Spring KAL - Short Rows
March 26 2016 – Holly
We kicked off our Spring KAL last Thursday, and hope many of you are well into your own beautiful Waiting For Rain shawl! If not, cast on asap and join us in all the fun! Today we have some tips and advice for you; this will mark the first in a series of posts we'll be doing during the KAL, to help you along the way. In this post, we'll be focusing on the short rows used in this pattern. The short rows are what give this shawl is unique "panels", where the lace pattern peeks through the garter stitch. If it's your first time with short rows, it can seem a little daunting, but we're here to help! Now, let's get to it...
In the pattern notes, when you reach the short rows, the pattern will ask you to turn the work, and NOT wrap the stitch. Wrapping the stitch is typically part of the "Wrap and turn" method of short rows, but in this case, you won't be making a wrap. Do not wrap the stitch. This will ensure smooth edges in the lace sections, and won't leave you with any visible holes. If you're familiar with short rows, this will go against your instinct, but it's important you fight the urge: Don't wrap.
However, the downside of this is that it makes it nearly impossible to identify where, exactly, you last turned your work. This can lead to a lot of counting, and a bit of confusion, especially at the beginning when you're just getting used to the pattern. So, what's the solution? Here's a workaround we found useful:
First, you'll need two removable markers (locking markers or split-ring markers will do the job), then when you are beginning the first row of the lace chart, place a marker. Work along the row, up until the point where you would need to turn your work. Then: place the second marker.
For all subsequent short rows, you will be working to within two stitches of the marker. When you come to this point: stop, turn your work, remove the marker, and re-position it at the new "turn" point. You will always be working within two stitches of the marker, so it's an easy way to keep track of what you're doing, and it also makes your purl rows a little less stressful!
Good luck to all our Spring KALers! We look forward to seeing your progress over in the KAL thread over in the This Is Knit Ravelry group.
Are you joining us for our Spring KAL? Have your knit a Waiting For Rain shawl before?
In the pattern notes, when you reach the short rows, the pattern will ask you to turn the work, and NOT wrap the stitch. Wrapping the stitch is typically part of the "Wrap and turn" method of short rows, but in this case, you won't be making a wrap. Do not wrap the stitch. This will ensure smooth edges in the lace sections, and won't leave you with any visible holes. If you're familiar with short rows, this will go against your instinct, but it's important you fight the urge: Don't wrap.
However, the downside of this is that it makes it nearly impossible to identify where, exactly, you last turned your work. This can lead to a lot of counting, and a bit of confusion, especially at the beginning when you're just getting used to the pattern. So, what's the solution? Here's a workaround we found useful:
First, you'll need two removable markers (locking markers or split-ring markers will do the job), then when you are beginning the first row of the lace chart, place a marker. Work along the row, up until the point where you would need to turn your work. Then: place the second marker.
For all subsequent short rows, you will be working to within two stitches of the marker. When you come to this point: stop, turn your work, remove the marker, and re-position it at the new "turn" point. You will always be working within two stitches of the marker, so it's an easy way to keep track of what you're doing, and it also makes your purl rows a little less stressful!
Good luck to all our Spring KALers! We look forward to seeing your progress over in the KAL thread over in the This Is Knit Ravelry group.
Are you joining us for our Spring KAL? Have your knit a Waiting For Rain shawl before?
2 comments
Oh good tip :) We’ve also heard of people using bobby pins / kirby grips in the past, so handy if you have some lying around!
I had no moveable stitch markers so just used safety pins. Worked a treat. I also have stitch markers between each repeat which helped if I missed a yo or whatever.