Short Rows: Techniques Comparison

This is the first video in this month's Short Rows theme. We will compare seven different short row methods to discover their similarities and differences. Short row techniques compared are: simple turn; turn and slip; wrap and turn; YO short row; shadow wrap; Japanese short row; German short row.

Jump directly to specific spots in the video:
Introduction: 0:00
Vertical shaping without short rows: 1:28
Simplest Short Row method (simple turn): 2:12
The purpose of SR techniques in stockinette fabric: 4:30
Turn and slip SR: 6:05
Advanced short row techniques: 6:54
W&T short rows: 8:04
YO short rows: 9:12
Shadow wrap short rows: 9:43
Japanese short rows: 10:43
German short rows: 11:50
Wrap up: which is best: 12:14

Future videos this month will be
Week 2: short row substitutions (how to substitute your favorite short row method into a pattern that calls for a different short row technique)

Week 3: the basics of adding short row shaping to garments that don't include them

Week 4: three different methods of knitting short row sock heels using German Short Rows.

[schellywagoner]

Many teachers show *how* - and their teaching is appreciated. You show *why* and I cannot thank you enough. I not only learn new techniques, but I become a wiser knitter. Be well, and thanks again. 💞

[rachelmerrie]

I love social media for the exact reason of you making this video 7 years ago and it saving my life today.

[monilee]

keep coming back here for ur help. Thank U!

[gratituderanch]

4 Years Later and I’d Still LOVE this demo in the round!!! You did so good and love the contrasting colors. Please do an in the ROUND demo like this one!

[whiteraven]

I did a wrap and turn for multiple rows and completely regretted it and started to use German Shortrows. I am thrilled to learn about Japanese short rows because now when I knit back across those turns, I can pick up the extra slack and knit it together! Phew, you saved me a lot of ripping!!!!

[danielmathews]

Truly excellent illustration and explanation! This is exactly what i was searching for but did not expect to actually find. Thank you 🙏

[jacquedooley]

Thank you for taking the mystery out of the different short row techniques. Your videos are awesome, easy to understand and very clear. Thank you for speaking clearly and slowly. I am deaf and you are easy to understand and you modulate your voice so well. I love your videos.

[GalacticChimp]

I finally understand why (some) say that German and Japanese short rows produce the exact same result, so thank you for that. But I execute Japanese short rows differently - and in my case it does not produce the same result - because I work the clip-marked yarn together with the stitch BESIDE the turning point so that it pulls the gap closed. Thank you for the clear demonstration so that I can finally understand how German and Japanese short rows compare.

[diginfo]

Very informative, Roxanne. I imagine it takes considerable time and effort to put together these videos. Thank you very much for your willingness to freely share your expertise with the rest of us.

[rosiemckinney]

I appreciate you showing us this comparison of the different techniques. Thank you.

[ginalevesque]

Very well explained ; for the first time, I understand “the mechanism “ of these techniques ! Thank you 🙏 a lot ! Now I will keep your tuto as THE REFERENCE and will be rewatching it as often as I will need until I “master “ these short-rows

[juliaschnell]

This is an amazing explainer, your demo pieces are so helpful! Thank you for making this!

[joannayw]

brilliant idea to show it in two colours. the best instructor so far.

[nballesterob]

I watch live 20 videos now and I finally understand. Thank you very much. I started knitting and then crochet but I forgot how much I enjoyed knitting. Now I can make me a beautiful cardigan I saw with short rows. Thank again and greetings from Costa Rica.

[patriciafuchs]

Wow, great comparison. Thank you so much for doing all the swatches for us, brilliant video! Thank you & Greetings from Austria 🙂

[violetofthevalley]

This is a great technique summary. Thank you for making it!

[jayalmonte]

I feel like Roxanne Richardson is the tenured Harvard professor of knitting professors! :-) Thank you Roxanne!

[jordishartwich]

Wow, I've been trying to figure out short rows for over two weeks now, because I want to knit my first top down raglan sweater for an adult. I've been knitting one for a baby, but I noticed, that the neck and throat are at the same level. Then I found a video that showed a rised neckline in a sweater, but didn't really explain it well. So I've been watching so many different videos about short rows, but none of them explained the different techniques! Love your very informative and still short video! Thank you so much! Finally a video where I don't have to skip minutes of just plain knitting until the knitter finally reaches the one short row stitch :) So I commented on your video so that the Youtube algorithm notices that this video STILL is very much worth watching!

[ajsdfkajsdf]

Your video is wonderfully clear and helpful. It's this kind of teaching that makes the web search worthwhile. THANK YOU!!

[karacreswell]

What an awesome, eloquent video! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain and exhibit each technique. I just can't thank you enough for putting so much information into one video.