Dec 2 sts at each end of 4th and 5

Hi, I’m new here and so excited to be here! I’m also a new knitter. I’m working on my first item ever and loving it! Please help me with the pattern. It says:
Working all raglan armhole decreases as set by last row, dec 2 sts at each end of 4th and 5 foll 4th rows, then on foll 3 alt rows. 16 sts.
( the previous row was K2, K3tog, K to last 5 sts, K3tog tbl, K2)
I tried reading other posts that were similar, but I don’t have the confidence to proceed.

Welcome to KH and to knitting!
Good for you for working a sweater too. What is the name of your pattern and designer?
The decreases are placed as in the row you quoted, 2sts in from each end. Decrease on row 4 and then on rows 8,12,16,20 and 24. Then dec on rows 26,28 and 30.

Thank you, and thank you for the help. I’m making Kim Hargreave’s Elate cardigan with Knit Picks Aloft Kid Silk in Palamino. Thank you for the help, but I still don’t get it. So no decreases (k3 tog and k3tob tbl) except on the rows you listed? What would the next row consist of and is that row #2? Also, “on foll 3 alt rows”, what are they alternating with? How do you arrive at 26, 28, amd 30? I think I’m adding to my confusion.


That’s correct. No decreases except on the rows listed. You can use a row counter if that helps or list all the rows on a piece of paper and check them off as you work them.
The instructions have you work a decrease row. The next row is row #1 (a wrong side row). For rows 1,2 and 3 for example work the row as knit (or purl) all the sts. On row 4 work: K2, K3tog, K to last 5 sts, K3tog tbl, K2.
You’ll be working 3 rows without decreases and then decreasing on the 4th row.

The alternate rows are worked without decreases. So decrease on row 26, no decrease on 27. Dec on row 28, no dec on 29. Dec on 30 and then no further decreases unless the pattern specifies some.

Great looking pattern that should be a good first cardigan. If more questions come up or if the above isn’t clear, come back and ask us. We’d love to see a photo when you finish!

Just a tiny rephrase, in case it helps. When it says “alternate”, what you’re alternating is decrease rows and non-decrease rows. Decreases are usually made on right side (RS) rows.

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I wrote it out and arrived at the specified 16 sts. Thank you again!

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Thank you. So understandable now, but it was so perplexing!

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These kind of directions are often confusing. It’ll get easier the more patterns you work. And you always have back up here.
Have fun with this lovely cardi!

We’ve all been through it. You’re confronted with all of these numbers and it’s just a jumble. Once you’ve done a couple of projects, it starts to make more sense. And you’ve kind of gone in at the deep end, with a sweater for your very first project! Glad you’re enjoying it! It looks like it’ll be nice and cozy.

I’m going to add a rephrase too.
Alternate can be pronounced 2 ways and slightly changes the meaning or understanding of it.
It’s the same spelling
alternate rows - meaning every other row
Rather than alternating something with something else.

Although it doesn’t matter which way you remember it so long as the sweater works up correctly.

I think it’s great you’re working a sweater you will learn lots of different things and you’ll be so pleased when it’s done and worn.

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Thats a perfect example of how my alternate way of looking at things tends to complicate things. I’ve been reading many posts about decreases, and I can’t seem to see things for what they are. I alternate back and forth between the logic of the pattern and my over-analyzed interpretation.

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Potholders are great, and I’m sure I’ll make a few, but i really wanted to make something with the mohair silk yarn. I’ve seen so many different brands and vibrant colors of. I think I will be hooked on the fluff for a while. I don’t see much angora out there :frowning:

Yeah, a mohair-silk potholder wouldn’t be much good! :rofl:

Angora is hard to find, and harder since they’ve tightened up some rules about the treatment of the animals involved. I have 2 balls of rabbit angora waiting for the right project. For now, I just take them out and pet them.

Look into Suri alpaca for soft fluff as well. More affordable than angora, and not so itchy as mohair (for some of us). I can work with mohair just fine, but learned the hard way that I can’t wear it.