Cable pattern 5-to-1 decrease stitch (work 5tog)

#1

Hi there,

I’m working on a Patons cable sweater vest. The single stitch in the pattern whose description does not seem to make sense is a decrease, “work 5tog”. It’s description reads:
"Slip next 3 stitches purlwise. Pass 2nd stitch on right hand needle over first stitch and slip first stitch back to left hand needle. Pass 2nd stitch on left hand needle over first stitch. Slip stitch back to right hand needle and repeat from * to * once. P1. "

Is there an implied drop of a stitch that I’m missing? It seems that this description doesn’t result in the desired decrease. Not even one stitch is dropped, according to my read of it. Does one of the "slip"s somehow imply slipping off of a needle?

Any help with interpreting this stitch description would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

D

#2

It’s not the slipping of the stitches that will cause the decreases. It’s the passing x stitch over y stitch that will decrease your stitches.

So to break it down in your instructions:

Slip next 3 stitches purlwise.

*Pass 2nd stitch on right hand needle over first stitch [B]<–this will decrease a stitch, so you will have 4 left. [/B]
and slip first stitch back to left hand needle.

Pass 2nd stitch on left hand needle over first stitch. [B]<–this will decrease a stitch so you have 3 left.[/B]*

Slip stitch back to right hand needle

and repeat from * to * once. P1. [B]<–You will be repeating the above instructions between the asterisks, which will decrease another two stitches, leaving you with 1.[/B]

Hope that makes sense!

#3

Ah, thanks, this helps.

I was interpreting the description in the following way:
Pass 2nd stitch on right hand needle over first stitch < now the stitch that began as the 2nd stitch is the new “first stitch” >
and slip first stitch < this new “first stitch” > back to left hand needle.

Thanks for your help!

D

#4

You’re welcome! Instructions like that can be a bit hard to decipher sometimes. You basically pass a stitch over another stitch the same way you do when you’re doing the basic bind-off

#5

I, too am having the same problem with this stitch. It does not seem to make sense to me. I would appreciate any help!

thanks!:slight_smile:

#6

Thanks!! I will give this a shot on a practice piece!!