Hi all
I am a relatively new knitter and trying to knit a matinee coat for my baby niece. I am struggling to understand the instructions as to where and how often I am to decrease 4 stitches. If anyone could translate the highlighted section in the attached photo into layman’s terms, it would be appreciated. Many thanks
Hi and welcome!
What is the name of your pattern?
Which size are you making, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th?
For the 3rd size follow the placement of the decreases in row 5. If you number the markers 1,2,3 and 4 it makes it easier to think about. The following decreases of 4 sts will be immediately before marker 1 and after marker 2, then before marker 3 and after marker 4. (These decreases are separate from the pattern stitch which uses k2tog or slip1,k1,psso with an accompanying yarn over.)
Follow the pattern rows 1-8 but only dec in the 4 places noted above on rows 1,5,9,13 and then rows 19,25,31 and 37. That’ll give you 4 decreases x 8 decrease rows =32 sts which takes the stitch count from 191 to 159.
It may help you keep track of where you are if you write down a column of the pattern rows (repeats of 1-8) and the decrease rows 1-37.
Congratulations on being a new auntie!
Ok. I think I’m beginning to understand. Let’s see how it goes 
Thank you so much for your help!!
It may also help to put in a lifeline now so that if something goes wrong, it’s easier to rip back to that row. If you’re using needles with a tiny hole, the lifeline can be threaded through the hole but you don’t have to have these needles. You can always thread a tapestry needle and run it through the current row while the sts are still on your needles.
Am I knitting rows 1-8 as they are written and then 1-8 repeating for 13 rows decreasing either side of the markers every 4 rows and then 24 rows decreasing every 6 rows? Or am I starting the decreasing straight from the first time doing row 1?
Work through rows 1-8 once following the directions for your size. There is a decrease of 2sts in row 1 and a decrease of 4sts in row 5. That takes the stitch count from 197 to 191.
It’s a good idea to circle the directions for your size. Any direction with a 0 for your size should be ignored.
Then yes, repeat rows 1-8 but only decrease on the rows listed in my second post. That’ll be 13 rows at every 4th (ending row 13) and 24 at every 6th (ending row 37). Keep checking the total stitch count to make sure there are 4 decreases per decrease row.
Sorry, me again. Which decrease stitch is it asking me to do either side of the markers?
No problem. You can use whichever you prefer. A k2tog slants up to the right (/), a ssk slants up to the left (). Either will work just use the same one in the same place in the following rows.
