I knitted in rows of 1-18 to form a v shaped pattern on the back of a cardi. I am on the left front and followed ‘this sets the pattern’. It is knitting rows 1-10 but repeating those rows as I did on the back is stacking the pattern as opposed to creating a diagonal line. What am I doing wrong please? The lilac back, front of pattern in cream and the instructions(part of the back 1-18 and the left front 1-11).
Welcome to the forum!
It’s a lovely pattern with an interesting diagonal. Would you post a photo of your knitting on the front of the cardigan please? It’ll help us to figure out what is going off.
The first 10 rows are stacking or are the rows after that row 10 (rows 11 and on) stacking?
Also, which size are you making, 1st, 2nd, 3rd…?
Ok so after four days of trying different things I have cracked it!! Left front knit rows 1-10 then start row 11 12 to 18 doing alternate parts as for the back. So for example row 13 is knit the first half of the back for row 13 and row 14 is knit the 2nd half of the back for row 14. It’s a bit confusing but is now working! I taught myself to knit 40 years ago but dnt do it often and reading patterns is hard for me. Thank you for reading this I am sure I will be back!
Good going, you! Sometimes you just have to triumph over the pattern. Thanks for letting us know how you cracked it and for the photos. Delighted that you’re on track. Please do let us see a photo when you finish. Your knitting is very fine.
Thank you
Ok so a further query please. In order to continue the pattern - which you can see further above - I need to refresh myself on decreasing.
If I have to dec one stitch at V edge (starting end of row 13) every fourth row. That I can do however does that mean that I omit one stitch from the pattern on the start of row 14, 15 16 and then dec 1 again end row 17? Then I omit two stitches from start of row 17 18 and so on? Thank you ![]()
Yes, you’re going to have to account for the decreased stitch in each of the succeeding rows. Each decrease adds to the decreases already made.
This isn’t as difficult as it seems at first. The idea is to keep the main pattern aligned throughout the body. Just make the decrease then look at the pattern and decide whether to knit or purl so that the pattern won’t jog or misalign.
Thank you! I have undone the rows three times now because the pattern really looked wrong so I thought it has to be me! Thanks for the reassurance I was on the right track must have counted incorrectly somewhere - off we go again!
You might find it useful to place a marker on your needle one repeat in from the end of the row to help keep you on track. The marker helps to show where a full repeat ends on the RS row, so the remaining sts are a partial repeat and the decrease. When you turn to work the WS the marker is still in place so you have a partial repeat to work out and you know you need to be on track for that first full repeat at the marker.
The decrease on the left front won’t always remove a stitch from the beginning of the row, only the beginning of the even numbered or WS rows. For the odd numbered or RS rows it will be a stitch at the end that has been decreased and accounted for at the end of the row. I think you know this but your message said ‘start of row 14 15 16’ so I’m mentioning just in case you got confused about which bit of pattern you are accounting for the decrease in. If you omit a stitch at beginning of row 15 your pattern won’t align, it’s end of row 15.
The back of your cardigan is great, very effective pattern.
Ok thank you I didn’t do that! So the decrease was end of row 13. I thought I had to account for that decrease at the start of every row afterwards. So account for Dec beg row 14, end of 15, start of 16, end of 17 I think u mean - sorry about this I haven’t done too many patterns with such changes in stitches along the row
For the shape the left front? The decreases will all be at the neck edge or along the area of the future buttonband to create the front slope. You can work that at the end of a right side row (RS). The decreases will be end of row every 4th row. That would be rows 1,5,9,11 and so on for the given number of rows for your size (or if the first decrease is the end of row 13 then the decreases start on rows 13,17,21,25). Then change to every 6th row.
If you let us know the size you’re making we can list the rows for decreases and then you can check them off as you work them.
(Good thought, Creations.)
I am making the first size and shaping which is the decrease for the V I haven’t got to shoulder shaping yet. Thank you for the help can u put in whether to dec at start or end of row please. Struggling with health right now and thinking hard seems to be adding to my confusion!! Lol
U
Just trying to follow this too from you earlier cheers
Yes, you’re going to have to account for the decreased stitch in each of the succeeding rows. Each decrease adds to the decreases already made.
For this left front all the decreases are at the end of the RS rows (odd rows salmonmac listed, 13, 17, 21 thats “next and 2 foll 4th”)
Then 12 following 6th rows will be
Rows 27 33 39 45 51 57 63 69 75 81 87 93
All positioned at the neck edge marked in red on this pic
When you work the WS rows some stitches listed in your pattern will not be there, this is where you need to figure out which stitch/es have gone and allow for this when working the row. There are no decreases to make on the WS but you must remember they have gone for the pattern to align.
Sorry to hear you’re struggling with your health. Hopefully you feel better soon and i hope knitting helps you feel better too.
Many thanks indeed! Fingers crossed I finish this cardi before the end of this century! ![]()
You’ve got this. Decreasing at the end of row is always the best way to go as you just finish off the pattern with the decrease on the next 2sts wherever it falls. (btw the last dec row must be 93)
Thank you, I’ve edited with 93 so the numbers are in one post.
The reassurance on this forum is just brilliant and I am sure now I will get through the pattern. As said earlier I am quite anxious and so don’t think clearly but that will hopefully go after my op!! I love knitting and this is one I did about four years ago but I don’t knit very much and should do more! It does lie flat I just took a poor photo lol
That’s a beauty! It’s good that you’re getting back to more knitting because you make lovely projects. Knitting is a very relaxing and a stress reliever. It helps in so many ways with anxiety. Hoping all goes well with you.
Thank you ![]()
That’s a lovely cardigan.
This forum helped me through a lot of muddled confusion due to pain and medications and through my bad times and surgeries. I’d be lost without it. The support I’ve had (and still have) is incredible. Being able to focus on knitting helped me through a lot, and still does, I’m grateful every day.
Cheering you on with this pattern and with your health.
Let us know when you are up to the shoulder shaping if you need some support with the row numbers.







