Short rows are partial rows. You knit part way across, turn around and work back, so one area of the fabric gets extra rows and grows taller than the rest. That is how knitters shape sock heels, raise the back neck of a sweater, add bust darts and make curved hems. This tutorial follows Brooklyn Tweed, who teach the German short row method on a yellow swatch with the short rows in blue so you can see exactly where they land.
How to knit short rows: the short version
- Work across the row until the pattern says to turn, and turn.
- Slip the first stitch purlwise with the yarn in front.
- Pull the yarn up and over the needle so the stitch shows two legs.
- Work back, and repeat at each turning point.
- When you reach a double stitch later, work its two legs together.
Why German short rows
Most older patterns call for wrap and turn. It works, but many knitters get small holes or visible wraps at each turn. The German method uses one move, the slip and pull, and there is nothing to pick up later. The turn closes neatly on the right side. On the wrong side you will see a tiny bump at each turning point. That is normal and nobody sees it.
Using them in a wrap and turn pattern
You can swap German short rows into any pattern that says w&t. Work the pattern as written. When it tells you to wrap and turn, work one more stitch, then turn and do the slip and pull instead. Do the same on the way back. When the pattern says to pick up wraps, knit or purl the double stitch together as shown in steps 8 and 9.
Where short rows show up in patterns
Look for the words short row, w&t, GSR or turn. In a top down sock, short rows build the heel cup. In a sweater, a few pairs across the back of the neck stop the front from riding up. In a shawl they make crescents and wedges, and in a hat they can shape a slouch. Once the move is familiar, every one of those reads the same way: work to the turn, slip and pull, go back.
Yarn and needles for practice
Practice on a swatch first, about 20 stitches of stockinette in a smooth light colored worsted. Use a contrast color for the short rows the way Brooklyn Tweed do. It makes the turning points easy to find and shows the wedge shape when you are done. A circular needle is handy because you can push the stitches to either end as you turn.
Common problems
- Holes at the turns. The slip and pull was loose. Keep the yarn tight over the needle while you work the next stitch.
- Counted the double stitch as two. It is one stitch. Count it once when you measure to the next turn.
- Lost track of the turns. Put a locking marker in each double stitch as you make it.
- Turns all line up in a seam. Stagger them a few stitches apart, as the pattern shows, for a smooth slope.
The slip and pull wraps the needle much like a yarn over. Short rows turn a heel in socks and lift the back neck of a sweater. For other shaping, see how to increase in knitting.
