Short row toes can be used for toe-up socks OR cuff-down socks!
I have a video out today that shows you from start to finish working a short row toe as if for a toe-up sock:
This example used wrap and turn short rows, but you could substitute another method if you’d like.
Here are the steps for a toe-up short row toe:
Provisionally cast on half your desired number of foot stitches.
Setup Row (WS): Purl across.
Row 1 (RS): Knit to last st, w&t.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 , purl to last st, w&t.
Row 3: Sl 1, knit to 1 st before wrapped st, w&t.
Row 4: Sl 1, purl to 1 st before wrapped st, w&t.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 until desired number of wrapped sts have been worked, ending with a WS row.
Row 5 (RS): Sl 1, knit to wrapped st, w&t (st now has 2 wraps.)
Row 6 (WS): Sl 1, purl to wrapped st, w&t.
Row 7: Sl 1, knit to double wrapped st, resolve st, w&t.
Row 8: Sl 1, purl to double wrapped st, resolve st, w&t.
Rep Rows 7 and 8 until you have double wrapped both outer sts, ending with a WS row.
Next Rnd: Sl 1, knit to double wrapped st, resolve st, pick up and knit sts from provisional cast on to resume working in the rnd. Resolve st on other side, then work to center bottom of toe.
You’ve now completed your short row toe!
Resolving the wrapped sts can either mean just knitting (or purling) the st — if you aren’t concerned about hiding the wraps, or it can mean to knit or purl the stitch while hiding the wraps to the WS. You can view this video on wrap and turn short rows if you need a refresher on those.
If you are working cuff down and want to work the short row toe, you will skip the provisional cast on, and start working the toe as spelled out over half of your foot stitches. At the end, when it’s time to resume in the round, instead you will cut your working yarn, leaving a long tail, and you’ll graft the toe stitches to the top of the foot stitches.
I hope this is helpful! Have you used short row toes before? Let me know!
Until next time, Happy Knitting!