Help Needed: Deciphering Leo sweater pattern from Knitty.com

#1

Hi, I’m a relatively new beginner at knitting (only started in about April of 2005). I have done a few projects (multiple hats and scarves) and I finally decided that it was time to knit something more extravagant for my brother. I found the Leo pattern from knitty.com.

Everything is going well, besides the fact that I’ve run into a problem. I am unable to decipher what the pattern is telling me to do. This is the portion of the armhole shaping and the shaping note in relation to the armhole shaping, and the shaping of the shoulders and back neck. The language used is foreign to me, and I was hoping that someone might be able to un-mud the waters for me, and example what it is that I will be doing, and what it will be looking like so I know I am doing the correct thing.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

#2

When you knit a sweater, you have to make the armholes and neck, and the directions tell you what to do to shape them.

Armhole shaping;

Bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows–bind off six stitches, work to the end. On the next row, bind of six stitches and work to the end. You can’t bind off at the end of a row, so you’re ‘cutting in’ for the armholes at the beginning of the two rows.

the two stitches at beginning of following 2 rows–same thing–bind off two, finish the row, bind off two at the beginning of the next two rows and finish the row.

Then you continue on the remaining stitches until the measurement for your size, making the last row you knit a right side row.

Next will come the neck shaping where you will bind off the center stitches. At this point you will have the two shoulders on your needle with the neck sections bound off.

This sweater has you working each shoulder separately, so just follow the directions for each row and I think you’ll be fine. If you get confused, by all means ask.

#3

natturuburu-

I really was thinking of making that sweater for my husband…what yarn did you use? I couldn’t find the one they were reccomending. Would you mind telling me the company, weight and fiber you are using? Thanks!

Is the sweater fun to knit? Difficult at all? Like I said, I really want to do that for my husband. THanks!!!

-Alison

#4

hey, great, thanks for your help, Ingrid. I’ll definately be returning if I run into any problems with the pattern.

I’m using Caron Simply Soft 6 oz./315 yds./100% Acrylic/ Worsted Weight/ 4 ply. I had to go for the really cheap kind of yarn, however this Simply Soft is just that: simply soft! It’s also great to work with and drapes really nicely! I bought it in bulk here. They have great prices and use UPS shipping method. I definately recommend them.

The sweater itself isn’t too difficult to knit at all (well, besides the pattern instructions saying putting things in a weird way. Ergo my question on the forum), it is most certainly very enjoyable to knit. I’d definately go and try it out for your husband. I’m sure that he’d love it. I was asking a friend of mine who I am also knitting this for (using the same yarn) whether or not I could add some cables to the front, and he said no. Men seem to like simplicity, I guess.