, im from chile i speak spanish and i want to know if you can send me the bandana cowl tutorial in spanish???
please
thank you
karina
Hi Karina,
Thank you for the comment! Unfortunately we are unable to translate our patterns into other languages because the design team isn’t able to accurately translate all the patterns. I would recommend reaching out on ravelry to see if anyone has already translated it or would be willing to do so!
I apologize for the inconvenience and feel free to write us back if you have any questions about the projects!
Good Luck!
Jake
Thank you for your tutorial on short row, it was well explained.
Great to read all the questions and responses.
I am confused by the following as I am not used to US patterns. I would appreciate any help: work the hood shaping with shortened rows. To do this, in RS row, work in pattern up to last st before centre, turn with 1 yo, and work WS row to the end. Place stitches of the left half on a holder. In the foll RS row, work up to 2 sts before the turning stitch {what is this??} and again turn with 1 yo. Then in every 2nd row, shorten row by 2 sts once more, by 3 sts twice, and by 4 sts twice, always turning with yo.
Second query – where do I begin the left side which has reverse shaping? Do I knit across and do the shaping on a purl row?
Hi Cheryl, thanks for writing. The instructions you share here use a slightly different method for working short rows than our tutorial does. In our tutorial, we demonstrate the “wrap and turn method” for short rows and your instructions here use the “yarnover method” which may be causing your confusion! Each short row has a turning point, or turning stitch, which is simply the spot where the knitting is turned without completing the row. A useful tutorial for the yarnover method can be found here: http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2005/04/yarn_over_short.html. Reversing shaping on the left side will mean beginning on a WS row or purl row to start, and working just as you did for the righthand side, except switching “knit side (RS)” for “purl side (WS)” and vice versa in the instructions. Hope this helps and let us know if it makes sense! Good luck!
I just wanna say thank you for this tutorial!
Hi,
I am trying to learn to us wrap and turn techniques for opening of neck and shoulder shaping for bottom up sweaters.
I use lock markers to shape opening of the neck, and use wrap and turn method. But I would like to use t,e same method for shaping of the shoulders, but, it is difficult for me to understand if I can knit some rows without shaping at all and then shape the shoulders. Then, when I would join the whole row, would not there be a gap?
Hello Gabriella,
Sounds like you’re planning a beautiful design! As long as you do the wrap and turns consistently, they should prevent any unwanted gaps or holes. You definitely can knit some rows without shaping in between to make the shaping more gradual. Don’t hesitate to write again if you still have any questions!
Hi Gabriella,
Thanks for writing in. There are many ways to short row, each giving a different shape. If you decide to do short rows without wrapping and turning this would mean that you will knit up until your wrap and turn and then wrap and turn just before it. This creates a “dart” or triangle insert into the fabric because you knit back and forth over the middle of the fabric more often. After you are done wrapping and turning you will knit all the way around the work and pick up the wraps as you go. This is, for example, how you turn a heel of a sock. It’s very drastic. The most common short row method for shoulders is where you pick up the wrap, knit beyond the pick up a few stitches and then wrap and turn again. This creates a gentle arc that cups the shoulder area and gives room for the wearer. With this method you can do a few rounds in between but it will create a very, very gentle short row. It might not be worth it, but it depends on your design! I hope this was clear!
Best,
Adam
i am so confused about the ear flaps. I’m working on the kids size. After I finish my last wrp-t, I am on the wrong side of the knitting. If I knit to the end, I am then knitting back over the ear flap I just did. The first marker after the end of round marker is the 4th marker. Something is off. Can you please help?
Hello Wendy!
We’re so sorry about the confusion! I’m assuming you’re referring to this pattern: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/01/23/lauras-loop-garter-ear-flap-hat/. Since you’re in garter stitch, don’t worry about knitting on the right or wrong side at this moment, since it will essentially be reversible up to this point.
Which marker exactly are you calling the 4th one? Are you including the marker at the join as the first? Feel free to send over a photo of your project if you think that may help you illustrate the issue to customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com.
Thank you for writing in! -Alyson
Hi, I am new to W&T (wrap and turn), your photos in conjunction with a demonstration on YouTube helped tremendously thanks. All the demos only show W&T then knitting to the end, it was when I read your post that I realised your turned row needed a W&T too! All I can say to anyone facing this for the first time is, keep at it. It does look good. Happy knitting
What does it mean when directions say…..(Short Row) K12,Turn,P9, K2? Then go to next row.
Hello Ellie,
What pattern are you working on? It seems like there is a short row section in your pattern but the instructions “Then go to the next row” seem very vague. Feel free to write me at customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com if you want to discuss this further!
Best of luck! -Alyson
when working in the round – circular needles, are the W & T instructions the same ?
Yes! Make sure that you follow the instructions specifically for the wrong and right side of the work. The instructions for wrap and turns are different for knitting and purling.
Best of luck with your project! -Alyson
I am wondering if you can help me solve a problem I am having with W&Ts. I am working a pattern in the round making essentially a curved tube in reverse stockinette. Half of the W&T are with purls and half with knits but all of the pick ups are with knit stitches. Picking up the purled W&Ts are fine but no matter what I do when I pick up the knit stitch wrap I am left with a LARGE loop in the back. If I pull it tight the fabric looks relatively smooth but the loop is large enough that it can get snagged and eventually it loosens up. Any suggestions?
Hi, Ellen!
Thank you so much for your question. I am sorry about the delayed response! Some folks do experience some looseness with their knitting when picking up knit stiches when doing short rows in the round. I recommend knitting into the back loop of the first stitch of the round (while picking up the wrap).
Or, you could knit the final wrap (together with the knit stitch) through the back loop. So, instead of inserting the needle to left of the front legs, you put the needle into the stitches to the right of the front legs. Essentially, this twists the stitches and takes up some slack.
I hope that helps, but if you’re still having trouble, please write back and we’ll figure out another way!
Again, thank you for writing in! Happy knitting!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hello,
Thanks so much for your help! I’m a newbie knitter and having so much fun! And so much confusion!
I am working on the alien elf hat in “Monster Knits for Little Monsters” by Nuriya Khegay. It’s an advanced pattern, so I’m in over my head, but my grandson asked for this hat so grandma is going for it!
I think I’m understanding the wrap and turn. This pattern just says turn and doesn’t say wrap. After the turn instruction, it says 55 (59,63) sts. I interpreted that to mean I was supposed to stitch that many more, which confused me no end. I went ahead and did that, which means after a knit row, wrap and turn, I purled to the end, which of course was not 63 stitches long. *Scratching head, reading pattern and recounting stitches several times.* Then the next row is a purl row, but I’m on the knit side now. What to do??? So I think that last bit just informs the knitter how many stitches should be on the needle after completing that row? Argh! I’ll have to pull out that row (another new thing to learn).
Am I on the right track with that deduction?
Also, I have a dilemma I have yet to solve: the finishing directions don’t say anything about how to connect the edges of the hat. It looks like the sides are sewed together, but it isn’t mentioned anywhere in the pattern (because if I were an advanced knitter I’d already know, I’m sure, but…).
Thanks for any suggestions!
Hello, Lee!
Thank you so much for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! I am sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with the pattern! You are definately on the right track. The part of the pattern that says 55 (59, 63) is meant to tell you how many stitches you should have on your needles.
Also, if your pattern just says to turn (not wrap and turn) then you just do as the pattern instructs and turn your work. When you come to the end of a row, you turn it around and work your way back to the other side. Sometimes you’ll only work part way through a row and have to work back. So, you would turn after doing the required number of stitches.
For finishing, I recommend the matterss stitch. We’ve got a wonderful tutorial here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/11/11/mattress-stitch/.
If you have further questions please let us know! Again, thank you for questions!
Happy knitting,
Kumeko
OK…working on the Bandana Cowl. SO confused! I get the wrap and turn thing, but, then what? Do you knit all the way to the end of the row, or just do the pattern as written? It says P3, wrap and turn, but I’m not sure if it’s concentrated in the immediate area, or we’re to go to the end of the row. Thanks!!
Hi, Diane!
Thank you so much for your question! You are on the right track! Just follow the pattern as written. At Row 6 you’ll P3, wrap and turn. Then for Row 7 you knit to the wrapped stitch, so you’ll knit 3 stitches and then you’re back to the wrapped stitch, then you knit the wrapped stitch (picking up the wrap), knit one more stitch, wrap and turn. The basic concept here is that you’re building a triangle, and each row you’re adding a stitch to the width of that triangle. Just as you said, the sort rows are concentrated in the immediate area. Again, thank you for writing in and if you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
This might have been addressed & I didn’t see the answer but how do you keep the fabric from having holes from the wrapped stitches and do you count those stitches as the start to the next row or knit them together immediately with a slip of the next unworked stitched?
Hello, Sarah!
Thank you very much for writing in! There shouldn’t be any holes in your fabric, when you’re knitting the wrapped stitches, you need to knit them together with the stitch that they are wrapped around. That will prevent those holes. Regarding your question about knitting the following row, generally patterns should give instructions on the stitch pattern for the next row after turning a short row. Is this a Purl Bee pattern your working with and if so which one? Please let us know so that we help you!
Again, thanks for your questions!
Best,
Kumeko
I’ve got the earflaps figured out but after I do the right one and knit to the end of the round then says to purl the next round. The first three purl stitches go fine but there is a big gap to the next stitch. I’m thinking there’s a wrap that has to be picked up here but I can’t figure out where it is, it just looks messy. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Julie S,
Thanks for your question! I think you might have not picked up your wrap and knitted the wrap and the stitch together. I would unknit and make sure you pick up the wrap. I hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
Hi there! I’m very new at knitting! I’m from Portugal, and here, the knitting technique is very different. I am doing the pattern “Imagine When” from Joji Locatelli, but I have a doubt. I understood very well the w&t for the purl and knit side, but I’m doing garter stitch. How do I know which side I’m in? All I do is knit, as I don’t purl in this pattern. Hope you can understand what I meant. Thank your for your help,
Joana x
Hello Joana,
Thank you for your question. A simple way to tell the front from the back side with a garter stitch project is to place a removable stitch marker or safety pin on the right side. This way you will be able to easily tell which side you are on when you are knitting. I hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Allison