Ahhh! help I'm stuck

#1

so i’m making fingerless gloves for the 1st time & i’ve been ok until I read ahead & now i’m [B]totally[/B] confused & wondering if i have to backtrack my work!?!
I’ve included a portion of my pattern instructions. What’s confusing me is that it says to cast on 4 sts onto the right needle, which i did, then join them to the other side of the thumb (skipping the 14 sts on the stitch holder…the thumb…right?) and knit to the end…this is where is stopped!

It later says to pick up the 4 cast on sts…how???[B] and[/B] to have a sts on either side of it?..how??? Wouldn’t these 4 sts already have been worked into the the piece?

Oh! and also, why would i have to decrease to 44 sts when the increased sts are sectioned off for the thumb? except, of course those pesky 4 add ons…ugh! :wall: Please help!!! Thx!

[COLOR=“Blue”]Next rnd: K to first marker, place 14 thumb sts on strand of contrast yarn holde(removing markers), [COLOR=“Red”]cast on 4 sts onto right needle (by backwards loop methojoin to sts on other side of thumb and K to end of round.[/COLOR]

Next rnd: K 1 round.

Next rnd (decrease rnd): K around, [COLOR=“Red”]decreasing evenly to 44 sts.[/COLOR]

Hand section: K around on hand sts until piece measures 3" from top of cuff. Work in K2, P2 rib for 1-1/2".

Bind off in rib.

Finish thumb: Pick up 14 thumb sts [COLOR=“Red”]plus the 4 cast-on sts at inside of thumb, plus 1 st ea side of these 4 sts to avoid holes (20 sts[/COLOR]).

Knit 1 rnd.

Next rnd: K around, decreasing 4 sts evenly so there are 16 thumb sts remaining.[/COLOR]

#2

Okay, you’re mixing up two different parts of the mitten. The 14 sts are on a holder, they’re going to stay there for a while. CO 4 sts and continue knitting on the hand only - that’s where you dec to 44 sts - and finish that off.

[U]Then[/U] go back to the 14 sts and put them on a needle again, use another piece of yarn and pick up a st in the gap between the 14 and the CO sts, pick up the 4 co sts and an extra one in the gap before the 14 sts. Then continue on with your thumb.

To pick up a stitch in the gap, it’s like doing a M1 - lift the strand between sts and knit it through the back loop to twist it, so it doesn’t make a hole. To pick up sts in the CO sts, insert your right needle into a st, wrap the yarn around it and pull it through to the RS.

#3

[B][COLOR=Black]You should watch the video in the tips section of this site to see how to pick up stitches.[/COLOR][/B]

[COLOR=Blue]Next rnd: K to first marker, place 14 thumb sts on strand of contrast yarn holde(removing markers), [COLOR=Red]cast on 4 sts onto right needle (by backwards loop methojoin to sts on other side of thumb and K to end of round.

[B][COLOR=Black]This cast on is for the thumb hole[/COLOR][/B]
[/COLOR]
Next rnd: K 1 round. [/COLOR][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Red][B][COLOR=Black]Now you are knitting a round on the next row above the thumb hole[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=Blue]
Next rnd (decrease rnd): K around, [COLOR=Red]decreasing evenly to 44 sts.[/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Red][B][COLOR=Black]Here you are decreasing the size of the glove so that it fits your hand better. Your hand is wider below the thumb[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=Blue]
Hand section: K around on hand sts until piece measures 3" from top of cuff. Work in K2, P2 rib for 1-1/2".

Bind off in rib. [/COLOR][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Red][B][COLOR=Black]You have finished the hand portion of your glove.[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=Blue]
Finish thumb: Pick up 14 thumb sts [COLOR=Red]plus the 4 cast-on sts at inside of thumb, plus 1 st ea side of these 4 sts to avoid holes (20 sts[/COLOR]).

[/COLOR][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Red][B][COLOR=Black]Now you are knitting the thumb itself. [/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=Black][B]You will pick up stitches around the hole that was created when you put the 14 stitches on a holder and cast on the 4 extra stitches. So, put the 14 stitches plus the 4 plus 1 on either side of the 4 on your needles. Now you are going to knit one round. [/B][/COLOR]
[COLOR=Blue]
Knit 1 rnd.

Next rnd: K around, decreasing 4 sts evenly so there are 16 thumb sts remaining.[/COLOR]

[B]Here’s a [COLOR=Black]tutorial[/COLOR]for making a thumb on a mitten which is pretty much what you are doing except you aren’t closing up the thumb.[/B] [B]Hope this helps!
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