Cool pattern but need help

Pattern Central
1

Ok so I am Finishing a mitten and I am stuck toward the end where I start decreasing.

Here is a link for a picture of the mitts

And the part of the pattern where I am stuck is in bold and is in italics:

Shape top
Place marker after the foll number of sts to divide the sts into two halves for back and palm of hand:
41⁄2 sts/in
51⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 sts/in
71⁄2 sts/in
81⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 71⁄2 [16.5 19 14 16 18 20 20 24 24 28 28 32
81⁄2" circumference 21.5 cm]
20 sts.
24
28
32
36

Next rnd dec rnd: *Ssk or k2tog as necessary to maintain patt integrity, work in patt to 2 sts before next m, k2tog or ssk as necessary to maintain patt integrity; rep from * one more time—4 sts decreased; 2 sts each from back and palm of hand.

Next rnd: Keeping in patt as much as possible, work 1 rnd even.
Rep the last 2 rnds until the foll number of sts rem:
41⁄2 sts/in
51⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 sts/in
71⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 71⁄2 [16.5 19 16 20 20 20 20 24 24 28 28 32
81⁄2" circumference 21.5 cm]
24 sts.
24
28
32

81⁄2 sts/in
Rep dec rnd every rnd until the foll number of sts rem:
41⁄2 sts/in
51⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 sts/in
71⁄2 sts/in
81⁄2 sts/in
61⁄2 71⁄2 [16.5 19 4 4
4 4
4 8
8 8
8 8
81⁄2" circumference 21.5 cm]
4 sts.
4
8
8
8
36

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" tail. Thread tail on a tapestry needle, draw through rem sts, pull tight to close hole and fasten off on WS.

The pattern essentially is telling me to decrease as needed. I am a fairly new knitter and I am not great at determining how often I need to decrease for this mitt to take shape. I tried the decrease and ended up taking the decrease portion of the mitt a loose as I didn’t like it and I noticed some laddering. These mitts are a gift to my mom so I really want them to look nice.

Thank you all in advance for your help!

2

Welcome to KH!

Once you set the markers the pattern is telling you to decrease before and after the markers, 4 decreases per round. Decrease every other round. The alternate rounds work without decreases.

How are you knitting these mitts, with dpns or magic loop or 2 circulars?

3

Hi Salmonmac!

Thank you so much for responding ! That makes sense. I had a feeling that was the way I was supposed to do it but was decreasing every round instead of every other one.

I am using dpns for this project and didn’t have any laddering issues until I got to this point in the pattern. I think as I decrease every other round this will help stop the laddering

I appreciate your help and open to your additional thoughts and suggestions/advice etc

Thanks again

4

OK, good.
It’s easy to put the decreases at the beginning of one needle and end of another but it might help the laddering if you moved the decreases off the needle ends. If the laddering continues you might try slipping them a few sts along the needles and using markers.

5

Ahh ok- that’s exactly what I was doing as far as decreasing so I will try moving the decreases a few stitches away from the ends as you mentioned and see how that goes. I have a feeling that will prevent the laddering. Anyway I will keep you posted!

So excited to finish these mitts

Ok I will chat with you later!

6

Ok so I finally finished the mitten a few weeks back - it turned out nicely and my mom really likes them! Thank you again for all of your help!

7

IMG_3780.JPG1936×2592 1.15 MB

Thank you Salmonmac for your help! I finished these mitts sometime ago but wanted to send you a photo of them finished !

8

Wow, they look fantastic! Good for you. I’m glad that your Mom was pleased too.
Thanks very much for posting the photo.

9

Thank you so much! And she loves them! Very inspired after finishing these!