What a wrap and turn does and when you need it
A wrap and turn (often called a W&T) is a technique that lets you knit back and forth across only part of your row, then rejoin the full width without leaving a hole. You use it when a pattern calls for short rows — deliberate partial rows that create shaping, usually in socks, sweaters, or shawls where you need the fabric to curve or slope.
The wrap prevents a gap from forming where you turn around. Without it, you would have an unworked stitch sitting alone, and when you come back to it later, the yarn would be stretched across empty space. The wrap anchors that stitch so the transition stays tight.
Most patterns that use short rows will tell you exactly where to wrap and turn. You do not need to decide for yourself — you follow the instruction "W&T" or "wrap and turn" at the specified stitch.
Key Takeaways
- A wrap and turn prevents holes when you knit only part of a row and come back to it later.
- You slip the next stitch, bring the yarn forward, slip the stitch back, then turn and knit in the opposite direction.
- When you return to a wrapped stitch, you pick up the wrap and knit it together with the stitch itself.
- Wraps are most visible on stockinette stitch and nearly invisible on textured stitches like garter or ribbing.
- Practice on a swatch before using short rows in a finished project so you can see how the wraps look in your yarn.
How to wrap a stitch on a knit row
You are working across your row in knit stitch. When you reach the stitch where the pattern says to wrap and turn, do this: slip that stitch from the left needle to the right needle without knitting it. Bring your yarn to the front of your work (between the needles). Slip the stitch back to the left needle. Now bring the yarn to the back again. Turn your work around so the other side faces you.
That stitch now has the yarn wrapped around its base. When you look at it from the side where you just wrapped it, you will see the working yarn has made a small loop around the stitch. That loop is what prevents the gap.
The stitch itself stays on the left needle. You have not knitted it — you have only wrapped it and turned. On your next row, you will work back toward it and eventually knit it together with its wrap.
How to wrap a stitch on a purl row
The motion is almost identical, but the yarn starts in a different place. You are working across your row in purl stitch. When you reach the wrap-and-turn stitch, slip it from the left needle to the right needle. Bring your yarn to the back of your work (between the needles). Slip the stitch back to the left needle. Bring the yarn to the front again. Turn your work.
The wrap forms the same way — a loop around the base of the stitch. The only difference is that on a purl row, you move the yarn backward first instead of forward. After the turn, you will be working knit stitches back across the row toward this wrapped stitch.
How to knit a wrapped stitch when you come back to it
After you have turned and worked back across several rows, you will eventually reach a wrapped stitch from the other direction. At that point, you need to pick up the wrap and knit it together with the stitch.
Insert your right needle under the wrap (the loop of yarn around the base of the stitch), then through the stitch itself. Knit them together as one. This closes the gap and secures the wrap into the fabric. The wrap becomes part of the stitch and is no longer visible as a separate loop.
If you have wrapped multiple stitches in a row (which happens in some patterns), you will pick up and knit each wrap when you reach it. Work from the outermost wrapped stitch inward, so you are always moving toward the center of your short-row section.
How to purl a wrapped stitch when you come back to it
If you are purling when you reach a wrapped stitch, the motion is the same idea but in reverse. Insert your right needle under the wrap and through the stitch, then purl them together as one.
The direction you are working (knit or purl) does not change how you pick up the wrap — you always go under the wrap and through the stitch, then work them as a single stitch in whatever stitch type you are doing at that moment.
Why wraps show more on some stitches than others
On stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side), wraps are usually visible as a small horizontal line or bump where you picked them up. This is normal and expected. Many patterns use short rows on stockinette specifically because the shaping is visible and intentional — like the heel of a sock or the slope of a shoulder.
On garter stitch (knit every row), wraps are much harder to see because the texture already has horizontal bumps everywhere. On ribbed stitches, wraps disappear into the pattern. If you are working a pattern where the wrap visibility bothers you, test it on a swatch in your yarn first. What looks obvious in a thin yarn might be invisible in a thick one.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common error is knitting the stitch instead of slipping it before you wrap. If you knit it, you have already worked that stitch and there is nothing left to wrap. Go back and undo to the wrap-and-turn point if this happens.
Another mistake is forgetting to pick up the wrap when you come back to it. If you knit the stitch without the wrap, you will have a small hole. Again, you can usually fix this by going back a few rows and picking up the wrap retroactively, though it is easier to catch it as you work.
A third issue is wrapping too loosely, which creates a visible gap anyway. The wrap should be snug around the stitch base. If your wraps look loose, try wrapping a bit more firmly or using a needle one size smaller for the wrap-and-turn rows only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to wrap and turn, or can I just turn without wrapping?
You can turn without wrapping, but you will have a hole. The hole is sometimes intentional (in lace patterns, for example), but most short-row shaping requires the wrap to keep the fabric solid. Follow what your pattern says.
What if I cannot see the wrap when I come back to it?
The wrap is always there — it is the loop of yarn around the base of the stitch. If you are having trouble spotting it, use a stitch marker or a piece of contrasting yarn to mark wrapped stitches as you make them. You can also take a photo of the wrapped stitch from the side so you know what to look for when you return to it several rows later.
Can I wrap more than one stitch in a row?
Yes. Many patterns wrap two, three, or more stitches in sequence to create a gradual slope. You wrap and turn at each stitch as the pattern directs, then work back across. When you return, you pick up each wrap in order.
Does the wrap work the same way in circular knitting?
The wrap itself works the same way, but the turning part is different. In circular knitting, you do not physically turn your work — you just stop, wrap the stitch, and start working in the opposite direction on the same round. The wrap prevents the gap just as it does in flat knitting.
What happens if I pick up the wrap from the wrong side?
If you pick it up from the back instead of the front, you will knit it in backward. It will still close the gap, but the wrap may look twisted. If this happens and it bothers you, you can drop back and fix it, but many knitters find the difference invisible in the finished fabric.