Decrease 1st 2 times?

How-to Questions
1

I’m going crazy with this pattern for a gorgeus baby cardigan. I won’t be working on it for a while, because I bought yarn that is too thin for it, so I switched to a different (and easier) pattern, but it has become a matter of pride. The biggest problem is that I got it from a Spanish magazine, so nobody in my knitting group can help me. Anyway, here is the literal translation of how to start the back (the size I want to use is in italics):

CO 47/53/59/65 sts. Knit 4 rows.
Change to stockinette st and on both sides, 1st from the edges, decrease working 2tog, 3x1st every 8 rows/1 st on the following 10th row and 2x1st every 8 rows/3x1st every 10 rows/3x1st every 12 rows (=41/47/53/59sts).

Here is the first problem, and the one that is driving me crazy: WHAT the … is that 3x1st???, I assume it means 3 times 1 st, but I still don’t get it.

I’ve tried the only thing I could come up with:

[K2tog and then slip it back to the left needle and K2tog again, then one more time], but it not only leaves a hole between the first st and the decrease, it creates a pronounced slanted decrease that doesn’t make sense on the sides of the back every 8 rows.

Has anybody seen anything like that?

I was thinking that I could simply decrease gradually on the sides to obtain the right number of sts in the same number of rows, but then it uses the same “term” to shape the armholes and neck:

16/18/20/23 cm from CO, to shape the armholes bind off on both sides every 2 rows 2x2st/1x3 and 1x2st/1x3, 1x2 and 1x1st/1x3, 1x2 and 2x1st. (=33/37/41/45sts).

2

Very confusing!!

Here’s my guess, based on nothing in particular:

CO 47/53/59/65 sts. Knit 4 rows. [color=blue](simple enough!)[/color]

Change to stockinette st and on both sides, 1st from the edges, decrease working 2tog. [color=blue](Again, simple.) [/color]

Now, what I think they want is for you decrease at the beginning and ending of every 8th row, 3 times. [color=blue](Row 8, 16 and 24) [/color]

Then, on the 10th row after the 3rd decrease, [color=blue](Row 34)[/color] do another set of decreases.

Then on the 8th row after that decrease [color=blue](Row 44), [/color]do another set and then on the 52nd row.

That comes to a grand total of 12 decreased stitches, which would put you on target for 47 stitches in your size.

I think. Maybe.

3

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! It’s so nice of you.

I’ve been trying to do the math, and it seems to work for the decreasing on the sides of the back, but not for the armhole and neck shaping. It’s driving me nuts!!

I guess I’ll have to wait and ask some experienced knitter in Spain this summer.