Confused about decreases 'every other row' at armhole

#1

Hi! Well, here we go, my first big challenge! I haven’t knitted a sweater for years and forgot how to read the pattern, when it comes to decreasing for armholes. It’s a vest actually not a sweater. I suppose this is simple but I’m just not sure. I’m confused, if it says dec 1 st each side every other row… here’s the exact words:

At the beg of next 2 rows bind off 5(6,6,7,7) sts, then dec 1 st each side every other row 3(3,4,4,5) times.

I got the 5 sts bound off, but then to decease 1 st each side, am I binding off one stitch each time at the beginning of the row and at the end of that same row? To make the armhole? Or knitting 2 tog… Should the decreases be in the same row in other words. Oh geez I’m hopeless… I can’t picture it.

Can show you the pattern but it’s pretty simple probably!?

#2

Yes, start with a decrease and end with a decrease. K2tog at each end is fine.

#3

Ha! Thanks Ingrid (how ya been!) Geez, I think I did the back of vest the wrong way. (I’m on the front now) Maybe not, but for some reason I thought I should bind off instead of dec. Drat. It looks ok though.
We’ll seeeee. thanks bunches!

#4

You only bind off when there’s more than one stitch to decrease. It makes for a gentler slope up the armhole when you k2tog.

#5

Ingrid you enlighten me every time! Really. I’m getting this thanks to you.
Will do this… getting there… !

#6

The more you understand why you’re doing something, the easier it is to understand how. :thumbsup: