Hi there,
I’m attempting my first cardigan and have just started on the pattern section (after knitting the stretchy border for the bottom). I started with 124 stitches but have suddenly realised I only have 53 after 20 rows in pattern!
The pattern is as follows:
Row 1 *P1, k2tog., yf, yrn., p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2 *K1, P2, K1, repeat from * to end
Row 3 *P1, keeping yarn to from SKPO, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 4 As 2nd row.
For yarn forward, I just bring the yarn between the needles, pass it over the right and back between the two needles. For Yarn round, I pass it over the right needle as it’s already in front, and back between the two needles. This should mean an increase of 1 and a decrease of 1 in the third row, so it should balance out if I’m right.
Any help would be so appreciated as I’m completely confused! I don’t think I could have just dropped so many in only 20 rows.
Thanks in advance!
Buttons
Welcome to KH!
Claire’s suggestion is good. A link to the pattern if possible, would help.
Yes, that’s an inc of one (yfwd, yrn) and the k2tog decreases one stitch on row 1. The problem is row 3. There seems to be something left out .
Row 3 *P1, [U]keeping yarn to from[/U] SKPO, p1, repeat from * to end
The SKPO will decrease a stitch and if only rows 1-4 form the pattern, the total number of sts will also dec.
Check and see if row 3 has copied correctly.
.
Thank you for your quick replies.
I’m afraid I don’t have a link as it’s an old pattern card but I could type the rest if that would help?
Row 3 is correct, although it’s meant to say keep yarn to front, not from! It does seem odd that it’s decreasing so quickly. I feel like I’ll be left with just a triangle at this rate! I’m not sure if the sleeve sections are meant to compensate with their shape.
Do let me know if there’s anything that will help you understand where I’m going wrong.
If you have the name of the pattern, we may be able to at least find a picture of it. Is there any way you may be able to take a picture of the detail for the pattern and post it?
The SKPO in row 3 is a decrease, there should be a coordinating increase. Could you look at the directions again and see if you may be able to find one?
The pattern is as follows:
Row 1 *P1, k2tog., yf, yrn., p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2 *K1, P2, K1, repeat from * to end
Row 3 *P1, keeping yarn to front SKPO, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 4 As 2nd row.
Are you given st counts anywhere else, other than what you started with?
Have you checked the abbreviations re: SKPO? Is it “slip, knit, PSSO” or something else?
If Row 1 inc 1 each repeat (yf, yrn = YO, YO) and Row 3 decreases 1 each repeat, things should be overall even.
If Row 1 is even (yf, yrn = YO) and row decreases 1, then you’ll be losing sts.
Ok, I see, keeping yarn to the front will create a yarn over in row 3. That’ll balance out the skpo and so there should be no change in stitch number in either row 3 or row 1.
For row 3, purl 1, keep the yarn in front and slip one, then knit the next stitch. Knitting that stitch with the yarn in front will give you the yarn over. Pass the slipped stitch over and finish with purl one.
So, I’ve knitted the first four rows of pattern and I now have 144 sts instead of 124. Does this seem right? I wanted to check before carrying on in case I end up with a dramatic increase that isn’t right!
You shouldn’t be increasing or decreasing on the pattern rows. Try counting stitches after.each row to make sure the stitch count stays the same. If it is increasing, go back and look at the stitches to make sure you have not forgotten a k2tog or the paso. Stitch markers every repeat.or so may help you keep track.
OK, so…
With the k2tog I drop a stitch in the first row, then I add 2 with the yarn forward, followed by yarn round needle. So that’s an increase of 1.
If I then knit the 3rd row, as suggested, with the yarn forward for the knit stitch, that maintains the increases because none are dropped.
Then, am I doing something wrong with the first row by having 2 yarn overs? Can yarn forward ever mean just purl?
What I was doing initially meant that I was increasing 1 but dropping 1 in the 3rd row, so in theory it would have balanced out. But obviously, that’s how this problem started!
I’m sorry if this seems obvious, but I’m feeling very confused again…
Your k2tog is a decrease of 1 (you don’t want to drop a stitch) and then you are doing a double yo? I think in this case you want to have 1 yo. It sounds as though you are working each yo on the next row.
I think the pattern is redundant here in telling you what to do, at least the way we currently think of things. If it’s from the book you linked to there should be an explanation of stitches somewhere. If anybody recognized the stitch pattern and we could find a more modern version of how to do it, that would be really great.
I was looking at some vintage abbreviations and didn’t find anything pertinent. Are there purls elsewhere in the pattern that are called purls?
[I]Row 1 *P1, k2tog., yf, yrn., p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2 *K1, P2, K1, repeat from * to end
Row 3 *P1, keeping yarn to from SKPO, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 4 As 2nd row.[/I]
My rewrite:
Row 1: *P1, k2tog, yo, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 2: K1, *p2, k2, repeat to last st, k1
Row 3: *P1, wyif sl1, yo, skpo, p1, repeat from * to end
Row 4: Same as row 2
I think if I continued it would really look like the stitch pattern in the link. You do not want a double yo. I think in this instance what it is telling you is to bring the yarn to the front, ready to purl, then yrn = yo as we now know it. HTH It’s a pretty pattern. I think I’ll have to use it soon. It would make a beautiful baby blanket even.
Thanks to salmonmac for finding a yo in that mess! I never would have recognized it.
ETA Don’t split the yarn as I did. :teehee: I just didn’t bother to go back and fix it for the sample I was making.
Yes, that is the pattern you should get, it is written in with the British use of terms for yarn over where each step is spelled out: yarn forward, yarn round needle, for example instead of the US single term yo for all yarn overs. As written, it makes it clear that the yarn ends up in front, ready to purl.
thanks, GG!
ETA: The repeat is a 4 stitch repeat over 124sts. So that’s 31 repeats. It seems that if you’re making a consistent mistake, it should be in multiples of 31sts. Maybe it would help to try a small swatch, like GG’s to make sure that you have the pattern sts working with no change in.st number.
In row 1, I’m just doing 1 yarn over? And this is a stitch in itself (i.e I wrap the yarn around, purl and then purl again so I will have 5 sts altogether)?
And in row 3 you’ve written
*P1, wyif sl1, yo, skpo, p1, repeat from * to end
So I slip one (left unworked), yo, then slip another, knit one (is this still with yarn forward?), the psso?
If I’ve read that wrong, do tell me!
I never would have recognized it.