Learn to work German Short Rows in a few easy steps. German Short Rows work by pulling the stitch from the row below up so that you remove the gap between the row heights.
In this knitting tutorial, learn to work the wrap & turn. I'll show you how to work the initial wrap and then show you 2 different ways to pick up the wraps.
Working German Short Rows in Garter Stitch is very straightforward. However, once you need to join them in the round the second set of 'double stitches' can be a bit tricky to work! Here's a little video that I did when I was working on the Luwan sweater showing how it's done.
Why not give this technique a try in the following patterns:
Read more about Short Row Knitting.
There are many different ways of working short rows but they all have the same end effect, you use a loop of yarn to close the gap created when you turn your work before you reach the end of the row.
With the wrap & turn method this is done by placing the wrap around the stitch but for the Japanese short row method you are putting that 'loop' of yarn on a marker or safety pin.
Below you'll find a video I have done showing the Japanese Short Row method worked on both a right and wrong side row and then those 'loop's worked with the stitch when you pass them again.
Read more about Short Row Knitting.
Why not give this technique a try in one of the following patterns:
Garter stitch (every row is knit) can be very easy to hide short rows in as it looks like a series of 'bumps' when you are working it. However if you are working at a loose gauge and if there are a lot of short rows they become more visible and can make your knitting look uneven with gaps. German Short rows work really well in Garter Stitch. They are simple to work and they are not too visible from either side of the work. I've got this tutorial here in both video and photo format.
Here's the video of German Short Rows in Garter Stitch:
Step 1: Knit to the turning point and turn your work.
Step 2: Slip 1 stitch from the left to the right needle purlwise with the yarn at the front of the work.
Step 3: Pull the working yarn up and over the right needle creating a 'double stitch'.
Step 4: Continue knitting until you need to work another short row.
When you reach the 'double stitch' in subsequent rows all you have to do is knit the double stitch as though it was one stitch.
To learn some more Short Row techniques try my Essential Short Row Techniques Class on Craftsy. Here you'll find my patterns that use Short Rows in Garter Stitch to try out this technique! Some of these patterns might call for a different type of short row but you can easily just substitute it with German Short Rows if you like.
Why not give this technique a try in the following patterns:
Read more about Short Row Knitting.
Once you've mastered basic Brioche Stitch you'll want to start using it in all your knits!
I've discovered that German Short Rows work very well with Brioche Stitch, just make sure you make your turns in 2 stitch increments so that you don't mess up the Brioche Stitch pattern.
See a video of it in action here:
Read more about Short Row Knitting.
