Dec Row - Work Even in Pattern Problem

How-to Questions
1

I am stumped on the instructions in my pattern to “work even” after my first Dec Row 1.

I have 61 stitches that decrease to 54 once the Dec begins. The problem I’m having is that my “multiples of 15” now seem to be 13 after the Dec.
So how can I work even in the pattern when I don’t have enough stitches?

Thanks for any help you might have.

Pattern:
Cast on 61 sts.
Establish Pat St: Row 1 (RS): K4, place marker, k5, *p3, k4, p3, k5, rep from * to last 7 sts, end p3, p4.
Row 2: and all WS rows: K the ksts and P the p sts as they face you.
Row 3: K to marker, k5, *p3,k2 tog, yo, k2, p3, k5, rep from * to last 7 sts, end p3, k2 tog, you, k2
Row 5: K to marker, k5, *p3, k2, yo, SSK, p3, k5, rep from * to last 7 sts, end p3, k2, yo, SSK.
Row 6: Rep Row 2. Rep these 6 rows until the piece measures approx. 4" from beg, end on WS with Row 6.
Dec Row 1 (RS): K to marker, K5, *p1, p2 tog, k4, p2 tog, p1, k5, rep from * to last 7 st. end p1, p2 tog, k4 - (54) sts. Work even in pat as established until the piece measures approx. 10" from beg, end on WS with Row 6
Dec Row 2 (RS): K to marker, k5, *p2 tog, k4, p2 tog, k5, rep from * to last 6 sts, end p2 tog, k4 - 47 sts. Work even in pat as established until the piece measures approx. 12" from beg, end on RS

2

I think for the rows after the first decrease if you work the sts however they appear - knit the knit sts and purl the purl stitches - that should keep the pattern. Keep the k4 and k5 column of stitches, the decs are in the in the purls between them, so that should work. Are you at this point yet? If you’re not it should be more apparent when you do; if you are there, then just look at the stitches, keep the columns of purls and knits intact will keep to the pattern.

3

Thanks for your reply suzeeq.

After finishing the Dec Row 1 - I went back to Row 2 of the Established Pattern and “K the k sts and P the p sts as they face you” and kept the K4 and K5 columns as you suggested.

Here is exactly where I am stuck. I thought that I should go back to Row 3 of the Established Pattern - so I turned the work and K4 to marker, K5 but when I am ready to start what’s between the *'s, “p3,k2 tog, yo, k2, p3, k5, rep from *” I only have 2 purl stitches because of the decrease.

Eesh … I think I just figured it out.

I’m supposed to p2 when it says to p3 from the original pattern … LOL!

For example my Dec Row 3 would be:
K4, k5, *[COLOR=“Red”]p2[/COLOR], k2 tog, yo, k2, [COLOR=“red”]p2[/COLOR], k5, rep from * to last 7 sts, end p3, k2 tog, yo, k2

4

"I’m supposed to p2 when it says to p3 from the original pattern … "
Yes, that’s the right idea. Your repeat goes down to 13sts after Dec row 1 and then to 11sts after Dec row 2. From what you’ve quoted, the decreases stop there and you work even (without inc or dec) on 47sts. The row looks like k4, k5 p1, k4, p1, k5 p1, k4. As Sue mentioned, knit and purl the sts as they appear so that you keep the columns of sts aligned.