Wrapped Stitch Short Row

First, nona must extend an apology to any reader who's not the least bit interested in short rows, because today nona's going to describe short row shaping using the wrapped stitch technique.  Historically -- at least for nona -- the wrapped stitch short row had been my technique of choice.  No longer baby!  My short row experiment opened my eyes to better options.  Even though this technique is no longer my favorite, I'll still describe it for you.  Why?  Just because it's not my favorite technique doesn't mean it cannot be yours.  Please, let's all think and decide for ourselves!

As you'll recall from yesterday, the different short row techniques differ in two ways -- what happens at the turning point and how the gap is closed.  Let's take a look at how the wrapped stitch technique handles these two predicaments.

Wrapped Stitch Technique - Front and Back

Turning Point
Each short row has a turning point, where the knitting is turned without completing the row. 

On the knit side:

• Knit to the turning point in the row
• Keeping the yarn in back, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle
• Move the yarn to the front
• Slip the stitch back from the right needle to the left needle
• Move the yarn to the back
• Turn and continue

On the purl side:

• Purl  to the turning point in the row
• Keeping the yarn in front, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle
• Move the yarn to the back
• Slip the stitch back from the right needle to the left needle
• Move the yarn to the front
• Turn and continue

Knit and purl turning points -- notice how the stitch is wrapped

Closing the Gap
A gap is formed at each turning point, which is closed when the gap is next encountered.  When you encounter a wrapped stitch, close the gap by working the wrap and the wrapped stitch together.

On the knit side:

• Before knitting the wrapped stitch, insert the right needle (front-to-back) into the front loop of the wrap and knit the stitch and wrap together

On the purl side:

• Before knitting the wrapped stitch, insert the right needle (back-to-font) into the back loop of the wrap.  Place the wrap on the left needle and purl it together with the next stitch.

Knit and purl gaps closed