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Short Row Afghan

How to sew strips together
This image is a mock-up of the triangular design the strips make when sewn together. (Ignore the direction of the rows on the right hand strip)

Special Abbreviations

Alt = Alternate
Foll = Following
K = Knit
LH = Left-hand
RH = Right-hand
RS = Right side (front of work)
WS = wrong side (back of work)
Wrap and turn = Bring yarn to front of work, slip st from LH needle onto
RH needle, bring yarn to back of work, slip st back onto LH needle, turn.

Materials

Oddments of your chosen yarn. The amount will depend on how large you would like to make the finished afghan. For a square knit over 40sts I have found that one 50gm ball of 8 ply (light worsted) yarn will easily make 2 full triangles. The above sample was knit over 20 sts.

1 pair of double pointed needles in a size to suit your yarn.

Method

Strip One

First Square:

The number of stitches you cast on for your strip will depend on what yarn you have chosen to use and the width you would like each strip to be. For 8 ply yarn (light worsted, DK) I suggest 40 sts for an adult size afghan or 25 for a baby blanket.

Cast on your chosen number of stitches using your first colour.

*1st row: K to last st, wrap and turn (see abbreviations above for instructions).

2nd and all WS rows (until stated otherwise): K to end.

3rd row: K to last 2 sts, wrap and turn.

5th row: K to last 3 sts, wrap and turn.

7th row: K to last 4 sts, wrap and turn.

Continue working short rows in this manner until you work K1, wrap and turn. Next row: K1.

Cut yarn and join in your next colour.

1st row: K 1 wrap and turn.

Next row and foll alt rows: K to end.

3rd row: K2, making sure that you pick up both of the wraps that are around the second st and knit them along with the actual st. This is done most easily by putting your needle up through the wraps at the front of your work, then through the st, and K all 3 together as you normally would. (You don’t want to increase any sts). Wrap and turn.

5th row: K3 (knitting the wraps on the third st as you did before), wrap and turn.

7th row: K4, wrap and turn.

Keep working in this manner until you reach K to last st, wrap and turn.

Next row: K to end.

Next row (right side of work): K to end**, do not turn. Push the stitches back across your needle, the next row you will be working will be another right side row. This is the reason for using dpns.

Second Square:

Change colour, K to end.

***2nd row (wrong side of work): K to last st, wrap and turn.

3rd and every RS row (until indicated otherwise): K to end.

4th row: K to last 2 sts, wrap and turn.

6th row: K to last 3 sts, wrap and turn.

8th row: K to last 4 sts, wrap and turn. Continue working short rows in this manner until you get to K1, wrap and turn. (RS) K1.

Cut yarn and push your sts back to the beginning of the needle. The next row will be another RS row.

Join in new colour and K to end, making sure you knit the wraps on every st.

2nd row (WS): K1, wrap and turn.

3rd and all RS rows: K to end.

4th row: K2 (remembering to knit the wrap on the second st. I’ll not be reminding you from now on!), wrap and turn.

6th row: K3, wrap and turn.

8th row: K4, wrap and turn.

Continue working in this manner until you reach K to last st, wrap and turn. K to end. **** (WS) Cast off.

Turn your work so that square you just cast off is at the top of your strip. Pick up your original number of sts along the top edge. K1 row.

Continue working from *** to the end until your strip is as long as you would like your finished afghan to be.

Strip Two:

Cast on your chosen number of sts. K1 row.

Work as for 1st strip from *** to ****, ending on a RS row.

Push sts back to the beginning of the needle, change colour and K2 rows.

Work as for 1st strip from * to **. Cast off.

Rejoin yarn and pick up sts as for 1st strip and keep working from * to ** until second strip is as long as the first. Make as many strips as you need for the width of your afghan.


Copyright © 1997 Sarah Bradberry