How To Knit Short Rows {Wrap and Turn}

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In this post, you will learn how to knit short rows using the wrap and turn method.

Short rows are used to create extra fabric in your knitting, which is great for shaping.

The extra rows you create look like triangles or wedges.

Brianna in Outlander season four
The Brianna Capelet has been knit with short rows for shaping.
Image Source – Copyright to Starz.com

A short row is created by knitting so far along your row, then wrapping a stitch, turning the work, wrapping again, and continuing to knit.

When you wrap the yarn around the stitch, it prevents holes from appearing in the short rows, so your extra rows in the shaping flow naturally within the fabric you are creating.

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Take a look below at the step-by-step tutorial and watch the video in this post.

You can also watch the video on my YouTube channel here.

How To Knit Short Rows – Wrap and Turn

  1. Knit to where you need to wrap and turn

    Keep your yarn at the back of the work.keep the yarn at the back of the work

  2. Bring the yarn to the front

    Bring the working yarn to the front of the work.bring the yarn to the front of the work

  3. Slip the next stitch purlwise

    keeping the yarn in the front, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left-hand needle over onto the right-hand needle.slipping a stitch purlwise

  4. You will now have the slipped stitch on the RHN

    The slipped stitch will now be on the right-hand needle.slipped stitch on the left hand needle

  5. Take the working yarn over the slipped stitch to the back of the work

    Bring the working yarn around the slipped stitch at the front and take it to the back of the work.take the working yarn around to the back of the work

  6. Turn the work

    You have to now turn the work so that the back of the piece is facing you. The working yarn will look like this in the image below.turn the knitting to face you

  7. Slip the stitch

    Now you will need to slip that stitch back onto the right-hand needle purlwise.slip the stitch purlwise

  8. The slipped stitch and the yarn

    The slipped stitch will now be on the right-hand needle.the working yarn and the slipped stitch

  9. Move the yarn to the back of the loop

    Take the working yarn around the slipped stitch so that it is at the back of the work. move the yarn to the back of the loop

  10. Knit the next stitch

    Once your yarn is at the back of the work, go ahead and knit the next stitch. Then you can continue to work that row. You can see the stitch in the photo below where the yarn has been wrapped.knit the next stitch

Short Row FAQs

What does short rows mean in knitting?

When you knit short rows this means that you are not working a full row, you are going to wrap and turn – turning the work to continue to kit, thus creating a shorter row. This is for shaping.

How do short rows work?

You can view the step by step photo tutorial above or watch the video on my YouTube channel here.

How do you knit a short row without holes?

You knit a short row without any holes by wrapping and turning. This means that you will wrap the yarn over the stitch you slipped and then turn to continue to knit. This will mean the row will have no holes in it.

Knitting Lessons

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How to knit short rows

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