I’ve just finished shaping the front shoulders having created a left front shoulder flap. I’m now moving on to Shape back neck…
The pattern says:
“Rejoin yarn with RS facing to 157 Back sts and pattern across 57 STS for Right back and leave on a stitch holder, pattern across next 58 for back neck and leave on a second stitch holder, pattern across Left Back to last 13 sts and turn, leaving these 13 sts on a stitch holder. 37 sts.”
I followed these instructions and unfortunately I have ended up with only 28 sts somehow for the Left Back (despite starting with 157 sts)??
I read ahead to the next step (interim finishing) and it instructs:
“Using Kitchener stitch, graft the 50 right front sts together with the 50 right back sts.”
But 1 step prior it says “pattern across 57 STS for Right back”???
Not to mention that the right back is still 8 rows lower (and a different pattern) than the front?
Feels like maybe there’s something I must’ve missed?
There’s certainly something wrong with the stitch count which adds up to 165 not 157.
If you’re grafting the front to the back at the shoulder, you should have an equal number of sts to graft. Additionally, the back should match up to the length of the front either measured from the armhole or the hem. Others have noted problems with the pattern. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/SailingWool/fishermans-sweater
You’ll probably have to balance the two shoulders so that the final stitch number matches the fronts at the shoulders. Also, you’ll need to add rows so that the front and back lengths match up.
Make sure you’re reading the numbers for the size you’re making and haven’t inadvertently skipped to a different size.
It’s also possible to contact the designer through the designer website and see if there are corrections or explanations: https://www.mativentrillon.co.uk/contact
Keep reading in the pattern to see if it mentions the 13 end sts. There is a flap and buttonholes on the left shoulder but one knitter suggests it can be ignored. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JohanneRose/fishermans-sweater
Assuming you find out where the 13sts go, you could divide the sweater with 50sts each shoulder and 44sts at the neck with the 13sts held for whatever the pattern says.
If the 13sts don’t show up again in the pattern then dividing with 50sts each shoulder and 57 for the neck will work.
The two project knitters I’ve linked to finished the sweater fairly recently and it may also help to contact them if the designer isn’t responsive.
Keep reading the pattern to the end and see if some of the questions are resolved.
Ah, ok. The left shoulder is the one that will have the buttons on the section with the turning row. The 13sts are grafted to the front at the sleeve cap with the remaining 37sts forming the buttonband. That’s the 50sts on the left shoulder.
If you go with those numbers and 50sts for the right shoulder which has to be grafted to the 50sts for the right front then there are 57sts for the neck.
So for my next step, the Left Back Shoulder flap… Shall I follow the pattern as written and swap over to MC only, or pattern so that the Left Back matches the same number of rows (and same pattern ) as the Left Front?
It’s your choice. You continue the pattern that you have been working up the left sweater shoulder or work in MC. It looks like that section may be covered by the front button band anyway. If it’s not covered over then continuing the pattern seems best.
I have just finished knitting the sleeves! I’ve read through all the above links and it seems the pattern doesn’t align! A bit annoying seeing as I’m not a confident haberdasher!
One knitter on Ravelry recommended I do a 3 needle BO/CO for the shoulder graft, thoughts?
This will be my first time steeking a fingering size wool so any tips for crocheting that chain either side would be really welcome!
The colour work for the back neck/shoulder doesn’t match up, wondering whether to match them to the same block colour? But one knitter did point out that our back shoulders naturally shape a certain way, sitting slightly away from the head etc… so I might be making the jumper and odd fit if I do so, thoughts?
Many thanks in advance for all the advice and support!
Your knitting is so lovely on this gorgeous sweater. It’s stunning.
The pattern doesn’t align at the shoulders?
Three needle bind off at the shoulder is a much sturdier join than a graft. Is the graft meant to fill in the pattern between front and back? Even then, 3-needle bind off would be a preferred choice. As long as the shoulder is neat the colorwork doesn’t necessarily have to match although it’s nice when it does.
Try out the steek on a swatch just for the confidence factor. You’re working with wool which is a good start. It will felt and reinforce the steek with wear and time. You could also stitch up and down either side of the steek with a sewing stitch making sure to go through all the yarn strands as best you can.
Right, one final double check before I go off piste from the designer’s instructions to see if you have any other insight…
I’m about to graft the right shoulder as instructed, however the instructions have finished the back shoulder on row 201 whilst the front shoulder finished on 211. In the picture below that means the back shoulder is red & white whilst the front shoulder finishes a full flooer ending black.
I just don’t understand why the designer would leave the flooer half finished at the back? There is no shoulder flap this side. It’s just simply that the front shoulder is instructed to knit and additional 12 rows whilst the back right shoulder is put on waste yarn without additional knitting to match the front:
"Shape Right Front Shoulder
Rejoin yarn with RS facing to 50 Right Front STS.
Work straight in pattern for 12 rows, ending after a WS row)
Leave on waste yarn.
Shape Back Neck
Rejoin with RS facing, pattern across 57 sts for Right Back and leave on waste yarn
Interim finishing Right Shoulder
Using Kitchener stitch graft the right front sts together with the right back sts."
