I am knitting an Aran sweater. The instructions tell me to C3R P and C3L P. I understand the C3R and the C3L but the P is confusing me. (Note: the P is immediately after the R or the L. Brackets not included because it changes the P into some symbol. ) Nothing in the instructions to help me understand what I am supposed to do. Thanks.
C3R(P) and C3L(P)
It might refer to “purl”, although I can’t tell you exactly what that means for your pattern. Cable abbreviations aren’t standardised.
Does the pattern define C3R and C3L, or did you work those out from a picture?
If you can tell us the name of the pattern and source, that would be helpful.
Thanks for responding. The P definitely refers to purl, I just can’t work how though. It is a pattern called Fleming that I purchased from aran.com.
Hi
This is from a different pattern but perhaps if you look at the picture the cable will look similar?
C3LP: Put 2 sts on cn and hold in front, p1; k2 from cn
C3RP: Put 1 st on cn and hold in back, k2; p1 from cn
And it is from here, where you can see an image and compare. It could be the same stitch.
https://knitty.com/ISSUEff16/PATTmanoa/PATTmanoa.php
If its not this, good luck, hopefully someone knows.
Is there a section in the pattern that tells you what the abbreviations mean? This could be at the start, end, or under the chart (if there is one). It might even be in a separate PDF with general info.
Without that, you’d have to ask the designer. Cable terms aren’t standardised, unfortunately.
We might be able to work it out if you can post a photo that shows the cable in question close up, but purls are hard to see.
The other thing to do is to check whether anyone on Ravelry has made this pattern. They may have made notes.
There isn’t a section of the pattern that explains the abbreviations, but another person has found a pattern with the same instruction, so I think I’ll be good now.
I didn’t even think to look on Ravelry until you made the suggestion. What a good idea! Thanks. The pattern is there, though no clarification on the abbreviations.
Check your stitch count across the row and the appearance of the cable. C3R P can also mean hold 1 stitch to the back, k3 then p1 from the cable needle. As kushami mentioned, it can be the wild west where cable abbreviations are concerned. They are usually defined by each designer.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I would double check with the publisher before going ahead. I know you probably want to knit over the weekend!
Here’s the link in case anyone can work it out from the photo:
Might be easier to see in the throw version:
I just noticed the website mentions that patterns come with a “stitch glossary”. Can you see that anywhere, maybe in an accompanying PDF?
Does the pattern explain the C4RP and C4LP?
If so, I’d imagine the C3R/LP are worked in the same manner but with a 3 rather than a 4.
I note that cable abbreviations have no standard and it could mean a variety of things but if this pattern has an explanation or note for the other cable then its ,ikely they followed their own standard even of it differs from others.
The safest option is to wait for a response from the designer, as has been suggested.
If you are inpatient (like me!) you could make a swatch with a couple of different trials of what the instruction means and see which looks the best or which you like the best.
Some of it might be worked out mathematically too as salmonmac has said about the stitch count,mit could help you to decide what to try in a swatch.