German Short Rows

My preferred method for short rows in stockinette stitch, is known as the German-style short row. I like to refer to it as the up-and-over method, because you pull the working yarn of the turned stitch up and over the needle before you begin working the next row. Like wrap-and-turn short rows, there are two parts: working the turn and working through the turned stitch.

Working the Turn: Right Side of Stockinette

For this type of short row, you will work up to the turning point and turn the work. Easy!

Next, you will transfer the first stitch (purlwise) to the right-hand needle.

After you have transferred the stitch, you pull the working yarn up-and-over the right-hand needle, and then move the working yarn back to the front to begin purling the stitches in the wrong side row.

The stitch that you pulled up-and-over will look a little funky – kind of like two interconnected upside-down Vs straddling the needle. You will definitely recognize it when you go to work through the short row.

Working Through the Turn

To work up to the “up-and-over” stitch, insert the needle (as if to knit) after the two “legs” of the front V and before the “legs” of the back V and knit the stitch. The two legs of the front V will be on the right side of the inserted needle and the two legs of the back V will be on the left side of the inserted needle. Like magic, the stitch looks like a normal knitted stitch. You should be able to see a second loop nestled behind the stitch.

Finished Look: Front and Back

Working the Turn: Wrong Side of Stockinette

Work up to the turn on the wrong side and turn the work so that the right side is facing you. Move the yarn to the front of the work, as shown below.

Transfer the next stitch (purlwise) to the right-hand needle.

Pull the working yarn up-and-over the right-hand needle so that it is now at the back of the work.

Knit the next stitch as you normally would, and continue knitting stitches until the next turn or the end of the row.

The up-and-over stitch will look like two interconnected, upside-down Vs, this time with a twist.

Working through the Up-and-Over Stitch

With wrong side of work facing you, purl up to the up-and-over stitch. Insert the right hand needle between the front and back legs of the interconnected Vs and purl as you normally would.

Continue working the row to the next turn or the end of the row.

View From Front and Back

View of German Short Rows in Stockinette Stitch