Do you have a favourite knitting technique that you use all the time? Mine is “wrap and turn”. The reason why I am blogging about wrap & turn is because many of my patterns include this technique. So, I thought it is about time for me to do a detailed tutorial about it.
Recently one of my new patterns called Hollyberry Bonnet & Cape have been published in Interweave Holiday Gift 2011 (super hurray!). This pattern is a typical example of wrap & turn technique.The horizontally shaping of the cape and the bonnet brim shaping are all worked using short-row technique.
I was thrilled to read in the magazine that the design is expertly shaped and designed. Seeing such a wonderfully edited and stylised publication of my knitting pattern, it made me think even more that I want to make sure that my patterns are logically constructed, knitable and achievable with 100% satisfaction!
So today I would like to write a detailed knitting tutorial about “wrap & turn”.
WRAP & TURN is one of the methods in short-row knitting. Short-row knitting allows you to change the direction of knitting, creating darts, mitred corners, vertical gathers and curves. It’s used for toe-up sock (the toe bits), horizontal yoke garments and lots of other 3D knitting!
In a nutshell: wrap & turn is worked as taking the yarn to opposite side of work (so if you are on the knit stitch, bring yarn front, if you are on the purl stitch, bring yarn back), slip next stitch from left to right needle, return yarn to working side, then slip st back from right to left needle. This will wrap the base of the stitch. The remaining stitches are unworked. Turn and continue working.
If you want to master all knitting techniques including various short-row knitting methods, I highly recommend Knitter’s Handbook
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The process of short-row knitting (i.e. wrap & turn) is divided by two stages: 1) The first stage is to do the actual wrap & turn, 2) The second stage is to “erase” the wraps by working together the wrap with the stitch.
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STAGE 1: WRAP AND TURN
RIGHT-SIDE of the work
When you reach to the stitch where you need to wrap & turn;
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- 1. Bring yarn to front as if to purl.
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- 2. Slip the stitch on the left needle to the right.
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- 3. Bring yarn back.
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- 4. Bring the stitch from the right to the left needle.
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- 5. Turn Work
You will see that the stitch has a wrap at the base.
WRONG-SIDE of the work
When you reach to the stitch where you need to wrap & turn;
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- 1. Bring yarn back as if to knit.
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- 2. Slip the first stitch on the left to the right needle.
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- 3. Bring yarn to front.
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- 4. Slip the stitch on the right back onto the left needle.
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- 5. Turn work.
You will see that the stitch has a wrap at the base.
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STAGE 2: ERASING THE WRAPS
This is done so as to prevent a hole being made between the rows. You can ignore this process if you like the wraps to remain for a decorative purpose.
The most important thing is to pick up the wrap from the right-side of the work. This way, all the wraps would be tucked behind the wrong side of the work after the stitches are knitted together.
You can pick up the wrap either with right or the left needles. I will show you how you can do both methods.
RIGHT-SIDE of the work
METHOD 1) Using right needle (very similar to slip, slip, knit (ssk)):
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- 1. Pick up the wrap from below using right needle, then slip the stitch knit-wise (it’s a little like slip, slip, knit).
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- 2. Re-insert the left needle from behind. Then knit these stitches together.
METHOD 2) Using the left needle:
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- 1. Insert the left needle into the wrap from above.
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- 2. Knit these stitches together.
WRONG-SIDE of the work
METHOD 1) Using right needle:
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- 1. Insert the right needle into the wrap from below (or above). The picture shows the wrap is picked up from below.
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- 2. Then place this wrap onto the left needle. Purl these stitches together.
METHOD 2) Using the left needle:
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- 1. Insert the left needle into the wrap on the WS from above.
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- 2. Purl these stitches together.
Here is the video tutorial.
Happy knitting!
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Kyoto, love the tutorial and the video. Excellent! Many thanks.
Also that pattern is gorgeous. I so admire your skill and dedication to writing correct, clear patterns for smartly designed pieces. You are developing quite a good reputation, my friend!
Hi Beth,
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. You have no idea how happy you made me!
Knitting is such a slow craft so I feel I have such responsibility, for those who knit my pattern, to get it right
Really glad that you like the tutorial and the video.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
x
Kyoko
Thank you so much for the clear instructions and video! I’ve done short row knitting before but have always wondered if I was doing it correctly – - – now I know!
Hi Pam!
Thank you very much of your lovely comment.
Short-row technique is ” simple but must-do-it the right way” – kind of technique. Once you know it, you will never forget it
So happy to know that you found the video useful.
Have a wonderful weekend!
x
Kyoko
P.S. !!
Kyoto, your cape pattern is adorable. It’s the whole reason I would buy the gift issue of the magazine!
Hi Kyoto
I love this pattern! I bought the magazine just for it.
I have a question on sizing. Can you give me approximate sizes on this? Or the age of the little girl in the pattern. I am going to make this for my neices and need to guess on which one to make for each girl. I can’t measure them because they live far away from me and my sister would have no idea on how to measure them.
Any information would be grately appreciated.
Thanks!!
Hi Valerie,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
Hope the file I e-mailed you was helpful.
I am so thrilled that you are knitting the garment. Can’t wait to see the pictures!
Have a wonderful weekend.
x
Kyoko
初めまして。
アディクリックで検索してブログにたどり着きました。
作品もすっごく素敵ですし、Ｗ＆Ｔのやり方がすっごくわかりやすいですね。
これからもブログ拝見させていただきます。
文字化けしてしまったので、もう一度コメント書きます（ごめんなさい！）
コメントどうもありがとうございます。こちらこそよろしくお願い致します。
アディクリックはとても使いやすいです。特に目を休ませる時に、他の針に移さないで、そのまま針をとってストッパーをつけるだけでとても便利！
x
Kyoko
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Thanks for an excellent tutorial.
Thank you very much for your lovely comment!
Kyoko
x
Thank you for such very clear and concise instructions!
Hi Maizeu!
Thank you very much for your comment!
x
Kyoko
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Hello! thank you for the well written instructions on “wrap and Turn”. Am flying home tomorrow and will know how to do my knitting!!! I am making a hat for my Mamacita which I found at knitty.com/ISSUE wbis11PATTescargot.php? The photo in the picture reminds me of a picture of Mamacita when she was a young teenager–brown hat with turquoise contrast.
Happy New Year! trish
Hello Trish!
Thank you very much for your lovely comment. A little belated Happy New Year to you!
May the 2013 be a wondefully knitty year for you
x
Kyoko