Short rows in knitting

In this article, I will show you one of the methods of short rows, which is widely used in TARITOYS patterns.

In the process of knitting, we often have to change the size of the fabric both in width and height. To increase or decrease the width of the knitted fabric, we use increases and decreases. But when we need to increase a part of the item in height and give it a certain shape, the method of short rows becomes indispensable. There are many techniques for working short rows, such as W&T (Wrap & Turn), Shadow Wraps, German Short Rows and others. However, the essence of all these methods is to create a recess or dart at a certain point without using seams.

Let’s consider the method of short rows using W&T (Wrap & Turn) as an example – wrap and turn. Essentially, when you reach the desired point in the item, you wrap the working yarn around the next stitch and turn around, continuing to knit in the opposite direction. This is done to make the transition seamless, without creating holes.

So, W&T (Wrap & Turn) method:

Short rows in a row with knit stitches:

After knitting to the point where you need to make a turn (to the point where fabric should not increase in height), slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right (with yarn in back), as if to purl.

Turn the work, passing the working yarn behind the slipped stitch (wrapping it in the direction from the purl side to the knit side), then slip the slipped stitch again without knitting, pull the working thread and continue knitting the purl row.

Short rows in a row with purl stitches:

After knitting to the point where you need to make a turn (to the point where fabric should not increase in height), slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right, as if to purl, passing the working yarn in front of the slipped stitch:

Turn the work, wrapping the working yarn in the direction from the purl side to the knit side:

Then slip the slipped stitch again without knitting (with yarn in front) and continue knitting the purl row:

Thus, we always wrap the stitch in the direction from the purl side to the knit side. In knit rows, this happens behind the slipped stitch, and in purl rows – in front of it.

When it's time to knit the wrapped stitch:

For knit stitches:

Insert the right needle under the wrap:

Insert the right needle into the wrapped stitch as if to knit:

And then knit the wrap and the wrapped stitch together as a knit stitch:

For purl stitches:

Insert the right needle behind the work under the wrap as if to purl:

Place the wrap onto the left needle:

And knit the wrap and the wrapped stitch together as a purl stitch:

It is important to remember that in the process of knitting short rows, each of them is not counted as a separate row. The entire row is considered fully knitted from beginning to end. Therefore, in the patterns, you may encounter sets of rows consisting of several short rows (purl and knit).