This topic has probably been dealt with before grrrrrzillions of times, but here it is again girls! 
I’m knitting a poncho and have just finished the back up to the instruction to shape the shoulders as follows:
Cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows
Cast off 6 sts at beg of next 4 rows.
I’m starting this on the knit ® side. What I can’t understand is how to do short rows if I have to start these decreases at the beginning of the row. Does it mean that for the first set of 5 st decreases I have to do this at the end of the knit row and count that as the beginning of the purl row hence starting the decreases effectively one row late?
Do I continue to do the second set of 5 st decreases on the end of the purl (W) side and count that as the completion of the " cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows"?
I’ve got myself twisted upside down and inside out with this, I just can’t get my head around it 
Please help me girls! I need this poncho to keep warm now that the winter is truly setting in :knitting: yours expectantly, Jan
The times that I’ve done this, I’ve used this tutorial:
http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2005/05/short_row_shoul.html
It is straight forward and layed out step by step. The key is to work one extra row than is stated by the pattern before starting shoulder shaping. For example, if you’re to start shaping on the next RS row, you will instead work across that whole RS row in pattern and then start the short row shoulder on the following WS row.
Have a look at the link, it’s very helpful! And you’ll be so glad you learned how to do this because short row shoulders are so much nicer and easier to finish, once you get the hang of it.
Many thanks for this link! 
I’ve bookmarked it, and will also print it off so I can reference it again. I am hopeless at keeping these techniques in my head so I’ll have to refer to it again and again.
I’m sure this will build my confidence at trying a new method for a better smoother result.
again, many thanks for your help!
I’ve had a good look at the website on short rows, but unfortunately my brain is too thick to be able to take this a step further and develop it to do this on [I]consecutive rows[/I] as my pattern requires.
Nona is giving examples of shapings for one side but my poncho needs to shape the shoulders on both right and left shoulders at the same time. Also, it seems she is saying to purl all alternate rows (assuming starting on a knit side). How do I square that with my instruction to cast off at the beginning of the next 2 [I]consecutive [/I]rows, or 4 consecutive rows.
If someone has time to walk me thru this I would be so very grateful. Many thanks, and by the way, it’s snowing here today in NE Scotland so my plee is getting urgent. The fires are lit, please help me finish my woollies? :knitting:
You work across to where you would have bound off for the first shoulder; wrap and turn, work to where you would have bound off for the other shoulder, w & t, work back the other way to where the second decrease would have been, w & t, work back to where the next decrease would have been, w & t, then work all the way across, picking up your wraps.
That sounds too confusing. Lets say you have to bind off 4 on 4 consecutive rows–8 on each side.
Knit across, leaving 4 stitches on left needle, w & t.
Purl across, leaving 4 stitches on left needle, w & t.
Knit across, leaving 8 stitches on left needle, w & t.
Purl across, leaving 8 stitches on left needle, w & t.
Knit across to end, picking up wraps.
Purl across to end, picking up wraps.
Thank you Ingrid, and my apologies for not replying sooner. I just had to get away from this for a while or the frustration of not being able to understand was going to do me in.
Your explanation in longhand has done the trick & I can finally see in my mind’s eye what’s going on in the sequence and I’ll be able to do this now without ripping either my rows or my hair out
My only regret about this forum is that I can’t teleport you over the ocean for a face to face demo in answer to all my questions!
Maybe I’ll knit one!
Thanks again and take care , Jan
Ooooh! I’d love to come to Scotland! :cheering: