Knitting to an American pattern - any advice, please?

Cracked it with the Purlbee one! It's easy (now I know how) ! Thanks again.

Remind me to stick to British patterns!

Thank you, all! I'm going to have a go at the 'purlbee' one, as it has written instructions. Trying to do it from the video, was really difficult! Trying to knit and watch at the same time... to say the least!

www.purlbee.com/2008/06/18/short-rows/

Is this any help Marelli

I prefer written instructions and pictures to trying to do it from a video.
I think the idea is to make darts in the middle of the knitting rather than decreasing at the end of a row.

See what you mean about confusing! I tried googling it and gave up after the first (of many) sites offered, which seemed to be talking about decreasing in the middle of a row as in heel-turning. When I'm at leisure I shall try and make sense of it, as I do knit socks, and anything which tidies up the heel has to be good. Hope you find your answer before too long. Can't see why just a K2tog shouldn't work anyway if it's for shaping.

You go back and forth on some rows and turn before you reach then end of a row so the shape builds up.

Just cast on enough stitches for a trial run with some spare needles and yarn and have a practice run.

Once you see how it works you should, might, hopefully, get the picture.

The first time I did this I had a hell of a job to work it out but you do eventually get to see what is going on.

I have found this site good for clear instructions on other knitting things and it has the added bonus of no awful music and poor quality videos.

www.vogueknitting.com/pattern_help/how-to/beyond_the_basics/short_row_shaping.aspx

It does mention 'short rows' on the pattern, Nelliemoser, but I still don't understand the reason for the wrap and turn' (thanks for the link!) - is this the same as decreasing?

I thought so. A "wrap" appears to be what we call short rows.
Which fact may or may not make you feel any the wiser.

knitting.about.com/od/knittingskills/ss/Short-Row-Wrap-And-Turn.htm