Short Rows – Wrap and Turn

Short rows are used to shape knitting. At their most basic they are made by working part of a row, turning the knitting, and then working back in the opposite direction.

Turning in the middle of a row can create a small hole in the fabric. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to close the gap, but we are going to concentrate on the wrap and turn (w&t/).

You will need:

yarn leftovers
2 x knitting needles

Technique

The technique for the wrap and turn varies slightly depending on if it is worked in a knit or purl row.

w&t/ in a row of knit stitches:

Knit to the end of the short row.
Bring the yarn to the front as if to purl the next stitch.
Slip the next stitch.
Take the yarn to the back of the fabric.
Return the slipped stitch to the left-hand needle.
Turn the fabric, ready to work in the opposite direction.

w&t/ in a row of purl stitches:

Purl to the end of the short row.
Take the yarn to the back as if to knit the next stitch.
Slip the next stitch.
Bring the yarn to the front of the fabric.
Return the slipped stitch to the left-hand needle.
Turn the fabric, ready to work in the opposite direction.

When knitting garter stitch or reverse stocking stitch the wrapped stitches can be worked as normal on the following row. In stocking stitch the result is neater when the wrap is also worked. Again the technique varies slightly depending on if it is worked in a knit or purl row.

Knitting a wrapped stitch:

Diagram showing template completely wrapped in yarn.

Insert the right-hand needle into the front of the wrap, from underneath, so that it forms a new stitch on the needle.
Knit the next stitch.
Pass the wrap over the top of the knit stitch and off the needle.

Purling a wrapped stitch:

Insert the right-hand needle into the back of the wrap, from underneath, so that if forms a new stitch on the needle.
Purl the next stitch.
Pass the wrap over the top of the purl stitch and off the needle.

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