Short rows are a way to add shaping or angles
to a piece, and German short rows are one
technique for preventing a hole that will
form if you just turn to knit in the other
direction. This method may also sometimes
be called a Double Stitch Short Row. I added
a stitch marker to two of the places I already
used German short rows. You can see the Double
stitch at each of those markers - looks like
two loops on the needle for one stitch.
I’ll be working the double stitch on a knit
stitch in this example.
You might be using a pattern that was written
for German short rows, in which case the pattern
will tell you when to make the Double Stitch,
or you might be using this method on a pattern
which was written for Wrap and Turn short
rows. If that is the case, the stitch which
is meant to be the wrapped stitch will be
the Double Stitch.
Follow the pattern to when you’re told to
work the short row, or Double Stitch. In this
case, there is a stitch marker marking the
spot. Remove the marker, and knit the next
stitch.
Turn your work.
Then slip the stitch you just knit over to
the right-hand needle, purl-wise.
Now, this will feel strange, pull your yarn
up tightly in front, so that it pulls up and
creates what looks like two stitches from
the stitch below the working yarn. That’s
your Double Stitch.
See it’s pulled up, like that.
See.
If you are meant to knit the first stitch
of the new row, with the yarn pulled up over
the needle to the back, knit the stitch normally.
It should be a bit tight between the double
stitch and the first knit stitch. See it looks
like that on the back side. There.
If you are meant to purl the first stitch
of the new row, once the yarn is pulled up
to make the Double Stitch, bring it all the
way around and through to the front side to
purl. Purl the stitch normally, and again,
it should be a bit tight between the double
stitch and the purl stitch.
You can see what it looks like. Working side.
And Back side.
So here is a swatch with a few short rows,
and you can see the Double Stitches made at
each short row. There. There. Right there.
That’s the new one we just made.
Now I'll show you how to knit the short row
stitches on the next row.
When working back across these stitches later.
It will feel a bit like working a knit-2-together
decrease, bringing the needles through all
strands of the Double Stitch. It can also
feel a little bit tight when you do it, depending
on how tight you pulled it up.
I’m going to show you one more time what
it looks like working that Double Stitch.
Again working it like knit-2-together decrease,
making sure to treat each Double Stitch as
one stitch.
I’m going to keep working on this swatch.
Happy knitting!
