For The Love Of Short Rows

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I LOVE short rows! They are the perfect option for shaping seamless garments, and since I discovered German Short Rows I love them even more! German Short Rows are, in my opinion, the easiest, fastest, and best looking way to work short rows. I used them to shape the shoulders in the Keeley Sweater, and the neckline in the Blowout Cardigan and Jean’s Jacket. I also used short rows to shape the high/low hemline in the Linden Street Pullover and to create the lace and garter stitch wedges on A Thousand Rainy Days. There is a KAL for the love of short rows starting February 14, 2017, in the third vault on the left Ravelry group. Use the code ShortRowLove17 to get 20% off A Thousand Rainy Days and several other patterns from different designers. You can see the complete list here.

German Short Rows use what is called a “double stitch” or ds to prevent forming a hole in the work where the short rows are turned. To make the double stitch, turn the work, slip the first stitch on the left needle to the right needle with the yarn in front, and pull the yarn up, over the needle and to the back of the work. Each step is shown in the photos below.

Stop knitting before the end of the row. Your pattern will tell you how many stitches are worked in the short row.

Turn.

With the yarn in front, slip the first stitch on the left needle to the right needle.

Pull the yarn up, over the needle, and to the back of the work to create the double stitch.

 

The double stitch is always slipped with the yarn in front, so if the last stitch you worked was a knit stitch, the yarn will already be in front when you turn your work. However, if the last stitch was a purl stitch, you will have to bring the yarn to the front between the needles before you slip the double stitch. Here’s what that looks like:

Purl.

Turn your work.

Bring the yarn to the front between the needles.

Slip the first stitch on the left needle to the right needle.

Pull the yarn up and to the back of the work.

The double stitch looks like two stitches coming out of one; work into it only once.

 

Learn to recognize the double stitches because most patterns will tell you to work to the double stitch or a few stitches before the double stitch before turning to work the next short row. On the return row work both strands of the double stitch together as one stitch.

 

Thank you for knitting!