Short rows are a knitting technique used to shape knitted fabric. There are several different approaches to short rows in knitting, such as the wrap & turn, Japanese short rows, and German short rows. Each approach has its own benefits. Wrap & turn is a basic short row technique and Japanese short rows are considered to give the most seamless look. However, being both simple and elegant, German short rows are the favored method for many knitters and designers. Because it is so often recommended in patterns, it is the one that we will be talking about in this post.
What are German short rows ?
German short rows are probably the most popular approach to short row shaping. It is used to give the fabric a curved shape, which is useful for contouring the body when making clothes. It is often used to shape sock heels, or to raise the back of a sweater for a better fit. Patterns will indicate that you must stop knitting before the end of a row and then turn the work. This is repeated for several rows consecutively. The result is a section that has more rows than the area next to it. This addition of rows in only a particular section is what creates the shape in your knitted item.
How to knit German short rows
It is not as simple as just turning your work in the middle of a row and knitting back along the row. This would leave you with holes in your fabric in each place where you turned the work to knit in the other direction. Where this technique comes into play is by creating a seamless join between the area where you would like to knit additional rows and a section you have already knit.
Basic Steps
- Turn the work before the end of your row, where indicated in the pattern
- On the wrong side of the fabric, slip 1 stitch back to the right hand needle, keeping the yarn in front of your work
- Pull the yarn tightly over top of the right needle to create a double stitch
- Work the wrong side row according to your pattern, until you need to turn again
- Now on the right side of the fabric, slip 1 stitch back to the right hand needle, keeping the yarn in front of your work
- Pull the yarn tightly over top of the right needle to create a double stitch
- Knit across the right side row according to your pattern
When you reach a point where you have turned the work and have a double stitch, you simply work two legs of the double stitch as if it was one stitch
What is a double stitch?
When you pull the stitch over the top of the right needle before you start a new row, you are pulling the two legs of the stitch below upwards. This creates a very distinctive looking stitch commonly called the double stitch. Each point where you turn the work using the German short row technique, you will create these distinctive stitches. This is one of the plus points to using this technique, as it is very clear where you have turned. As a result, it is easy to see when you have reached a double stitch and need to knit the two legs of the double stitch together. This distinct looking stitch is why the German short row technique is sometimes called double stitch knitting.
Video Tutorial
Tips
- If you prefer the German short row technique, you can supplement it into any pattern that calls for short rows. If you are using a pattern that recommends a wrap and turn and you want to use German short rows, knit one stitch past where the pattern indicates that you should turn
- Following the basic steps above, you can see that it is the same steps on both sides of the fabric. It might look or feel slightly different when you do it in practice. Keeping that in mind and it can make it easier to remember the steps.
- It is important to keep your tension nice and tight. Make sure to pull the yarn snugly when creating the double stitch. If it’s too loose, the fabric may look uneven or leave small holes.
- One benefit of German short rows is that the turning points are easy to see because of the double stitch. Still, you may want to use stitch markers or take note of the exact stitch where you need to turn your work while you are learning this technique.
- Different patterns might alter the German short rows slightly, so it’s good to read through the specific instructions written by the designer in the pattern that you are using.
This was a quick overview of the commonly used German short row method of shaping knitwear. Shaping is a key step to make sure that your knitted items have a good fit. It can seem like a challenging series of steps, but it is easy to get the hang of it with a bit of practice. Hopefully this summary of the steps, the video tutorial, and the extra tips will help you use this handy technique in your upcoming projects.
