Help! Pattern isn't working out

Usually I am VERY good at reading patterns. However, I ended up with a doozy that I simply cannot figure out. I would appreciate any help in figuring this out.

It’s a Phildar pattern from their Tendances automne 04/05 issue Pattern Number 7. I think the French to English translation didn’t happen very well this time.

This is for the back and it’s shaping raglan armholes. First, under stitches it says a Half fisherman’s rib is as follows:

1st Row (RS) K1, p1, *K1B, p1, rep from * to last 2 stitches, p1, k1 = 8 stitches in total
2nd Row - Knit

I am just beginning to shape my raglan sleeves on the back piece and this is how the pattern reads.

Shape Raglan Armholes:

Continue in stocking stitch with half fisherman’s rib panels and work shaping as follows (not sure how to interpret this – does shaping only mean the decreases?) Presently I have 56 stitches on the needle important for later):

1st Row: K1, P1 [k1B, p1] 3 times, k2tog, k to last 10 sts, sl1, k1, psso, [p1, k1B] 3 times, p1, k1
2nd Row: k8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Keeping pattern correct, dec one st inside a border of 8 sts in this way at both ends of 3rd and foll 3 alt rows, ending with a ws row.

Rep last 12 rows 2 times more then dec inside border of 8 sts as before at both ends of 3rd row and foll 1 alt row, working one row after last decrease [32 stitches]

Next Row: Patt 8, k2 tog, k1, cast off next 10sts, k to last 10 sts, s1, k1, psso, patt 8
Next Row: K8, p2
Next Row: Patt 8, sl1, k1, psso
Next Row: k8, p1
Next Row: Cast off 7 sts, patt to end
Work one row
Next row – sl1, k1, psso and fasten off

So this is how I figured out the rows based on the pattern:

Row 1: k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 [8 stitches of fisherman rib panel], knit to last 10sts, k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, p1, k1 (not a decrease row)

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: (3rd row decrease so use Row 1 and 2 of shaping instructions) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2 = 54 stitches

Row 4: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Row 5: (1st alternate decrease) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2 = 52 stitches

Row 6: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Row 7: (2nd alternate row to decrease) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2 = 50 stitches

Row 8: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Row 9: (3rd alternate row to decrease) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2 = 48 stitches

Row 10: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Row 11: k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 [8 stitches of fisherman rib panel], knit to last 10sts, k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, p1, k1 (not a decrease row)

Row 12: Knit

So I have decreased 8 stitches.

So now the pattern says to Rep last 12 rows 2 times more (so I will have decrease 24 stitches in total) then dec inside border of 8 sts as before at both ends of 3rd row and foll 1 alt row, working one row after last decrease [32]

Row 1: k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 [8 stitches of fisherman rib panel], knit to last 10sts, k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, p1, k1 (not a decrease row)

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: (3rd row decrease) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2

Row 4: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Row 5: (alternate decrease) k1, p1, k1B, p1, k1B, p1, K1B, p1 (had to repeat this three times), k2tog, k to last 10sts, sl1, k1, psso, k1B, p1, k1B, P1, K1B, p1 (again my three time repeat), p1, k1 - this decreases the stitches by 2

Row 6: K8, p to last 8 sts, k8 – (this is the one row worked after the last decrease)

So this has decreased my stiches by another 4 stitches.

Here’s where I get confused (or maybe I already am). My decrease amount does not match up given that I’m suppose to have 32 stitches left. With the first 12 rows = a 8 stitch decrease and then do that 2 more times that gives me 24 stitches and then I add it the 4 stitches I decrease after that gives me a total of 28 stitches. Am I missing something with the K1B’s maybe?

This cannot be right?? I am so confused! I have the French Version of this pattern too but even though I read French I cannot understand it either. How would you interpret this pattern?

I think your mistake comes from where you start the decreases.

Rows 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 are decrease rows = reduced by 10 to 46

repeat twice more gets you to 36

The last two decrease rows take 4 more away for 32.

Your directions say

1st Row: K1, P1 [k1B, p1] 3 times, k2tog, k to last 10 sts, sl1, k1, psso, [p1, k1B] 3 times, p1, k1
2nd Row: k8, p to last 8 sts, k8

Yet you say that row 1 is not a decrease row.

Do you think this is right or am I way off?

I went to see my local yarn shop as well and this is what they figured out for me. Begin with 56 stitches.

Row 1: Do as listed - decrease row (2 stitches = 54)
Row 2: Do as listed

Begin pattern:

Row 1: No decrease
Row 2:
Row 3: Decrease as pattern suggests - 3rd row decrease
Row 4:
Row 5:
Row 6:
Row 7: Every 3rd following alternate row decrease
Row 8:
Row 9:
Row 10:
Row 11: 3rd row alternate decrease
Row 12:

= 6 decreases x 3 times = 18 + 2 done above in Row 1 = 20

Then do the other 2 decreases after the pattern repeat for a total of 4

Which gives me 24 stitches decreased in total which leaves me with the required 32 number of stitches.

Phew! Brain Gym!

Deb