six ways to short row

One knitting technique that has been exploding in use lately is short rows. Short rows create 3-D shaping in an otherwise flat knit fabric. Instead of working a row all the way from one side to the other, you stop at a set point, turn the work, and knit (or purl) back the other way; stop before the end again, turn and work the other way. These shorter (short) rows inserted in between longer rows create "puffs" of fabric, useful for cupping heels in socks or making room for busts in sweaters. 

They can also be used to create wedges. My "Going to Town Tam" design relies on short rows to make the pinwheel pattern on the top of the hat. 

More and more patterns, especially shawls, are thinking outside the box, using short row techniques to make beautiful shapes that swirl and curl around a wearer's shoulders, with creative use of colors and stitches to highlight the beauty of the yarns and designs.

When most knitters think short rows, they think "wrap and turn." But it turns out (I never can resist) that is just the tip of the iceberg. Short rows can be worked in quite a few ways, which led to a class based upon just that idea. So: "Six Ways to Short Row" will be debuting next Saturday, February 21 at Woolbearers in Mount Holly. Today was spent most productively, putting the finishing touches on the handouts and class structure.

German short row technique on the bottom, Japanese short rows right above it. Both are almost invisible. My favorite depends on the yarn and the project. In other words, it all depends, which is the point of the class. It's always good to have a range of weapons in your arsenal to be able to choose the best one for the challenge at hand.