This method is a simplified variation of the shadow wrap short rows.
The swatch at the left side of the photo below is shaped using the shadow wraps short rows, and the swatch on the right – using the lifted short rows method.
We get the same almost invisible look of the short-row shaping but without the need to fiddle with picking up the top part of a stitch in the previous row or round. Instead, we insert the needle right into that stitch.
This way, you can easily add short-row shaping to necklines, shoulders, sock heels, or any other part of any other project even if you are very new to knitting and it is your first attempt at knitting short rows.
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All you need to do is follow three simple steps.
LIFTED SHORT ROWS ON THE KNIT SIDE OF THE FABRIC
Work to the place where the pattern tells you to turn the work.
STEP 1
With the yarn at the back of the work, insert the tip of the right needle from front to back into the stitch that is below the first stitch on the left needle.
STEP 2
Wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn and pull the wrap through the fabric forming a new stitch.
STEP 3
Place this new stitch on the left needle. There are two ways to do it – one way results in a slightly neater look, the other one is a bit easier.
WAY 1 – NEATER
Insert the tip of the left needle into the newly-formed stitch from right to left.
Ease the right needle out leaving this stitch on the left needle.
WAY 2 – EASIER
Insert the tip of the left needle into the lifted stitch from left to right.
Ease the right needle out slipping this stitch to the left needle.
The difference in look is not drastic, so if the short-row shaping is not at the very centre of a big piece of stockinette fabric, feel free to use the easier way. There is no need to make our lives more complicated.
No matter which way you choose, you will end up with a thick double stitch. This stitch will stand on guard making sure a hole does not form in this area.
Now we are ready to turn the work and move on to the next short row of shaping.
LIFTED SHORT ROWS ON THE PURL SIDE OF THE FABRIC
STEP 1
Once you get to a spot where the pattern tells you to turn the work, insert the tip of the right needle from back to front into the stitch that is below the first stitch on the left needle. Make sure the working yarn stays at the front of the work.
STEP 2
Wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn the same way as we do when we purl a stitch, and pull this wrap through the fabric forming a new stitch.
STEP 3
Slip this newly-formed lifted stitch to the left needle. This time, the easiest way is also the neatest one.
First, insert the tip of the left needle into the lifted stitch from left to right.
Then, take the right needle out leaving this stitch on the left needle as a second part of a new “guardian” double stitch.
Knowing that the fabric is now protected from a potential hole, we can confidently turn the work.
Repeat these steps to make as many short rows as you need to properly shape your project. I made a few more short rows to turn my swatch into a triangle. I turned the work after every stitch, so the sides of my swatch are lined with double stitches.
When the short-row shaping is finished, we simply treat each double stitch as one stitch.
We knit each of them on the knit side of the fabric.
And we purl them when we encounter them on the purl side of the work.
A great advantage of lifted short rows is that they work equally well for projects knitted back and forth and the ones worked in the round. Because we deal with stitches and not with separate strands, this method never forms holes in our projects.
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You can use lifted short rows instead of any other short-row method. If you substitute for any method except German short rows, there is no need to make any adjustments to the pattern.
If a pattern is designed specifically for German short rows, work one less stitch to the spot where you turn the work.
For example, if a pattern tells you to work 10 stitches, turn the work and slip one stitch to the right needle before you pull the yarn as we normally do when we use the German short row method, work 9 stitches, then make a lifted stitch, place it on the left needle to form a double stitch, and turn the work.
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This and 36 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #7.
