Help: "work straight" in this context

How-to Questions
1

I’m a new knitter and working on a simple cardigan. Thanks for the help!

The “work straight” in the following pattern portion has me confused (see bold part).

Is it:
– 1. Asking me to resume stockinette stitch and work straight in that for the specified length?
– 2. Asking me to repeat the armhole shapings (row 1-4, then row 1-2, repeat) for the specified length? If it is this . . . then that’s what I’ve done and there aren’t enough stitches left of the last 2 sets of 8 cast offs (see italics near the end).

Pattern: CARDIGAN: BACK SECTION

With No 5 mm needles, cast on 87 sts and work 7 rows in stocking stitch, starting with a K row. Next row – K, thus forming ridge for hemline.

Change to No 6 mm needles and continue in stocking stitch, starting with a K row, until Back matches Fronts at side edge, ending with a P row.

Shape armholes as follows:
1st row – K1, sL1K, K1, psso, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
2nd row – P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1.
3rd row – As 1st.
4th row – P.

Rep 1st to 4th row once more, then 1st and 2nd rows again. Work straight until Back matches Fronts to start of shoulder shapings, ending with a P row.

Shape shoulders as follows: Cast off 8 sts at beg of next 2 rows, 7 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 8 sts at beg of following 2 rows. Cast off remaining 25 sts.

2

Work straight or work even means to continue with the stitch pattern, in this case stockinette, without increasing or decreasing until the specified length. So you got it with #1.

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3

Thank you!

Does this mean that “work straight” is the same as “work even” (and that both mean to continue without the increases/decreases)?

4

Yes. I’m not aware of exceptions but they almost certainly exist. In this context they mean the same.

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