How to knit Short Rows?
Short Row means that you don’t knit to the end of the needle. Instead, you turn your work partway through the row. There are several ways to work the turning point. All of them aim to prevent holes along the Short Rows. In this post I show you how to knit German Short Rows with double stitches. This a wrapless method.
What is Double Stitch?
If you knit lots of socks, you probably are familiar with the double stitch. Sometimes double stitch is called ‘pair of stitches’. They mean the same thing. After the turn you slip the first stitch and tighten it up. The stitch of the previous row is lifted this way on the needle. The stitch appears now ‘double’. It has two legs and it looks as if there were two stiches. This stitch binds the different rows together. When knitted, the double stitch looks like normal knit stitch. On wrong side of the work the double stitch has one extra vertical bar. On the right side you hardly notice it.
How to make Double Stitch?
Double stitch is made on the knit rows and the purl rows the same way.
- Knit or purl to turning point. Turn.
- With yarn in font, slip the first stitch purlwise.
- Lift the working yarn over the right needle to back. Pull the yarn tight. When you pull hard enough, the stitch from the previous row is pulled up on the needle and it creates a Double Stitch.
Double Stitch appears as two stiches, but it is always worked as one stitch. This video tutorial shows you how to create Double Stitches and how to work them on the next row.
When and why are Short Rows needed?
Short rows are, for example, used to shape neck or shoulders on sweaters and cardigans. Sock patterns need short rows on heels. Shawls and afghans have sometimes short rows. It is easy the knit diagonal lines or knit different parts of the garment to different directions, when you use short rows. Many seams can be avoided with short rows.
Are there other methods to knit Short Rows than the German one?
Yes, there are. In fact, there are quite a few different methods to work short rows. Wrap & Turn is probably the most common one. The Japanese Short Row is also very popular. I will return to these techniques later in other posts. Subscribe to this blog to stay tuned.
Wish you joyful early springtime. Greetings from Finland,
Piia Maria
