Casting on in the middle of a pattern

#1

Hi, I’m Laura. I am a new knitter and it has become somthing of an obsession! LOL! I already have yarn overflowing two big baskets and can’t seem to stop buying it! I have made several scarves and hats and dishclothes and am working on my first baby blanket. Now I am ready to try something else and I want to knit this shrug before trying to tackle an actual sweater. http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/sarena/sarena.html but am confused about the casting on of new stitches within the project.

The pattern says:

[color=darkred]With circular needle, cast on 104(120) sts. Do not join. Work back and forth in Pat St until piece measures 5” from beg, end on WS.

Beg Sleeves: Still working in Pat St, cast on 48 sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 200(216) sts. Work even until piece measures 17(18)” from beg, end on WS.

End Sleeves: Bind off 48 sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 104(120) sts. Work even until piece measures 22(23)” from beg, end on WS. Bind off all sts. [/color]

So, please let me know if I am understanding this correctly. After I do my 5" of pattern my next rows will look like this:

Row1: cast on 48, knit the following 104 that are already on the needle
Row 2: turn my work, cast on another 48, knit the following 152 already on needle
Row 3: THEN turn again and knit all 200?

And here’s another question. What do I use to cast on these additional stitches? Do I use my working yarn or yarn from another skein?

And then when it says “Bind off 48 sts at beg of the next 2 rows” that means I bind off 48, knit the remaing 152 stitches on the row, turn and bind off 48 and knit remaining 104 stitches?

I hope my questions made sense - sorry this is so long!! :oops: Thanks for any help y’all can give! :lol:

[size=2]edit - [color=violet]mod squad was here[/color][/size]

#2

I never have understood when a pattern tells you to cast on at the beginning of a row. That implies, to me anyway, that you will be casting on before you knit the stitches already in that row, and I don’t really understand the need for that. (or how to do it effectively)

What I do is at the end of your last short row, I’d cast on the stitches, turn the work, knit these stitches as well as the existing stitches and then cast on the next batch of stitches. Don’t worry that one side has one more row than the other. You can remedy that when you bind them off on two different rows.

You have the bind off directions down.

#3

I have done the technique you’re describing and I think you have it all correct. Using the working yarn, cast on at the beginning of the row (I use the “knitting on” method if that’s the correct term). Then work the row which has the new cast on stitches plus the previously existing stitches. Repeat the same thing on the next row. If you bind off starting with the same side that you first cast on, the sleeves should be the same size.

Good luck! Love the pattern!
Lynn

#4

I so appreciate the help! I am excited about doing my first wearable project (well one that that isn’t a scarf I mean)! LOL!