Knitting Short Rows by Jennifer Dassau
Knitting Short Rows by Jennifer Dassau is the book we learned about on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird, and we took up the challenge of a different technique with joy. 
Jennifer began her knitting experience about twelve years ago when she was at home with her kids, with a strong desire to keep being creative. Before picking up a book and learning to knit, she had worked with weaving in the fashion industry. She had done a lot of sewing but found that getting set up to accomplish anything as a mom with two kids at home was a bigger challenge than she needed. She went to a craft store and found a ‘Learn to Knit’ book. Using printed sources (knitting online wasn’t big yet) she created hats, scarves, and sweaters and played with how things were put together. Altering things evolved pretty early into using short rows.
By 2008, Jennifer was posting ‘recipes’, she felt they weren’t really patterns, in Ravelry. Around 2012, she had progressed more into patterns, one of which was doing very well, (see Sundry) and her efforts evolved even further toward designing and creating e-books. Eventually, she was contacted by Interweave, would Jennifer be interested in writing a book, perhaps about short rows?
Knitting Short Rows: Techniques for Great Shapes & Angles (by Interweave) includes various ways of accomplishing techniques, with tutorials, and patterns that use those various ideas. She is a particular fan of garments that work seamlessly from the top down, asymmetric shawls that feature color and texture, and the magic of short-row shaping.
accomplishing techniques, with tutorials, and patterns that use those various ideas. She is a particular fan of garments that work seamlessly from the top down, asymmetric shawls that feature color and texture, and the magic of short-row shaping.In the past, many of us have only experienced short rows in a limited way, like with socks darts, or crazy-colored shawls. Jennifer wants us to have techniques that can be used every day. She shows how to consider when and why a short-row method could be detrimental to how our fabric is constructed, because of the weight or fiber content. There are also different areas in a garment that might benefit from short rows, such as in the Curve Wrap Cardi, short rows make the collar more luscious.
Jennifer Dassau can be followed through her website is www.JenniferDassau.com
Find her on Ravelry through her Designer page and Group, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and she has a YouTube channel.
Find her on Ravelry through her Designer page and Group, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and she has a YouTube channel.
There was also a behind-the-scenes video posted on Marly’s Facebook page.
Categories: Podcast
I can’t wait to learn some of these techniques for short rows. Love these wraps and sweaters!
The book is absolutely full of gorgeous designs. I don’t know why but short rows scare me! And who knew there were so many different methods! Great interview.
The book sounds like it has great knitting projects. I have done short rows on socks. Would love to try them out on other things.
Listening to Jennifer has inspired to look at short rows in a new light. Her sweaters are absolutely gorgeous. Oh, if only there was time to knit them all….
I really enjoyed today’s show. Honestly I have only done short rows once for some shoulder shaping. I was so nervous the first time I did it, with the wrapping and turning, but it turned out not to be as hard as I though. Thanks for sharing the book with us today.
I really like the look & style of these SHORT ROW patterns & would love to have her nook.
I had no idea there were so many ways to do short rows. Love the sweater on the cover!
I like short rows. My current fave is the twinned stitch short row. I plan to try Stephen West’s shortcut short rows technique soon.
I know the basics of how to make short rows. What I don’t quite understand is how to swap them for the stairsteps found when decreasing at the shoulders. Short rows look much better. But I don’t know how to decide where to put the short rows and how many stitches to count. There’s always more learning to be done.
This was my first time listening to a knitting podcast. Jennifer was delightful and I want to get her book immediately. I know nothing about short rows and had only heard of German short rows. N retirement I want to get back into knitting and actually become good at it. It is a goal for me and learning shirt rows will make this a great experience.
I have done short rows for socks and only socks. This book would be great to learn a few tricks. And maybe even start a sweater…maybe, lol
I didn’t know there were all these ways to do short rows. I can’t wait to get this book and try them all. Great podcast and thanks to Marly, Jennifer, and Tammy.
Still working on the concept of short rows. I don’t know why I have such a hard time visualizing their potential. I am glad this beautiful book is here to expand my horizons =)
I tried short rows twice before. It was okay on my first project but didn’t look quite right. Did a little better on my second project. Will hopefully get more practice soon.
The book is wonderful! I am a fan of German Short Rows.
I am so excited about this book and about learning different types of short rows. Great podcast as always!
I think it is amazing what you can do with short rows, from shaping to geometric patterns. So cool.
As a lover of short row knitting and short rows in general, I am eager to try out the german short row technique! Congratulations on the new book Jennifer!
Can’t wait to see your new book and all the short row techniques. It will be fn to learn some new styles of doing short rows.
I have done two types of short rows, one for a shawl and wrap & turn for a sweater. I find short rows are intimidating as I haven’t done them very much, but would definitely love to do these more to conquer these techniques.
I’ve only done short rows on a sock. Your book would be such a great one for learning new techniques.
Short rows have long been a favorite of mine, really enjoyed the podcast and will definitely be buying this book!
The sweater on the cover of the book is gorgeous so elegant. I thought a short row was a short row who knew there were so many techniques and names. Short rows worked in a dish cloth were my first experience and then sock heels. Thank you for another great podcast!
Very enjoyable podcast! I enjoy projects with short rows. This book looks great. I’d love to get my hands on it.
I really enjoyed this podcast. I have a newbie when it comes to short rows. I LOVE the Welts apart cowl!
I love to learn more about how to use yarn. Thank you Jennifer Dassau
Short rows are very handy to make the knitting fit.
I´ve used it for a baby vest, knitted from left front, round the body and ending at the right front.
One piece garment 🙂
Not much sewing – only a few ends to weawe in.
Yeah …
Have a nice and creative day.
I live in Denmark but my inspiration comes from all over the world.
Thank you Marly. You are doing a great job in so many ways.
Your Podcast and Youtube channels are my favorit go-to-and-learn-more.
They are so inspirational 🙂
I enjoy hearing about techniques! Short rows are so interesting.
I worked a shawl that had short rows for the first time a few months ago. Would love to learn how to do the different ways to do them.
I used to scream and run if a pattern mentioned short rows! I only knew one method and I foremost my “wraps”. Thank you Jennifer & Marly, I feel empowered!
I just finished a shawl that used short rows a lot, and it was fun! Thanks for another great podcast!
Even though I am a fairly experienced knitter, shortrows have always given me trouble. This book sounds like it might help me learn some new methods.
The patterns in the book are wonderful and I will be purchasing it for myself. The information on short rows will be worth the price even without the patterns.
The only short rows I’ve ever tried was on a pair of socks, but the patterns from Jennifer’s new book are inspiring me to try them again!
I think it is high time I learn short rows. I think I will do that right after my first intarsia project I am currently working on. I think I would enjoy the way they would change the shape of my knitting project
I’ve recently added knitting to my craft resume. So much to learn though, including short rows. They don’t sound scary but then I’m a pretty adventurous. 😉
If I could learn five different methods of doing short rows, I would have the world in my pocket (the knitting world, that is). A definite must for my library.
Short rows are incredibly useful and my favorite & frequent use is in short row heels.
Thanks for another great interview! Loved the detailed look into short rows, including how using the right one will make your project even better.
I thought it was a very interesting podcast. I have used all of the short row methods Jennifer talked about, and will be on the lookout for her book. I have at least one of her shawl patterns in my Ravelry library.
Short Rows
Loved the podcast
I enjoyed this podcast during my usual morning walk. I would love this book to learn short rows, which I have never tackled but might have to soon…;).
It’s really important to have a full toolbox of skills in knitting and this book seems to provide an arsenal of options for short rows. It’s just the resource I’d like to have. Thanks for a great podcast as always.
It would be great to learn some new short rows. Patterns are beautiful. Appreciate the podcast.
I really love short rows, too! It’s funny, I wasn’t familiar with Jennifer’s name but I had about 15 of her patterns in my favorites! Thanks for the fantastic interview!
I just recently learned short rows in a variation of the fish lips kiss heel…would love to explore short rows further!
After hearing this wonderful podcast and viewing the designs in Jennifer’s book, I am feeling courageous and am excited to learn short rows!
I love using short rows in my sweaters. I’ve used them for bust darts and recently to make the back of a cardigan a little scooped to cover my rear. I like using Shadow Short Rows the most so far, but I’m looking for a reason to try out German Short Rows
Wow. I had no idea there were 5 different short row methods. I am putting this book on my Christmas list (if I don’t win it).
I definitely would like to learn about short rows. This book can’t wait!! Hope you pick a lucky winner soon.
I loved listening more about short rows. I’ve used them several times for shawls and sweaters but usually use the method that the designer recommends. It would be nice to know more about them and to use different techniques. Thanks!
I’m always amazed what you can do with short rows!
Short rows used to scare me but I find they are becoming more common now. This sounds like a great reference.
Short Rows. Used to send shivers down my spine and me looking for other patterns. But now, I kind of take it in stride. Thanks for the interview.
Short rows are magical!
love using short rows in knitting
I find short rows so intriguing and fun! I’ll need to check out this book 🙂