Hi. Im trying to knit James C Brett pattern 553. I am at the decreasing for raglans. I can’t make the pattern work! I have 64 stitches on the needle.. The pattern states P3, pattern to last 3sts P3. The pattern would be *K2 P4. I can’t make these amount of stitches work in the pattern. Can anyone help??
Very pretty pattern stitch. With 64sts on the needle and 3 purls at each end you have 58sts for the pattern stitch. Can you give us a row of the pattern stitch or tell us how many sts in a pattern repeat?
As you decrease for the raglans you won’t be able to knit a complete repeat at the edges as the decrease will “eat into” the pattern. You may only get 1 or 2 sts at the edges that you can work in pattern. The important thing will be to keep the main body of the pattern aligned.
Yes….this is the first row alfter the raglan decrease on the knit row. It states p3 then pattern to last 3 stitches P3. The pattern in K2 P4. With 58sts I cant work that out
The best way to work this is to look at the previous rows and decide how to start the row in order to maintain the pattern alignment. If the pattern stitch started with P3 then k2p4 on the last RS row, then a decrease at the raglan would mean that 2 of the 3 purl sts are worked together for the decrease and the pattern resumes with p1 then k2p4. For any following rows you would have a p1 the k2p4 at the beginning and then the pattern of k2p4 resumes until the next decrease row.
It’s always easier to see the change in pattern stitch at the end of the row because you run out of sts before the end. (I’m assuming the decrease occurs at the p3 and not between the p3 and the k2p4 pattern repeat. It may not but you can let us know.)
These are the full details from the pattern.
1st row Knit. 2nd Row P4, K2 P4 repeat.3rd Row Knit. 4th Row P1 K2 P4 repeat to last 3sts K2 P1
Shape raglans cast of 2 stitches next two rows.
1st row K2,S1,K1,psso, patt to last 4 sts k2tog, k2. (64sts)
2nd row P3, patt to last 3sts, P3
Rep 1st and 2nd rows 15 times more (34sts)
OK. You have 64sts: p3, p4 (k2p4)x9 p3
That works out to 64sts
3+4+54+3=64sts
It looks to me like only the k2, p4 is repeated, not the initial p4.
After the decrease row the initial p4 is decreased to p3.
P3, (k2, p4) 9 times, k2, p2, p3
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Yes, only the repeat (k2p4)x9 not the initial k4.
I did wonder about that…..so basically 7 purl stitches in a row to start? If so how do i proceed with the further rows as the decrease continues?
The best way to work the pattern is to look at the sts on the needle (read the stitches) and figure out what stitches will maintain the pattern without a jog. You want that pattern repeat to stay aligned with previous rows.
Another way to do this is to write out the rows and account for the decrease on every repeat of row 1 of the raglan pattern.
Ok. Thank you for your help
Give either way a try and see how it goes. It does get easier as you work the rows. Let us know how it’s going please.
I find it helps to expand some of the repeats each end and write it down as individual stitches until i can work out how to read the fabric.
If the above has been the row without any decreases, so 66 sts, then I would write out:
p p p p, (k2, p4) x 9, k k p p p p, k k
Does this look like what you were working before the decrease? Starting with p4 and ending with k2?
Then I would cross out the first and last stitch because these have been decreased
p p p, (k2, p4) × 9, k k p p p p k
Then as the pattern says to work to the last 3 sts I would mark out the last 3
p p p, (k2 p4) × 9, k k p p [p p k]
And then change the marked out last 3 sts to purls
p p p (k2 p4) × 9, k k p p [p p p]
So that would be my new row 2 on 64 sts
On the next decrease i would expand another of those repeats into individually written stitches
p p p, k k p p p p, (k2 p4) × 8, k k p p [p p p]
And decrease each end
p p, k k p p p p (k2 p4) × 8, k k p p [p p]
Then mark out the first and last 3 sts
[p p k] k p p p p (k2 p4) × 8, k k p [p p p]
Then make sure first and last 3 sts are purled
[p p p] k p p p p (k2 p4) × 8, k k p [p p p]
And this would be row 2 on 62 sts
This is roughly how i would work out those decreased stitches so that everything inbetween lines up. If it helps, great, if not just ignore it.
The fabric has what looks like a continuous column of knit stitches running forming part of the pattern (i can only zoom in so far but it kind of looks this way) if you can identify those columns they may help you read your knitting to work out what should come where. When i struggle wih a shaping pattern I look at the centre of the fabric and work outwards counting or naming stitches until i reach the end/beginning of the row.
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As @Creations said, it always helps to write this sort of thing out, either in text or on graph paper. Write out several rows, then start marking off the decreases, starting at the lowest row. You’ll soon see how it works.
You’ll be maintaining the center of the pattern while losing stitches at each edge to the decreases. So work in pattern to the last 3 stitches, even if you haven’t finished the pattern repeat. Each time you decrease, you’ll lose another stitch from the pattern repeat. Check the rows you’ve already knitted to be sure you’re keeping the pattern aligned.
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