Changing needles in short rows

The pattern is Come Here by Drops Design. After the neckline the instructions are to switch to the larger size needle. Then work an elevation in back of neck in stockinette stitch. I am doing German short rows. It does not seem to make sense to do this while changing the needle size as the larger needle keeps running out of stitches on the turns. Am I missing something here? Can I do a row of stockinette and switch the needle before doing the short rows? After the first set of turns it says to continue back and forth over 5 sts more on every turn until 75 (my size) sts are worked. This is my first time doing short rows and I find these instructions very confusing.

You should be running out of stitches on the larger needle so you’re on the right track. Working a round of knit stitches should be fine if it makes it easier for you. After each short row turn the intent of the pattern is to work more of the stitches on the smaller needle onto the larger one. When you reach the end of the stitches on the larger needle work the remaining ones needed from the smaller needle. Eventually all the stitches will be on the larger needle after you’re done with short rows and finish the round with the larger needle. Whether you add a round of all knits or work the pattern as written you will resolve the double stitch and continue knitting past it for the specified number of stitches. I’m linking a video that might help you understand the process. In it she uses two colors but try to think of it as the red is using the larger needle and the white, the smaller needle. Skip up to about 5:25 if the first part doesn’t interest you.

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I agree with GrumpyGramma, you could do a round of stockinette to get all the stitches onto the larger needle before starting the short rows.

Another option would be to transfer all the stitches to the larger needle (by slipping them across). But the stitches might feel a bit tight to do this. Depends on how much difference in needle sizes and whether you are using a yarn with a bit of give to it or not.

Many people love Drops patterns, but I find the instructions tend to be very poorly written in the English version (which is a translation). The instructions get translated to English, but “English” and “knitting English” are different languages, in my opinion.

So please come back and ask more questions if needed.

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Thank you both so much. I wish I had asked the question before I started the short rows.

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Oh dear, it’s a pain having to tink back.

I wonder if you could stay where you are, and just slip the “old” stitches to your larger needle.

But I can’t quite picture it to tell you whether that will work or not.

Perhaps someone else can chime in.

I think slipping the stitches to a larger needle would stretch them and they would be harder to work. IMHO if working with two needles is not working out well then doing a round of all knits first would be the better option. One extra round shouldn’t matter overall.

I have to tink back because I lost track and have a bit of a mess on my hands. Unfortunately, it isn’t the first time with this project and it probably won’t be the last. I agree with your comment about English and knitting English not being the same language.

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You’re getting good advice from experienced knitters. Just one thought. A lifeline might be helpful should you have reason (argh!) to need to rip back.

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It is great advice. I plan to do the extra row of stocking stitch and switch needles before attempting the short rows again. I did think about the lifeline and may try it, but I wish I had done it proactively instead of doing it now. It’s only a few rows so I probably will just tink it.

After you tink back, you can add the lifeline. You may still want it…or maybe not. But it’s easier to be proactive, as you say. Some circular needles have a little hole for this purpose…you can run some thin yarn or crochet cotton through it and then knit a row, and the lifeline follows along. Depending on your needles, you could do that while knitting your extra row.

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I’ve worked a lot of short rows and may have figured out all the ways to mess up with them. I shouldn’t say that, should I? There’s always a mistake I’ve not done yet. Besides a lifeline in your all knit round of stitches I find it helpful to use four markers. I use one after turning and before I start to knit on both RS and WS for that first set of turns. When I get back the markers on the second set of turns I slip them to make counting how many more stitches easier to double check, then turn and add another marker as before. After that I remove the first marker when I come to it, work to the next, slip it, and continue for the number of stitches I need before turning and continue with placing a marker after the turn. LRR until the short rows are completed. IMHO a lifeline in the round before the short rows start is not only going to make undoing the work easier if it becomes necessary, it also helps to be more confident. If a mistake is easier to fix it becomes less of a worry.

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The life line is in. I like the idea of the 4 markers and I will try it. Thanks so much.

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I wasn’t sure I wrote that out so it makes sense. I’m glad you got the gist at least. I hate losing count and having to find the turn stitch I’ve already worked into. You’re going to conquer this pattern.

Hello

Here is what it looks like. I’m still not sure if I did it right. I don’t know if you can tell from this picture. Does the centre of the short rows have to line up exactly opposite the bor marker?