How To Knit: German Short Rows | Brooklyn Tweed

German Short Rows are one of our favorite methods for working partial rows to add shaping and dimension to your knitted fabric. In this Brooklyn Tweed knitting tutorial, we show you how to work German Short Rows for sock heels, bust darts, to raise the back neckline of a sweater for a better fit, to create a high-low hem, or wherever else you can imagine!
Slip & Pull (S&P):
0:38 Work the number of stitches indicated in your pattern for your first short row, then turn your work.
1:13 Slip & pull (S&P) purl side facing: Slip the first stitch on the L needle purlwise with yarn in front. Pull the yarn tightly up and over the R needle so that the two legs of the stitch in the row below are pulled up and exposed.
1:37 Hold tension on the yarn while working the next stitch to keep the pulled-up stitch in this position.
1:48 Bring your yarn up and around your R needle to the front again (as if creating a yarn over), pulling tightly. Continue as directed in pattern.
2:43 Slip & pull (S&P) knit side facing: Bring your yarn to the front. Slip the first stitch on the L needle purlwise. Pull the yarn tightly up and over the R needle so that the two legs of the stitch in the row below are pulled up and exposed. Continue as directed in pattern.
5:13 Resolve your Short Rows:
5:38 (Knit side facing): When you reach the two loops of your slip & pulled stitch, knit the two loops together, pulling your yarn tightly.
7:05 (Purl side facing): When you reach the two loops of your slip & pulled stitch, purl the two loops together, pulling your yarn tightly.
9:10 Substituting German Short Rows for the Wrap and Turn method
Featured Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Arbor in Tincture & Rainier
brooklyntweed.com/products/arbor
See our How-To playlist for more technique videos: bit.ly/3ipXq4g
Visit our Resources page for more knitting tips: brooklyntweed.com/pages/resou...
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At Brooklyn Tweed we are passionate about wool, knitting and design.
We develop and manufacture breed-specific wool yarns that support domestic textile production. This means designing, sourcing, dyeing and spinning our yarns 100% within the USA.
We craft our knitwear designs with the same commitment to timeless quality that we apply to our yarns. Every pattern is meticulously drafted and edited to provide clear instructions that empower knitters to build new skills. Our design team explores the intersection of knitting traditions and contemporary style, to produce patterns that are a pleasure to knit and wear.
Learn more at: ‪@BrooklynTweed_Official‬
Visit us at: brooklyntweed.com/

[@patriciagregory8342]

Thank you so much, this is the best tutorial for German Short Rows, none of the others I have seen show how it is supposed to look after you have finished the short rows.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Right, it's kind of a mystery as to what's supposed to be happening until you get to the end and can see it!

[@neeceyhill1]

Agree with the previous comment. This is easily THE BEST tutorial for German Short Rows. Thank you so much - I now feel I can carry on with knitting my Scandi pattern

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@janetmeadows2668]

Excellent, very clear instructions.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@fionavandermerwe4648]

Perfect! Appreciate the clarity and easy-to-follow delivery! Plus the lovely calm and reassuring voice... :)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@chezmanya]

Best video on KZbin for this topic. I had to learn this technique for a sweater. Thank you for such a clear concise demonstration.

[@irenasosinska9672]

Brilliant idea to use a contrast colour, it clearly shows what is being done. Thank you so much for a really useful presentation !

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mardirollow9961]

You did a great job showing how German short rows work. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@Dio.ConfessionTales]

The very best short rows tutorial I've come across up to now,thank you❤️

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@giselegallie7893]

Best demo for this. Thanks guys!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad you liked it! Happy knitting!

[@beckysheffler5943]

This was a very good presentation on German short row. Made so much more sense to me than others.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're so glad you found it helpful!

[@kokilapatel5553]

True even i think this is the best tutorial on getman short rows😊

[@angelaschapiro4268]

I agree esp when I need to make a few...so I start furthest out and slowly go inward. I need to do 3 on each side of a cardigan.

[@rosalindbarbier7670]

Thank you this is a very satisfying piece of knitting to learn about :-)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome!

[@judithburke3637]

Fantastic even the swatch looks lovely

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much 😊 Happy knitting!

[@nildamuniz1388]

How easy you explained. Thanks so much for this tutorial.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@diana-kj8hg]

My first time trying german short rows. And may I say, I am so thrilled to see that you hold the needles and yarn ike I do! :)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! (It really is so interesting to see all the variations in how everyone knits!)

[@pennypaynter8672]

The very best knitting video ever. How wonderful to show the different color yarn for progression

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Penny! Thanks so much, we're glad you enjoyed it! Happy knitting!

[@karineweisshuhn-atelierkap8627]

Very well explained, thank you! I wanted to add some short rows to a cardigan that doesn't have them in the pattern, now I know how to!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! Happy knitting!

[@AvAsli]

The best tutorial about German Short Rows. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@huggywell]

great demonstration. i now feel happy that i can use this method.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@forgodsolovedtheworld3389]

Thank you so much for this clear & concise tutorial. I knit Icelandic jumpers and the crew neck versions always migrate to the front of the neck due to being knitted in the round. I tried the wrap and turn shaping but was always left with small holes I needed to fix later. These German short rows are PERFECT - raised-up back necks and NO HOLES..!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@Kloulock]

Thank you for sharing this tutorial! The blue yarn really helps to demonstrate this technique! AMAZING!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Short rows make so much more sense when you can visualize what's happening!

[@suzanneanderson9844]

Thank you. Your simplicity and clarity are appreciated.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you for watching, Suzanne! Happy knitting!

[@annedickinson9624]

Thank you for clear instructions!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@jeanetteruschmeyer6092]

Thank you so much. The instructions were very clear. I feel capable of doing them in the pattern now!!! I also appreciated your calm voice; it made the instruction easier to follow.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@maryalgar8779]

This is the best demonstration I have found so far. THANK YOU!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy knitting!

[@amandahronek4130]

This video has changed my life!!! Color contrast was key…..THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy short-rowing!

[@user-sn7pv3qy8s]

Fabulous lesson!! Thanks😊 ❤❤❤

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@kimtomlin63]

Excellent presentation of GSR technique.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@unplainjane123]

This is the best tutorial I’ve seen on this. Other tutorials just you “how” to do short rows but I was not clear on why do it and what it actually achieves. The 2 colours and your explanation makes it so clear and unintimidating. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! We're glad you found our tutorial helpful - it definitely makes a difference when you can see what's actually happening in the knitting!

[@joankiely3614]

Excellent tutorial. Cheers 👏👍🏻

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@debbiejones1466]

Extremely helpful - thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@libbyannstew8775]

This is the best German short row video I’ve seen; clear and concise instructions and the use of two colours to illustrate the short rows is very helpful. Explaining how to substitute GSR for W&T is an added bonus. Well done, and thanks so much!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're so glad you found it helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@NGD1953]

What an EXCELLENT Demonstration!!! 😃 Hands down, THE BEST I’ve ever seen done! I have avoided many patterns using Short Rows in them, because I could never find a demonstration that I could understand! I will now try a pattern calling for Short Rows. I will hope it all makes sense to me when using an actual pattern!!! Thanks so much! ❤

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@carolfarago2372]

Love the instructions so clear, even this 78 could follow. Thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Great to hear! Happy knitting!

[@carolbulmer8253]

Thank you so much! You did a great job of explaining and demonstrating how the GSR is one! I may. Need to watch this again as my memory is short🙃

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! (We often rewatch our own tutorials as refreshers!)

[@gillianhinson7570]

The very best tutorial I have seen. So easy to follow. Many thanks!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@carmoafonso7651]

Great tutorial best one i have seen now i understand it and will have a go Thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Have fun!

[@feyannheim7790]

Excellent tutorial!!!! Straight forward and to the point. I am so glad you addressed how you substitute the German Short Rows for w&t. Thank you !

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful!

[@r.mcd2921]

Best GSR video I've seen. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@basilrose]

Best presentation I've seen of the best way to work short rows. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@yesdonnaful]

Thank you so much for this clear & concise tutorial. I viewed several, but yours makes perfect sense for a 1st timer. I can now knit the 3 sweaters I have had waiting on the shelf while I worked up the patience & courage to learn how this is done. My swatch came out perfectly. I appreciate your explanation on how to sub gsr for w&t in my pattern. I’m excited! 🌿🦋

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're so glad you found it helpful! We're excited to see your sweaters!

[@lizziegulick9504]

the 2 colors really clarified it beautifully!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks Lizzie! It's so much easier to do a technique when you can see what it's supposed to look like, right?

[@annedavis3100]

Wow that explanation and the added color made so much sense. Thank you !

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching!

[@carycanli5761]

This is the best explanation yet !!! Perfect.....thank you !

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy knitting!

[@kokilapatel5553]

I watched many vdos on short rows , but i found yours the best👍🏻

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you so much 😀 Happy knitting!

[@judybostick3934]

BEST. EXPLANATION. EVER!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! We love this way of doing short rows!

[@michellevittitow9211]

Excellent excellent tutorial!! Thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Happy knitting!

[@Wendy-kh3hg]

Very well explained. I would have liked to see you doing it in the round where you have to knit over the purl wrap as this is where mine always shows. Thank you for sharing.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Great idea, Wendy! We'll add that to our list! Thank you for watching!

[@nearysamai2231]

Thank you for sharing. I understand it a lot better.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@splibragirl]

this is so clear, and i love the use of the "public side" ha!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad you found it helpful! (Right? It's not the WRONG side, it's just the "side you aren't wearing on the outside"!)

[@silbil8893]

Great job in explaining. Thanks

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! Happy knitting!

[@owlintherain]

German short rows feel soooo wrong but the end result is so clean and pretty.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Right? "Remember that thing you learned to NEVER EVER DO as a beginner knitter? OK, now you're going to do that on purpose."

[@ellenspring8943]

very clear and concise .. thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@donnadalelio5625]

This is the best tutorial I've ever seen on the subject. There's only one area that I can't comprehend. I don't understand why you bring the yarn to make 2 legs only to knit or purl it as one stitch anyway

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you, Donna! Pulling the stitch up & over the needle pulls the end of the row up, effectively making the row shorter at your turning point, so that there's not a one-stitch-tall gap as there would be if you simply turned and knit back at the end of your short row. TECHknitter has an excellent post on various short row methods here: techknitting.blogspot.com/2009/10/short-rows-method.html (German short rows would fall somewhere under variation 4 or 5)

[@patriciakeene7313]

Thank you so much for a great video lesson. Even this southpaw could translate it easily to leftiespeak and begin working on a sweater. So cool how the shaping is taking place.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@donnahampson561]

Whoosh I'm lost for words and that's not usually a problem, thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills and experience thankyou

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy knitting!

[@lindahugues]

The clearest demonstration I’ve seen! Thanks.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@shelby1426]

Your stitches are gorgeous! This is the best German short row video. Thank you so much!😍🤗

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! 😊 Happy short rowing!

[@rosemongeau7891]

Amazed at the perfection of the fabric you knitted.Also at the neatest edges I have ever seen!!! Do you have a video on that?I have watched a lot of videos on german short rows and yours is clearly the best! You make all aspects of it seem obvious.Thank you so much.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Rose! We confess, we steam all of our swatches before filming so they look extra nice!

[@rosemongeau7891]

@@BrooklynTweed_Official I understood that from the look of it and thank you for this: you made sure, showing such a perfect sample that I would not skip that step ever again. The satisfaction of having one’s own beautiful sample is such an incentive to start a project.I am grateful for you making me realise that the blocking stage is really transformative. A huge thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

@@rosemongeau7891 Blocking really does make all the difference! (What's the Elizabeth Zimmermann quote about how vintage sweaters always look so perfectly knitted, because the stitches have had decades to even themselves out?)

[@elirae9419]

This was so incredibly helpful and I thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@margaretmontana122]

Much better way to do short rows. Thank you for a definitive Explanation. It’s so much easier when you can see it happen!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We always like a good visual aid! Happy knitting!

[@shariblakey]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial! Many of your tutorials have made me a better knitter and I certainly appreciate it!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're glad we could help!

[@shawnablimkie7008]

That is by far the best video of seen of this. I am making the Love Notes sweater, my first sweater ever. Thanks again, Ive subscribed!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much, Shawna! Happy knitting!

[@annemettelehmann8414]

Soooo helpful for understanding what the hole idea is by using short rows. Thank you so much :)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@ishihtzuknot]

Wow, awesome, I have looked at several German short row vids because I didn’t want to do wrap and turn in a sock pattern I am working (just restarted socks after YEARS) and you actually have the best video and in only six minutes! Fantastic, thank you so much, the contrast yarn really helped and how you say to substitute was just what I needed! So appreciated!!! Edit:subbed!!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful!

[@judithburke3637]

A joy to watch thankyou Jared

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@carolinewolpers4414]

Excellent presentation! Clear, precise, and beautifully demonstrated! Thank you so much Brooklyn Tweed!!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@susanmcbride587]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@user-zf7vd5vd1u]

Thank you for making it so clear. Love this video

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Happy knitting!

[@yoyomooody]

Love how easy you make it for us thank you 💓🌸

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@selmas2u]

dido. to all of these. thank you. oh I almost gave up. now going to try. love you. thank you Teach.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You can do it! Short rows are so much easier when you can picture what's going on!

[@7Nebulae7]

Thank you for this very clear video! Glad I found it as I could not fathom how to do the double stitch from the written instructions of my sock pattern. I agree with the other comments that the use of contrasting color yarn is a great idea. Really helps to understand what's going on.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

[@raccoonpunk707]

This is what i was looking for when i started my crop top!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We are here to help! Rock that crop top!

[@ninabiornstad7716]

You are amazing!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

YOU are amazing! Thanks so much for watching!

[@cbolie0820]

Excellent presentation and explanation!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@marylong8780]

What a beautiful knitter you are. Thank you for this perfect video.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You are so welcome!

[@jackieknowles573]

Excellent presentation. The technique was "clear as mud" before seeing this tutorial. Thank you.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JoshBombFiberArts]

Omg. When I'm not knitting continental, in myiright hand, I knit like this!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We love how everyone develops their own totally individual knitting styles! It's always so interesting to watch someone else knit and see how they do it. Happy knitting!

[@cynpla]

This is so clear. Thanks a lot. I got a pattern and i am totally lost you are helping me

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad we could help!

[@EnzoBoyce]

thank you - great instruction!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@mariamatyjaszek1530]

Very helpful! Thank you :)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome! Happy knitting!

[@MewMewPumpkinPie]

omg your tension is perfect 😍

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching! (The secret is giving our swatches a little steam before we shoot our videos to make them look extra nice!)

[@janeangstrom3483]

Excellent! Best tutorial for me, thanks.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@Colormeajungle]

Thank you for explaining so Beautifully ❤️

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome, Shakirah! Thank you for watching!

[@dbowden9971]

Perfect. Thank you.

[@thechosenvoice3472]

Great video thanks! Your knitting is perfect

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juyoungkimm]

Thanks for this! I was also in awe with your perfect stockinette yarned fabric. Looks so good! I can't get the knit and purl tension to be the same

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You can do it! Some knitters find that working their purl rows on a smaller needle is helpful.

[@tomatochemist]

I knit continental and haven’t had any issues with differences in gauge.

[@clothingalterations]

Great tutorial

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much!

[@christinaapostolopoulos1865]

Hello btw - Your explanations are very clear and helpful, thanks for taking the time :)

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@Hollis_has_questions]

Beautiful!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks so much for watching! Happy knitting!

[@christineavard7464]

Thank you, so clear and easy to follow. I started my first top down project and just couldn't get my head around the turn. Thanks for clarifying so well. Chris from Australia.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Chris! We're so glad this helps! Happy knitting!

[@pricklyplant]

Thank you! This was so so helpful!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Keldertrapje]

Thank you for explaining that substituting wt to German short row.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@annakrakowska197]

Great tutorial. Thank you!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful! Happy knitting!

[@karensmith6658]

Great tutorial thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You’re very welcome! 😊Happy knitting!

[@angelesvaden8795]

Excellent instructions.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thank you! Happy knitting!

[@antoinettcharlie4022]

Such a good explanation! I struggle trying to do this in a pattern. I did I perfectly in my grandson’s sweater but in my sweater got a mind block. Thank you! I will try again

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're sure you will succeed! Happy knitting!

[@roostinahalim7173]

An excellent tutor.thanks.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

You're very welcome!

[@lyndeedabular8092]

Appreciate the explanations of the GSR, I needed the additional info.

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brendafinkle]

This was a fabulous tutorial to find. Thanks you and such a game changer as I was trying desperately to figure out how to do a GSR on both sides of my knitting. It’s kept me from knitting really nice sweaters. Not anymore!! Happy Holidays BT!!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Hi Brenda! So glad you found this helpful - we're definitely fans of this method!

[@christopherveronda8789]

great video! I get it now!

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

We're glad we could help! Thanks for watching!

[@MT-bc6xf]

Thank you

[@BrooklynTweed_Official]

Thanks for watching!