How to work a w&t (wrap and turn) in short-row knitting. The next video you'll want to watch shows you how to pick up these wraps when you're finished working short rows.
So helpful. I used your slo-mo to learn this technique initially, but always return to this one when I haven’t done w&t for a while. You are my go to source for knitting help! Thanks.
I know I have done this technique before but always check back with you when I need to do it again in a new project. Thank you for your easy explanation and demonstration.
Wanted to try the "advanced" block in my KAL block-of-the-month club and was really scared to try this until I found your video, excellently done, thank you!
VeryPink Knits - I just gotta time to compliment this gal and her tutorials - when I have a question I look for her videos to learn whatever I may need. I have also used several of her videos when teaching youngsters learning to do their basic knits. Her step-by-step methods and close-ups when necessary are SO HELPFUL. THANKS !! Kitty ;o)
Thank you SO much! This is the only video I have found so far that bothers to show how to wrap on the pearl side. I know it seems like it should be intuitive...but it REALLY helps to see it!
My girlfriend and I just picked up knitting. Resourceful as we are we don't restrict ourselves to beginner's patterns. With your help, we've succeeded all our projects. Many thanks. Do you host knitting retreats? If so, we want to go.
I so love your videos! Whenever I, or someone on my several FB groups, has a question on something, I immedialty send them the link to one of your videos. Someone was just asking about wrap and turns so they got the regular vid, the slo-mo and the vid on German short rows. lol
This was such a simple and quick explanation. After watching this video and the next one about picking up the wraps, I was good to go. Thank YOU so much Staci!
That's great, Nancy - thank you for the note! To answer your question - no...with the work of making sure I release a new knitting video every week, I don't have time for knitting retreats. But I'm currently teaching a class every month at Gauge Knits here in Austin, Texas. Love to see you there if you find yourself in Texas! :)
@nurrm2 It is how we work "short rows", which is used tons of different ways in patterns. It can be used to create the heel and/or toe of a sock, it is how we turn a flat piece of knitting into a crescent shape, it can give shape to a shawl collar. Short rows are a really useful way to create shape in otherwise flat knitting.
Thank you for the explanation. This is a new 'stitch' or technique I need to learn for a new pattern I am going to be working on. I had not heard of this technique before. You are awesome!
I'm having a hard time with short rows, turning, wrapping, and then picking up my wraps. Your explanation is awesome! But is there a way that we can see the knitting close-up, please? Thanks in advance!
You can turn the work when you're knitting in-the-round. You can either flip your work inside-out, or just work from the "inside" of the work. Don't over-think it - just make sure the wrong side of the work is facing you, and you have turned your work.
I always use your instructions for ensuring techniques are executed well. However am going to cry trying to work out W&T’s on my current pattern. Which has a right side and a wrong side (not necessarily knit and purl sides)..how do I W&T my knit stitches and pick up on both sides?
@wonton71 You can enlarge the video screen, which is just as good as a close-up, if you need it. Just click the button on the lower right of the video screen called "full screen". You can also click the button that says "change quality", and set the quality up to 720pHD. That should help!
If a pattern calls for circular needles, it's usually for a good reason. Usually it's because it's knit in-the-round, or because you will have too many stitches to fit on straight needles (so the cord is needed to accommodate the stitches). If you must use straight needles, you can modify patterns to be knit flat then seamed up, instead of knit in a tube.
@theappleofGodseyes I'm just showing the technique here...you'll want to follow your pattern to know whether the next row is a K or a P row. If you're knitting stockinette stitch and your first row was a knit, the next row would be a purl.
@dankimforde It's really just the same thing, only you're holding the working yarn in your left hand instead of your right. Circular needles make no difference at all in this technique. You can watch my video "Knitting Help - Lefties vs. Righties" if you want more info. :)
@carapot The next line of the pattern should tell you what to do after you've turned your work. You describe the first line as knitting until there are five stitches left on the left needle. So you turn your work, and the next row will probably give you instructions for the purl side. If you still have questions, I recommend contacting the designer of the pattern you are knitting. They should be able to help you better with specific questions on their pattern.
Another great video from VPK! At the end you say “the next video you will want to watch is picking up the wraps” but how can we find it easily? Most often you point to the top corner (and you’re right - the link is always there!) but you have so many videos (thankfully) that I’m still scrolling which is bad because I want to stop and look at every one - ha. I’ll go to your site (bookmarked, of course) and will do a search but we do appreciate when you can point.
@KirisPowell I'm not sure I understand your question, but are you talking about slipping the stitch knitwise instead of purlwise when you're doing wrap and turns? If that is the case, I wouldn't recommend it. It puts a twist on the stitch that you'll be able to see when your work is finished.
@TonjaTang Hmm...without seeing your work, I can't figure out what you might be doing to have your work "fall apart". You might need to take your knitting in to your local yarn shop to get help first hand from someone who can actually see what your problem is. Sorry I can't be of more help! You can try explaining it further, if you like.
Hi, thanks so much for this video. It's very clear and easy to understand. I saw another video that tells you to lift the stitch from the left needle knitwise instead of purl-wise. I considered the number of hits to be a good reason to follow that one, and as a result, used that method. Is this ok?
If a pattern doesn't specify to pick up wraps, the designer probably doesn't intend for you to pick them up. But it's really up to you. You can try it both ways and see which one looks better to you. Good luck!
My guess is that you're not knitting two together after you pick up the wrap. First you pick up the wrap around the stitch, then you put the wrap up on the left needle. Then you need to knit the wrap and the stitch together as one - so that you don't increase. Hope that helps!
For the wrap and turn my pattern says to do it 5 times. Do I do the double knit and then do wrap and turn o the second row, or do I wait until all 5 rows are wrapped and turned and then do the double knit to close the hole? Sorry for being confused.
Sorry - I can't answer that, because I'm not familiar with the pattern. Please contact the designer directly for clarification. Ravelry message is usually a good way to reach designers.
I keep doing something wrong with my Purl W&T and I’m not sure what- I’ve paid attention to my yarn direction, and I can’t figure it out... I get gaps and when I pick it up knit side- I get it super tight and then I get gaps! Even though I try and keep it loose when making the wrap...
I have watched your tutorials about wrap and turn and german short rows, I have the concept but I am knitting something with a 1 X 1 rib that uses a wrap and turn. To pick up the wrap, (knit side) now is the purl side. How do I make it so that it is a smooth outcome? Hope the question makes sense.
I am just learning how to wrap and turn. It seems that when I follow your instructions, I pick up a stitch. For example, if I'm working with 20 stitches, I wind up with 21 stitches after one turn and wrap. I pick up another stitch with every turn and wrap. Can you help me?
I'm knitting a sweater in the round and my pattern simply says to "turn, tighten strand and purl...". It doesn't say to wrap and turn? Not sure if the wrap is implied or if I just need to turn. Please help. ^^
I could really use some help. I as so many others want to learn how to knit new things. So I've found a pattern that I want to try BUT I can't understand everything. I think (If I'm not mistaken) that it says for me to knit until there are 5 sts left on the left side from the end. Then w&t. So After seeing this tutorial, I recon that I wrap one, turn around and then what? That's where I get lost. I will show you the first lines of the patterns so maybe you could help me understand what to do?
If you're knitting one of my sweater patterns and you have a question, feel free to email me directly at staci@verypink.com. Picking up wraps in seed stitch is the exact same technique I demonstrate in the picking up wraps video (where you also commented), the seed stitch does not make the technique any different.
Staci, why do some knitters NOT move yarn to the opposite side before slipping the stitch to be wrapped? I have seen other videos and written instructions both ways. It makes the working yarn come from a different location in the row. Yarning forward before slipping results in the working yarn coming out to the right of the slipped stitch on the other side, while yarning forward after slipping results in the working yarn coming out to the left of the slipped stitch on the other side. Does it make a difference if you are working garter stitch? Thanks.
I would follow the directions if you're working from a pattern that gives you instructions different from what I've shown here. But no - there really won't be any visible difference in the finished work.
@verypinkknits Yes, when doing w&T. Well... it is my first time knitting this pattern (it's the knitty.com Quest hat) and it has all sorts of new things in it I hadn't done. I'm at the point in the pattern where I'm picking up the wrapped stitches, so no turning back now :-). thanks!
I LOVE this sweater you are wearing in this video! did you make it? do you have a pattern available for purchase or can you tell me where I can find it? thank you!
in my pattern it uses Basketweave pattern mainly. i started the back and on row 4 and so on it says work as established to 4 sts past the second marker, wrap and turn. my main problem is i after i done the wrap and turn on the same row should keep doing the basketweave pattern?? it doesn't say :(
+SGSnake21 - without knowing your pattern, I would say yes. Hopefully you can trust the pattern designer and know that the pattern continues as written. You might want to contact the pattern designer directly for clarification.
Katrina Kieren - you only need to use short rows/wrap and turns when you're turning the work in the middle of a row. Your pattern says to "purl to end", which means it is not a short row. If a pattern is using short rows, the designer should be very specific about where the wrap and turn should be. I would email the pattern designer directly (via Ravelry message) if you have questions about this specific pattern.
Hi Stacey, do you still use wraps and turns or do you use German short rows? I want to knit my first pair of socks but get overwhelmed by the different techniques. I am asking because I want to find the right sock pattern for me and I trust your opinion. Thank you.
I like both, but the overwhelming feedback from my audience has been for German Short Row socks. This is a good pattern for your first socks: verypink.com/2015/03/11/toe-up-socks-using-german-short-rows/
It isn't really necessary to place a marker when you do a w&t...but if it is, your pattern should tell you where to place it. If you're in doubt, contact the pattern designer for clarification.
once you know how to read the knitting more they will likely not be needed but w&t are still confusing for me since i don't do them often enough to get them into memory yet I use markers and they are helpful. the funky wraps make a spot with extra space that are a clue that is where they start but i am a super tight knitter so they can be a little hard to find for me right away. i use mine nowadays where the wraps start on either end and don't worry about any others. in case that is helpful at all :)
I am very confused. I have watched another tutorial, and it says to slip the "stitch to be wrapped" first, then move the yarn (to front or back), then slip the stitch back to original needle. Whereas you instruct to move the yarn, then slip, then move back to original needle. I am very concerned that I will make a big mess and have to try to correct it by undoing my work, which I know will be a horrible tedious task. Please help me understand.
+Sally Smith - yes, in this video, I show that the "stitch to be wrapped" is first slipped. The technique and results are probably the same in other instructions. The only difference (most likely) is that I like to complete the wrap before I turn the work, and other people prefer to complete the wrap after turning the work.
My patterns says this: Row 11: Knit across row, wrapping each stitch twice around the needle when forming the stitch. Row 12: Purl, dropping each stitch. Would this be the same as your video?
Sandra J - no, that is a different thing. Those aren't "w&ts" (wrap and turns), but wrapping the yarn twice around the needle to create an elongated stitch. It isn't called for very much in patterns, so I don't have a video on that.
***** - when working short row wrap & turns in-the-round, you really should be following a pattern...the technique is the same, but shaping in-the-round can be tricky.
***** - my instincts say yes, but for the most accurate answer, you'll need to contact the designer of that pattern. (Ravelry message is a good way to do that.)
I recommend contacting the person who designed the pattern you're knitting, they should have written out instructions for that in the pattern. Otherwise, I can give you an overview. You can work the w&ts, as stated in the pattern, while maintaining the knits and purls of the rib. Beyond that, you're going to need specific advice from the pattern designer, since I have no idea how the wraps are placed, or what you are knitting.
+Matthew Perry - I'm sure you can trust the pattern...not all patterns that have wraps & turns call for picking up the wraps. Sometimes it's fine to leave the wraps in place, like in garter stitch.
+Matthew Perry - you may want to contact the designer (Ravelry message is a good way to do that), and ask them if you're supposed to pick up the wraps. Wraps are normally picked up in stockinette.
