Thanks for the welcome! Can anyone explain this in simple terms, please? I have a pattern UKHKA 36 and I’ve just got to the BORDER section of this knitting pattern for a baby’s v-neck cardigan. The pattern reads:
“Join shoulder seams. With RS facing, using 3.25mm needles pick up and knit 24 [26:33:40:48] sts evenly along straight edge, 19 [21:24:26:28] sts evenly along shaped edge, 13 [15:17:21:23] sts from back of neck, 19 [21:24:26:28] sts evenly along shaped edge and 24 [26:33:40:48] sts evenly along straight edge. 99 [109:131:153:175] sts.
Work 1 row in g-stitch.
Next row: K2, cast off 2 sts, (k6 [7:6:9:8], cast off 2 sts) 2 [2:3:3:4] times, knit to end.
Next row: Knit to last 16 [18:23:32:38] sts, cast on 2 sts, (k7 [8:7:10:9], cast on 2 sts) 2 [2:3:3:4] times, k2.
Work 1 row in g-st.
Cast off knitways.”
You’re going to pick up sts in each section of the cardigan fronts and back to make the button and buttonhole bands. Pick up the given number of sts for the size you’re making. It helps to divide the area into sections marked off by pins or stitch markers. That way you can pick up portions of the total more evenly. So for example you can mark off the straight edge in 4 sections and, for the smallest size, pick up 6sts in each section.
Here’s a video for picking up sts in case you need it.
For one section you’re to cast off sts for the buttonholes on one row and then on the return row, cast on sts over the gap to complete the opening.
It’s a sweet pattern. If I didn’t answer your specific question, just come back and let us know. We’ll all be happy to help.
Thanks so much for your quick response! It is a sweet pattern, I’m not a knitter but have challenged myself to knit this for my new grandchild! I’m so close to finishing it, I’m doing it in the 1-3 month size, so need to finish it quickly!! That translates to picking up and knitting 33 stitches evenly along the straight edge. I wonder though why the pattern says "…17 stitches FROM back of neck, rather than ‘along’ neck edge, as for the other areas? Anyway, I have already picked up and knitted 17 stitches for top back neck of the cardigan. After completing the picking up and knitting of all the sections as instructed, I had 131 stitches, as expected.
One point though - having googled how to pick up & knit stitches, I started on the RS - R Front of the cardigan. Is this okay?
The next pattern instructions have not worked! - I ran out of stitches, so I must have interpreted the instructions wrong! I’ll tell you what I did…
I worked 1 row in garter stitch.
Next Row: I knitted 2 stitches, then cast off 2 stitches by passing the first stitch on the R needle over the 2nd knitted stitch and off the needle. Then I knitted 1 more stitch and slipped the stitch remaining on the R needle over the newly knitted stitch. I puzzled over the next instructions for ages, then decided it must mean to do everything inside the brackets twice, so I knitted 6 stitches, then cast off the last 2 of the 6 stitches I had knitted (by the method I used above). I repeated that whole process (knitting another 6 stitches and decreasing the last 2 stitches off my R needle) another 2 times, so 3 times in total. This left me with 123 stitches.
Next Row: I knitted until there were 23 stitches left on my L needle.
Then I wasn’t sure how I should cast on 2 stitches in the middle of knitting a row, so I used the ‘loop’ method of looping the yarn over the R needle, then knitting the next stitch as usual. Is casting on the same as increasing in this context?
I then knitted 7 stitches and increased by looping over 2 more stitches onto the right needle, I would have done this process 2 more times, to make a total of 3 times, but I only had 3 stitches left on the L needle!! So I was unable to continue…
I’m pretty sure I’ve interpreted these instructions wrongly - please can you help?!
Many thanks!
It may be that the pattern had you save the back neck sts on a holder? or it could just be the designer’s choice of words. Either way, what you did is fine.
Yes, picking up from the right front is the way to go.
For the button hole row, you should work one button hole and then repeat the cast off 3 more times for your size.
Next row: K2, cast off 2 sts, (k6 , cast off 2 sts) 3times, knit to end.
Next row: Knit to last 23 sts, cast on 2 sts, (k7 , cast on 2 sts) 3 times, k2.
For the buttonlhole row k2, cast off 2, k6 (don’t count the one stitch left over from the bind off as one of these 6sts), cast off 2, k6, cast off 2, k6, cast off 2 (that’s a repeat of the parentherses 3x).
Continue knitting to the end of the row.
On the next row knit until there are 23 sts left on the needle (that’s 7sts x3 between each buttonhole plus 2 at the end). You should end with 4 buttonholes.
It may help to work the button hole row to the last cast off and then count to make sure you have 23sts on the right needle.
Thanks!!
I’m not sure what your last sentence means…?! Could you explain in simple terms for me? I’ve never knitted a buttonhole/button band before, so am finding it a difficult concept to visualise how I’m going to achieve it!
Can you reassure me I’ve been increasing/casting on and decreasing/casting off the right way?
I’m going to try and follow what you’ve listed for me now…xxx
Have just seen the ‘cast on in middle of row’ video you sent me - thanks! xxx
On the first row, the cast off row, work the directions to the last cast off of 2sts then count the number of sts on the right hand needle. Make sure there are 23sts and then continue with the row. The rest of the directions should work out just fine.
These directions make the bands sound much more complicated than they really are. You’re basically binding off at intervals in one row and then casting on sts at the gaps on the following row.
Thank you - am just starting a trial, now! xxx
Can I ask you what kind of stitching I should use to join up the seams on the sides and sleeves. to finish the garment please?
HELP!!! I’ve found this still very confusing when I actually tried to put it into practice!
On the K2, cast off 2 stitches, do I knit 2 stitches then slip the 1st stitch over the 2nd stitch & off and then knit another stitch and slip the remaining stitch over that one?
After that, I K6, then cast off 2 stitches - do I knit the 6 stitches then slip the 5th stitch over the 6th stitch then knit another stitch and slip the last stitch on the R needle over that stitch?
Ah, I see. From the beginning of the row, knit 2. Now knit 2 additional sts, slip the first over the second and off the needle. Knit one more and slip the first over the second. You’ll have one stitch on the right hand needle. Knit 6sts. Knit 2 additional sts and repeat the cast off as above.
The sts that are knit between the cast offs aren’t counted as part of the cast off. Looking at it as you would knit from right to left:
Brilliant - thanks, will try this tomorrow! Also, can I ask you what kind of stitching I should use to join up the seams on the sides and sleeves. to finish the garment please?
You could use mattress stitch or a backstitch seam. Those are the 2 that I use most often.
You’re a star! I used mattress seam to join the shoulder seams - but because the cardigan is purple and the stitches were small, I couldn’t see where my stitches were, so I used a contrasting colour. I pulled the seam tight so the stitches are invisible, but I haven’t secured the yarn at either side of the seam. Any suggestions?
I sometimes tie a small knot and then weave in the ends.
Okay, have finally finished the buttonhole border rows. The last instruction on the pattern is ‘Cast off knitways’.
My final cast off row falls on the ws- is this correct?
It’s really a matter of personal preference. If you like the look of the knitwise, stitch over stitch cast off, then go right ahead and use it.
Congrats on getting the bands to work!
Thanks! I couldn’t have done it without you!!
I wasn’t sure what the ‘knitways’ meant - does it just mean you cast off on a RS row?
The stitch over stitch cast off is the only one I know…do you use a different one?!
Casting off knitways means that you knit the 2 sts onto the right needle to begin the cast off and then continue knitting a stitch, casting off etc. This is a opposed to purling the sts and casting off.
I like this cast off and often use it.
Ah, I see. I think I’ve done this by accident then, because the border is in garter stitch, so I’ve knitted a stitch before casting off. I was just worried that ‘knitways’ meant I should have finished off by casting off on a RS row instead of the WS row!
Am knitting as we speak - thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it. xxx