Help with poncho pattern - just getting started

#1

I don’t really wanna give away the entire pattern here, but could someone please help me with what seems to me to be a counting problem?

So I cast on 54 stitches onto circular needles (though i am not knitting in the round). Then, after purling one row, row 2 says: k1, K2tog, YO, k1.

Now it seems to me that this will not be possible, since if I subtract the k1 at the beginning and k1 at the end, that leaves me with 52 stitches to work with, and the middle part (k2tog, YO) is basically working in multiples of three (ISN’T IT??), and 52 is not divisible by three…

Appreciate any and all easy-to-understand-for-dummies enlightenment. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE if you can help.

#2

Knit 2 together makes one stitch, and the yo makes one stitch, so those two steps create 2 stitches.

You’re ok.

#3

YO creates a stitch, but it does not require a stitch all to itself for you to do it. All it is is making an extra loop before your next stitch, really. It shouldn’t affect your stitch count.

#4

Thank you for responding Ingrid.

I have tried this a zillion times and someone else has told me what you did. But the thing is - yes the stitches even out to 54 but ON THE NEXT ROW. On the row I am working on, the number of stitches necessary to get the k2tog and yo off one needle onto the other is three (no?) and 52 is not divisible by three.

I apologize for still not understanding.

Thanks again for responding, and remember- you are working with someone here who is very very slow!

#5

Tab,

Yes, I think you might be on to something there when you said:

“YO creates a stitch, but it does not require a stitch all to itself for you to do it. All it is is making an extra loop before your next stitch, really. It shouldn’t affect your stitch count.”

I watched the vid on this site, and it seems that i was doing it correctly. Furthermore, it seems that one is indeed using a stitch all by itself.

If you could tell me what I’m missing, I’d continue to be really grateful.

#6

Tab explained it above better than I did.

For every k2 tog, you use 2 stitches. The yo creates a stitch, but you do not use a stitch for it.

By working the k2tog, yo, you are essentially decreasing and then creating an increase, which balance each other out.

Try it, you’ll see.

#7

Ah ha! I think I see the confusion: To do a YO you simply wrap your yarn around the right needle once - no stitch from the left needle is involved. So for the repeat section of your pattern you will K2tog (uses two sts from the left needle and makes them one) and then YO (which uses no sts and creates one to replace the one you lost the previous stitch. Therefore the repeat is on TWO stitches, which does go into 52 evenly.

Does that clear things up?

#8

Jennifer,

Almost.

I am going to watch the YO video again.

But, let’s see. You said:

“I think I see the confusion: To do a YO you simply wrap your yarn around the right needle once - no stitch from the left needle is involved.”

But - do I not dig into a stitch of the left needle using my right needle?

(I think I’m getting there…)

#9

Do this:

K2. K2tog, bring the yarn to the front as if you are going to purl, k2tog.

As you k tog the second set of two stitches, your yarn will come over the needle and create the yo.

#10

Ingrid,

Thanks.

So are you saying that when the pattern says YO, really what I should be doing is a yarn over and then knitting two stitches together? As opposed to what I have been doing: putting the yarn over and then knitting only one stitch by itself.

#11

When a pattern says YO, it means just that Yarn Over.

THEN it will tell you what to do in the next stitch. Sometimes it’s a knit, sometimes it"s a purl, sometimes it’s a k2tog, as in your case.

A YO does NOT include the stitch/stitches after it.

#12

Ohhhh. Thank you.

So - it would seem that a k2tog, YO repeat would result in a net loss of one stitch.

I say that because a k2tog means you lose a stitch. And, with a YO, a k2tog nets zero stitches.

Wait - forget it, it’s time to just experiment with this newfound knowledge.

Thanks so much.

#13

The YO adds a stitch. It is considered an increase. You’re balancing your decrease with an increase.

#14

I don’t know if anyone’s still here on this one. Admittedly, it’s very trying.

I think I got it that YO is only an action, and does not necessarily mean put the yarn over and knit the next stitch, as I thought it did.

If I understood Ingrid correctly, the pattern should go: knit one stitch, knit the next two together (losing one stitch), put the yarn over and knit the next two together. Keep going k2tog with the yarn over until the last stitch which I will knit.

The thing is, this did not work out. I start out with 54 stitches, but I do not end up with 54. Why? The way I figure it, it is because when you k2tog you lose a stitch. And even though the next action calls for yarn over, you are still knitting two together, thereby losing a stitch. Let me be more clear: k2tog, YO TAKES four stitches to accomplish but YIELDS only three stitches on the other needle.

Is that correct? If so, then you lose a lot of stitches. Now, this might be correct, I am not sure.

Thanks for your continued patience (if anyone’s still out there.).

#15

You have to trust us here.

A yo does not use any stitches. Period.

You start out with 54. You should have k2 tog 26 times and had 26 corresponding yo’s. If this isn’t the case, it’s not because the math is wrong. You probably made an error somewhere along the way.

#16

I do trust you.

I’ve done it, I’ve trusted the pattern, but my 54 went down to 40 something.

Does my point: k2tog, YO takes four stitches, but yields only three on the other needle, make sense?

#17

Your k2tog yo should yield 2 stitches–the one stitch resulting from the k2tog, and the one stitch for the yo.

Just put the yarn in front as if your are going to purl, then knit the next two stitches as one. When you are finished, you should have a funny-looking ‘stitch’ which is the yo–really just a piece of yarn on your needle, and a regular looking knit stitch.

How are you doing your k2tog? Are you inserting your needle into two stitches at once, wrapping and knitting as normal?

Does my point: k2tog, YO takes four stitches, but yields only three on the other needle, make sense?

No, this can’t be correct. A k2tog takes two stitches, and yields one. I suspect that’s where your problem is.

#18

“How are you doing your k2tog? Are you inserting your needle into two stitches at once, wrapping and knitting as normal?”

YES.

<<Your k2tog yo should yield 2 stitches–

one stitch resulting from the k2tog>>

Yes.

<<and the one stitch for the yo. >>

No. Here, I do not understand. By YO, I am assuming you mean, put the yarn over and then knit two together. (Which is what I’ve been doing anyway.) So a yo in this case would yield TWO stitches not one = knitting two together loses one, but a yarn over gains one: 1+1=2.

<< A k2tog takes two stitches, and yields one. I suspect that’s where your problem is.>>

That part I’ve got down, I think. It’s the putting the yarn over and then knitting two together that seems to be the problem.

#19

All I can say is for you to put the yarn between the needles as if you are going to purl. Then knit the next two together. You should end up with two stitches as a result.

You’re starting with two stitches, which you’re knitting into 1=1
Your yarn over yields one =1

1+1=2 or

2-1+1=2