Short Rows: Wrap + Turn
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. 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!
For a demonstration of the Wrap + Turn, watch our new Short Rows: Wrap + Turn video…
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, 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!
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I am knitting Jemima Puddle Duck on the short rows to shape the base of the neck it says K32, bring the working yarn to the front of work, slip next st purl-wise, slip the slipped stich backon to left needle, turn the knitting, take working yarn to the back ready for knitting = W+Tk (wrap and turn). This leaves the yarn at the back of knitting and you would need to bring yarn over the needle to do the purl side short row. I’m sorry if it’s me been stupid but I cannot find W + Tk any where. Thanks if you can help me
Hi Sue,
Thats a great question! This pattern is describing a wrap and turn, but just slightly different than our video tutorial. Some patterns describe techniques with another abbreviation or a small change to the way its performed. After slipping the stitch back to the left needle and turning your work, the working yarn is in the back. To purl, bring the yarn between the needles ready to purl the next stitch. For an even easier option, I think you could substitute our tutorial for wrap and turns instead in this pattern without an issue! Hope this helps!
Jessica
I just want to say THANK YOU so much for it this, especially the bonus on picking up a wrap that was made on the purl side, but picked up on the knit side. I always have issues with that last wrap and could not find help anywhere. This has solved my short row problems and I’m so grateful. Thank you!!!
Hi Jessica,
I tried three times to make the baby hat and I always have the same outcome. Where the wrap is made, it shows holes all along like loose yarns. When I make the wrap and turn, I leave the yarn in the back, slip the next st purlwise on R ndl then bring yarn forward and slip back the st on left needle and turn work. I then knit to where it says next and do the same thing. I did not grab the wrap under, I just knit each st regularly. Why is it not turning out right?
Angela
Hi Angela,
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you are working the wrap and turn exactly right! It’s completely normal to see gaps or loose areas directly below the needle when you are in the midst of the short rows for our Garter Ear Flap Hat. However, once you finish both ear flaps and start working in the round by purling all the way around the hat, they should all disappear into the purl row! If you are still seeing holes or gaps after working the first few rows of garter stitch in the round, please let us know so we can help you troubleshoot this!
All the best,
Julianna
Hi! I have a hole-problem too when coming to the first row od purling after having finished the ear flaps: How do I pick up the knit wraps on the purl side?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! When working wrap and turns in a pattern there should be a row where you are instructed to close up the holes and work the stitches with their wraps! This is typically worked on the knit side or “Right Side” of your work!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank so much for this !
My pattern tells me, knit till 4 stitches before the end of the row, W&T, leaving 4 stitches un worked
Continue on this way for 30 rows, but I have a huge whole appearing between the W&T and the 4 unworked stiches.
What am I doing wrong.
Thank You
Hi Margaret,
You are not doing anything wrong! These holes with close up, later on, when you work over them just make sure you pick up the turn, demonstrated in the “PICKING UP THE WRAPPED STITCH ON THE KNIT SIDE” section.
I hope this helps!
Oscar
Thank you! This tutorial is SO helpful and SO simple in its explanations; I feel like hunting after patterns that involve short rows just so I can do more with them! 😀
Need help with Blume pattern
Is there any instructions to follow
Thank
Ravi
Hi Ravi,
Thanks for getting in touch! Unfortunately, Blume is not a Purl Soho pattern or a pattern we carry, so I’m afraid I can’t offer too much help since I’m not familiar with that pattern and we don’t have a copy of it. If you have a general question about short rows I would be more than happy to try to clear things up, but if your question is more specific to the pattern, I would suggest reaching out to the designer for their help!
All the best,
Julianna
I am working through the bandana cowl pattern and am having trouble in the row 7 and 8 section. Is it possible to do a video explaining this part of the technique, I am having trouble determining “knit to the wrapped stitch” and “ purl to the wrapped stitch”. How many stitches would I do before reaching the wrapped stitch? I understand all the individual steps but not the big picture.
Hi Alycia,
Thanks for reaching out! I know it can seem confusing but basically you will be working a wrap, turning the work and knitting or purling (depending on what side of the fabric you are on) until you reach the previous wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap. For example after working rows 5 + 6 you will have already established wrapped stitches. So when you work row 7 you will be Knitting to the wrapped stitch (which you had just made in the previous rows), knit the wrapped stitch making sure to pick up the wrap, k1, wrap and turn. You will then continue to repeat this process 18 times until you wrap and turn the stitches right next to the marker!
There isn’t an exact number of stitches to look for in each row since it will change from row to row, this is what creates the triangle shape! This tutorial will show you all the steps you need to complete the cowl in both the video and the photographs below (the wrap, the turn, and how to pick up the wraps.)
I hope this helps and clarifies things!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you so much for the clarity. I was struggling to figure out why the bumps were unavoidable in wraps and turns and your video is so, so clear! Thanks!
I m trying to knit a mermaid tail for a doll. I have to wrap & turn . On the knit side. Once I turn and finish my wrap do I turn my knitting again to continue knitting or do I finish the row on the purl side ?
Hi Paulette,
Thanks for reaching out! Once you wrap you turn the work you knit back to the beginning rather than finishing the row.
I hope this clarifies things!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi..I am doing a garter stitch shawl and wondering if the W&T on garter will leave holes or should I try doing German short rows instead, and if I decide on german short rows, do I knit the 2 V legs together when working back
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reaching out! When working Wrap + Turn Short Rows there should be a final row you work where you can close up any holes by “picking up the wrapped stitches” as we show at the bottom of this tutorial! We also have a tutorial on German Short Rows that will show you how to work the back side as well!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Gianna
Hello there, I am making the garter ear flap hat in the round. When I do the first wrap and turn as instructed, I end up on the purl side with the yarn in front, but then the instructions say to knit. Confused here on how to knit when the yarn is in the front. Am I doing it wrong? Is it different when knitting in the round?
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for reaching out! Since the hat is worked in Garter Stitch, for the wrp-t [wrap and turn] you will keep 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. Return the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle. Turn the work. So after the wrap and turn the yarn should be in the back of the work so that you are ready to knit the first stitch at the start of the next row.
I hope this clarifies things, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thanks so much for the helpful video! This time when getting to the wrapped stitch, my pattern says to knit tbl next st with wrap… am I still picking up the wrap here or not? Thanks!
Hi Kari,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad that the tutorial helped you! I believe that means you should pick up the wrap and work it with the stitch!
I hope this helps and let me know if you need any more assistance!
All the best,
Gianna
I am working on the dog sweater pattern and am confused about the instructions for the back. Note says to work back and forth in rows and turning the work at the end of each row. Special instructions at the top explain wrap and turn. Last two stitches on right side call for P1, K1. If I P,K those last two stitches, how would I wrap and turn? Wouldn’t I need another stitch?
Hi Lorelei,
Thanks for reaching out! For the BACK section you are not working the short row wrap and turns, if you are supposed to be working a wrap and turn it will clearly tell you in the pattern, for example in the Yoke Section!
For the BACK, Row 1 (right side) you are K1, p1, [k2, p2] twice, sm (slip marker), knit to next marker, sm, [p2, k2] twice, p1, k1.
Row 2 (wrong side) you are P1, k1, [p2, k2] twice, sm, purl to next marker, sm, [k2, p2] twice, k1, p1. You are then repeating Rows 1 and 2 six (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) more times, then repeat Row 1 once more.
I hope this clarifies things!
All the best,
Gianna
Thanks, Gianna!
After watching your video I did the wrap and turn method but I think I missed the last row and there seems to be a small hole in that place as you mentioned do I have to frog it or can I continue with the next rows I already knitted 9 rows after the last wrap and turn row.
Hope you reply
Thank you
Vasanti Pereira
Hi Vasanti,
Thanks for reaching out! You can keep working because you will be able to close up the holes when you work your wraps with the stitches!
All the best,
Gianna
So…a wrap is not automatically a decrease or an increase? You end up with a stitch that has a wrap around it, but the same number of stitches?
Hi Kathie,
Thanks for reaching out! Wrap and turn is not an increase or decrease since you are not making or losing a stitch, but rather it is a method of shaping that only works over a portion of the stitches rather than the whole row!
I hope this clarifies things for you, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi there, I hope this question makes sense. I’m making a cardigan and the pattern has me repeating short rows. Short row 1 is knitting until the last 5 stitches then wrap and turn. Short row 3 is knitting to 5 stitches before the wrapped stitch from the previous RS, and short row 5 says “Repeat Short Row 3.” Does this mean I knit until 5 before the first short row wrapped stitch again, or do I knit until 10 before the wrapped stitch from short row 3? Sorry if this is confusing! I’d really appreciate the help.
Hi Emily,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct, when you Repeat Short Row 3 you will again be knitting until 5 stitches before the last wrapped stitch from the previous RS!
I hope this clears things up and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
OMG – your instructions and photos are just what I needed. Thank you! My first attempt at short rows was a disaster. This time, I’m just working on a practice swatch. I will be making a cardigan for my elderly mother and will need to insert some short rows to accommodate for her Dowager’s hump. Which way should these short rows go – do I leave more stitches at the side edges near the neckline, or further down? I just can’t visualize how this should go.
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad to hear that you have enjoyed our tutorial so much! Its hard to say without seeing the pattern for the cardigan you are planning on making but my best guess would be to add the short rows in around the neckline or into the shoulder shaping!
Warmly,
Gianna
I want to make the garter stitch ear flap hat – but I want to convert the pattern to german short rows – but need help. I love the pattern
Hi Christina,
Thanks for reaching out! You can easily substitute Wrap + Turns for German Short Rows! Please check out our Short Rows: German Short Rows tutorial, we break down German Short Rows into a few easy steps and will also show you how to adapt them for Wrap + Turn instructions.
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi there, I really like the instructions for picking up a wrap on the right side, that was made on the wrong side. Do you have a method for the opposite…..I mean picking up a wrap on the wrong side of the work that was made on the right side?
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! It should actually work the same way since the wrap will be wrapped around the entire stitch, on both sides! The treatment of working the wrapped stitch will just depend on which stitch you are working!
I hope this makes sense, happy knitting!
Gianna
Good instruction for this short row method. I have always used short rows for shoulder shaping and heel shaping. However I am a bit confused on how to tackle the shape for a bust dart. I understand each side of the front piece must be done separately, but my trouble begins when I must set up the shape to knit. If I begin at 1″ from the side edge and end at 1″ from the bust point, do I keep shortening the rows on each edge (like heel shaping)or do I just shorten at the side edge and keep the bust side even (like shoulder shaping)? I hope you can understand my question and look forward to your suggestions or guidance.
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for reaching out! I am happy to help, are you working from a specific pattern or are you coming up with one yourself?
Looking forward to your response!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you for these exceedingly clear instructions! I’m working a pattern in the round where it tells me to “work to 4 st before marker, turn, yo, work back to 4 st before other marker, turn. Repeat until you have worked 4 turns on both sides. Begin working in the round while at the same time working the yo’s together with the “neighbouring” sts to avoid holes”.
I tried doing the wrp-t in place of (hoping they are the same thing) the directions above and it generally seemed to work, although I wasn’t stacking the turns as I imagined I would do based on those instructions. I ended up using the 4 sts on either end of the short row for the wrp-t. This seems okay, despite the shaping being on a diagonal rather than vertical (I.e. not what I would think of as “stacked”), but I am still getting holes at the sides and I don’t know how to work the yo’s with the neighbouring sts!
Could you help? Am I doing this completely wrong? I first tried following the directions verbatim but ended up with a tall flap that I couldn’t join with the rest of the round. Then I tried German short rows before this but saw in the comments that they don’t work for short rows that need to be stacked, like I believe this pattern wants. Any help will be appreciated! I’m trying to finish this baby knit before my baby comes any day!! 🤣
Hi Cristine,
Thanks for reaching out! Please send our customer service team a photo of your work, a photo of the written instructions of the pattern, as well as any photos of what the finished project should look like (if the pattern provides images) to customerservice@purlsoho.com and they can help you troubleshoot further from there what may be happening and how to proceed!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi there,
I’m doing a Debbie Bliss sock pattern. On each row after doing a wrap and turn the instructions for the first stitch are to slip one. I was unsure as to how to pick up the wrap stitch without creating extra stitches when I’m not suppose to knit it so can’t do a k2tog. Can I pick it up and knit it together with the second stitch? Or should I ignore the instruction to slip 1 and just do as the tutorial shows here?
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for reaching out! It is very typical of sock patterns! When the short rows you will always slip the first stitch, this makes it easy to pick up stitches later! Also when working the wrap and turns for a sock, you typically won’t be picking up the wrap as we do in this tutorial. So I would recommend following the pattern as written, slipping the first stitch, and don’t worry about picking up the wraps!
I hope this clears things up, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi
I understand the concept, but are you actually wrapping every stitch or is there a stick in between ?
I am working German short rows and can’t tell if every st is worked or every other.
Thanks S
Hi S,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are using German Short Rows, this is not the tutorial for you! Wrap + Turns are one way to do short rows but German Short Rows are a completely different method where you do not wrap the stitch at all, instead, you make a double stitch! I would suggest checking out our Short Rows: German Short Rows tutorial for more information!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am knitting the lightweight ragland pullover with Buttercup cotton yarn. I have made this sweater before with Cattail Silk and had no problem. I am having trouble with the wrap and turn stitch, actually the pick up of the wrap stitch. I have watched the video many times but still have holes after I do this stitch. I have unraveled it more times that I care to think about and started over. Could it be that the Buttercup cotton yarn shows my mistakes more than the silk?
Hi Georgia,
Thanks for reaching out! Buttercup Cotton may show a bit more than the silk since it isn’t as textured! I think blocking should help fix the mistakes you are seeing, I would suggest trying this out on a swatch with the Buttercup Cotton and then Blocking the swatch to see if that helps at all!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I am knitting Julie Hoover’s pattern called POST. When you do the short rows, it says to knit to three stitches before the last wrap and turn. Does this include the wrap stitch that is pulled close to the other two stitches or not? I don’t know whether that counts as one of the three stitches? Thanks!
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for reaching out! When the pattern says to knit until 3 stitches before the wrap and turn it means there should be 3 stitches before the stitch that is wrapped, not including the stitch that is wrapped!
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
Hi PurlSoho – Joji Locatelli refers knitters to your helpful instructions in her On the Grass pattern. I had already happily used your tutorial several times before. However, one line of her pattern specifically states NOT to pick up wrapped stitches while knitting back across the row. I have never run into this in all my time knitting short rows. Can you help, or is this a Joji question? Thank you!
Hi Maribeth,
Thanks for reaching out! While I don’t have access to the pattern you’re referring to myself, I can think of some instances where you might not need to pick up a wrap from a wrap + turn short row. One such instance is when working short rows in garter stitch, because the bumps created by the wraps blend in perfectly with the purl bumps! In a similar vein, if the pattern uses the purl-side of stockinette on the right side of a work, then the wraps should blend in, as well. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili