Spiral Scarf - turning

[Abililoa]

Hello,
I need help - I have a pattern for a spiral scarf. The instructions tell me to "K2, turn (so that there remains 21 sts on left hand needle)" then row 2 "K2." I understood that to mean that I should turn my work (switch hands). However, when I looked up the author's definition of "turn" it included an extra step: so that before I actually turn I should "take yarn underneath needle to be on wrong side, slip stitch on left needle to right needle. bring yarn back into correct position then slip stitch back to left needle. then turn...." I'm not sure why they're telling me to move my yarn underneath the needle? and then back again? what is this achieving? Should I take it to mean that they want me to "reverse/turn around a stitch" on the left needle? any help much appreciated

[Ingrid]

You're wrapping the stitch for a short-row shaping. By slipping the stitch and bringing the yarn around it and putting it back, you avoid holes where you turn.

[suzeeq]

That's 'wrap' and turn and if the pattern doesn't say to do it and it's garter stitch, you really don't need to. I've found it looks a lot messier to do this in garter stitch, while for stockinette it helps. So you don't need to do it for this scarf, but try it both ways and see which looks better to you.

[Abililoa]

You're wrapping the stitch for a short-row shaping. By slipping the stitch and bringing the yarn around it and putting it back, you avoid holes where you turn.

Thanks Ingrid - but just to be clear (and forgive me, I'm a newbie to knitting) where is my yarn going before I slip the stitch? I don't quite understand "underneath the needle" (from the pattern.)

[Abililoa]

That's 'wrap' and turn and if the pattern doesn't say to do it and it's garter stitch, you really don't need to. I've found it looks a lot messier to do this in garter stitch, while for stockinette it helps. So you don't need to do it for this scarf, but try it both ways and see which looks better to you.

Thanks Suzeeq - I will try both ways.

[suzeeq]

I misunderstood your first post and thought you had got the wrap instructions somewhere else; 'under the needle' is the same as 'between the needles' rather than over them. The yarn will wrap around the slip st.

[Abililoa]

I misunderstood your first post and thought you had got the wrap instructions somewhere else; 'under the needle' is the same as 'between the needles' rather than over them. The yarn will wrap around the slip st.

Thanks again - think I've got it now!