Short Rows: German Method
German short rows are the easiest of the modern short-row methods. They produce no holes at the turn and use a "double stitch" (DS) instead of a wrap. They have largely replaced wrap-and-turn as the default short-row method in modern patterns.
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Method
Knit to the turn point. Turn the work. Slip the next stitch purlwise. Pull the working yarn up and over the right needle until both legs of the stitch sit on the needle as a "double stitch" (one stitch with two visible legs). Continue knitting (or purling) the next row.
Working the double stitch
When the next row reaches a double stitch, work both legs together as a single stitch (k2tog or p2tog). The double stitch becomes one stitch and the turn is closed cleanly.
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Compared to wrap-and-turn
No wrap to pick up. No risk of holes at the turn. Works equally well in stockinette, garter, and ribbing. The only short-row method most modern patterns specify by default.
Best uses
Sock heel turns, shoulder shaping, sweater neckline shaping, asymmetric shawl construction, bust darts. Anywhere a pattern says "short row" or "w&t."
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DS | double stitch |
| w&t | wrap and turn |
| k2tog | knit two together |
Tips
- When you reach a double stitch on the next row, work both legs together (k2tog or p2tog).
- Pull the working yarn firmly enough to pull both legs of the double stitch onto the needle.
- For the cleanest result, count double stitches as one stitch when checking your stitch count.
In depth
German short rows replace the wrap-and-turn motion with a slip-and-pull motion that creates a "double stitch" at the turn. The double stitch is structurally a single stitch with two visible legs, which is why it can be worked together (k2tog) on the next row to close the turn cleanly.