Help with bind off and selvedge stich

How-to Questions
1

I am about to start decreasing for the armhole. The pattern calls for binding off 5 stiches for the first row. The problem is when I started the pattern I added on a selvedge stitch on each side (it’s the right front of a cardigan sweater). What I need to know is do I bind off the 5 stiches first and what is left is my selvedge stitch? Or do I knit the first stitch as my selvedge stitch and then bind off? Or do I just bind off 6 stiches instead of 5?

Thanks

Jan: :

2

I don’t know if this is right, but what I’ve done in the past is the first option. Bind off the first 5 stitches and what I’m left with becomes my new selvedge stitch and the rest of the row.

If you slip your selvedge stitch and then bind off 5 stitches, I think you’ll basically end up with a wonky hole. Good luck!

3

Thanks. You’re the second person who has said this was the right thing to do – I didn’t do it that way the first time and have now had to tear back to the beginning of the armhole because the pattern looks odd. I continue to ask myself why I chose such a complicated pattern as I’m only a beginning knitter so I’ll be back :wink: :wink:

Jan