What Are Short Rows?
Do you ever run into knitting patterns that have short rows and wonder what they are?
Short rows are a technique in knitting, where you can work partial rows. To prevent a hole from appearing between the rows when you finish shaping, there are different ways how to treat the stitch.
The most common kind are German Short Rows.
German Short Rows In Knitting
German short rows technique creates a double stitch for closing a hole in your knitting. Working off the double stitch you treat is as a single stitch. On the right side you need to knit it and on the wrong side purl it.
German Short Rows Video
If you need to see this technique in action, I am offering you to watch my YouTube video and subscribe to my channel!
German Short Rows Photo Tutorial
Making turn from right (knit) to the wrong (purl) side
Turning from the wrong (purl) to the right (knit) side
Work the double stitch on the right side
Work the double stitch on the purl side
German Short Rows In The Round
Working in the round doesn’t differ from flat knitting. But there is a catch! When you work in the round after finishing short rows, you will discover the last unworked double stitch on the way. It will look different. There is a trick on how to knit. You will need to treat each leg as a separate stitch.
First leg knit as usual. Second leg knit together with the following stitch.
German Short Rows In Ribbing
Working German short rows in ribbings 1×1 or 2×2 is the same.
- When you need to make a turn on a knit stitch, turn and you will face purl stitch, right? Because it is an opposite side of a knit stitch. Make a German short rows as if you are on the purl side.
- When you need to make a turn on a purl stitch, turn and you will face knit stitch, right? Because it is an opposite side of a purl stitch. Make a German short rows as if you are on the knit side.
Working off short rows. Keep in the pattern. If the stitch you come to is a knit, knit it; if it is a purl, purl it.
Conclusion
Many people prefer German short rows because they are nearly invisible after picked up and easy to learn. Works equally well in English or Continental style knitting. Of course, it is down to preference.
If wrap and turn (W&T) short rows stresses you out, this method is a good alternative.
There are a few exceptions where German short rows can’t substitute W&T and will not work well:
stacked up short rows (turn on the same stitch more than once), but it happens rarely, so you shouldn’t worry about it too much.
It is beneficial to learn more than one short row methods, because in different patterns some will work better than others.
Other Short Row Methods: