Making short rows

Sometimes we want a fabric to flare on one end (like a ruffle or peplum on a sweater).  Other times we need just a little more room in a particular area (such as the bust).  One way to accomplish this is to make short rows:  completing less than a full row and turning back to put an extra row or two in only one area.

The problem is that you can't "just" turn around and go back, without leaving a hole.  That's where the technique of "wrap and turn" comes in.  Since this is difficult to explain in words, I've located a few videos that illustrate it very well.

Making short rows and picking up the wrap on the way back.

Making the short row.

Picking up the wrap on the way back.

Purl Stitch

The purl stitch is simply a backwards knit stitch. When you make a knit stitch, it leaves you with a purl stitch on the backside, and when you do a purl stitch, it leaves you with a knit stitch on the backside.

So, if you want to make something in a stockinette stitch (all the knit stitches facing one side of the fabric and all the purl stitches facing the other), you will need to knit one row and purl the next. Difficult to explain, but easy to see when you do homework 1 for Level I.

To make a purl stitch, you must first have the yarn in front of the work.

Insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, going into the front of the stitch from bottom right to top left, keeping your right needle tip in front of the left needle.

Wrap the yarn around the right needle in a counter-clockwise motion (this means over the front of the needle toward your right, around the back, and return to the front via the left side of the needle). Get this direction right! So many people find it easier to go around clockwise, but this will leave you with a twisted stitch on the other side -- something you don't want when doing stockinette stitches. There may come a time when you will want a twisted stitch for a particular pattern. But there is a better way to do this, and you want to save that stitch for when you want to do it on purpose.

Hold the yarn snugly, and, with your right needle, scoop the yarn through the stitch and then remove the stitch from the left needle.

Easy for me to say! But here are a couple of videos that may help you. The knitters don't hold their yarn exactly the way I showed you, and they do other things with their fingers. Try what they do, too, until you find something that works for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcarA18QRwM&feature=related
 
This one is my fave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTWDz7-1FQ&feature=related

One more:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOS8pIEa8iU&feature=related




Here are two in English style: How to Knit - The Purl Stitch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E2i4h4lzsg&feature=channel

Knit Stitch With Continental Hold

In the first class of Level I, I provide everyone with a "starter kit": a swatch of 20 stitches knit in garter stitch for 10 or so rows. This allows everyone to begin right away with knitting, without having to first tackle casting on and knitting that dreaded first row.

My preferred style is knitting is what is called "Continental" style, or what some people call "picking." We begin by learning how how to hold the yarn in the left hand. I demonstrate the way I do it, but there are several other methods that all seem to work for people. Students are encouraged to try them all to see what seems the best for you.

Here's a video I made that shows the way I hold the yarn and can be used for review. How Judy Holds the Yarn for Knitting

If that doesn't work for you, here's another one.  The knitter in this video doesn't hold the yarn precisely the way I do, but it works. Give it a try if you're having a hard time doing what I demonstrated. How to Knit and Purl Using the Continental Method

And here's an excellent video showing another way to hold the yarn -- as well as a good explanation of making the knit (and purl) stitch. jump to about 1:50 to see another (very common) way to hold the yarn, and a very good rendition of making the knit stitch. Ignore the part about casting on for now.   Another good way to hold + explanation of knit (and purl) stitch

This video presents a comparison between the two styles (Continental and English/American). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRLFl36tDY