Link: Knitting
The problem
German short rows normally close with a simple K2tog (knit side) or P2tog (purl side) on the double stitch (DS). That works fine while still working flat.
But when you switch from working short rows back to working in the round, the last DS you made was on a WS row - closing it with a K2tog doesn’t close the actual gap, because the gap sits before the DS, not at it. Working straight through leaves an actual hole (not just a gap).
The fix
Work to one stitch before the DS, then:
- Slip that stitch as if to knit.
- Advance the DS to the tip of the left needle. Enter the first leg of the DS through the back loop (pull down on the back of the DS if it’s hard to find that leg). Wrap yarn to knit and pull through.
- Remove the stitch you just knit from the needle, being careful to leave the second loop of the DS still on the left needle.
- Pass the slipped stitch (from step 1) over the stitch you just made, and snug the working yarn.
- Knit the second leg of the DS through the back loop.
This fills in the gap that a plain K2tog/P2tog would leave when transitioning from flat short rows back to working in the round.
Source: Patty Lyon’s Knitting Bag of Tricks, p154-155 “German Short Rows: No More Hole”