Short rows are used in patterns where you need to add shape to your project – in the heel of a sock or booty, or a bust dart, or even an ear flap.
Essentially, a short row is where you only work a certain number of stitches of your row of stitches, instead of working all the way across the row.
As with all patterns, the instructions may vary in how they are written, but whenever you work a short row, it’s important to wrap and turn the next stitch after your short row. If a pattern does not mention wrapping and turning, still do one to avoid leaving a hole in your work. For example, if you are told to work a short row of 9 stitches, you would wrap and turn stitch number 10 on your left hand needle.
Working a wrap and turn on a knit row creates an almost invisible join between the shaped area of your work and your ordinary row.
Working a wrap and turn on a purl row is not as neat as it leaves a slight bump where you wrap, but sometimes that might be used as part of the design.
See videos below to see how to wrap and turn on both a knit and purl row.
Short Row : Knit
Short Row : Purl
