Good morning! I’m a beginning knitter and have started working on a coat sweater (pattern difficulty level 1 or easy) and I’m stuck at the casting off to shape the the shoulder sloping and neck on the back panel.
I’ve worked the back panel to the 34 in length and I have 46 stitches on my needle. Now I am confused by the next parts of the instructions which are as follows.
At 86 cm overall height, BO stitches for shoulder sloping at both ends of the row: at the beginning of the next RS and WS rows, bind off 5 stitches each the same way, bind off another 5 stitches twice at both ends of the row. AT THE SAME TIME, at 34.5in overall height of piece, bind off the middle 6 stitches for the neckline and finish both parts separately. For further neckline shaping, at the neck side edge, 5 stitches once in the following 2nd row. All stitches have now been used up. Work the other side the same way.
I would so appreciate any help to understand how to proceed in a step by step manner.
Thank you.
Welcome to KH!
At 86cm, bind off 5sts at the beginning of a RS row, work to the end of row, turn and bind off 5sts at the beginning of the WS row then work to the end of row. Repeat this sequence twice more. You will have bound off 15sts on each armhole edge or 30sts total.
At the same time, whenever you reach 34.5" work to the center 6sts and bind off 6sts then work to the end of row. You’ll have 5sts for each shoulder and a 6 stitch gap in the center after both sets of decreases have been worked. Now turn and work a WS row to the gap, turn and bind off the remaining 5sts. Cut the yarn leaving a 6" tail to weave in later.
Reattach the yarn end at the neck of the other shoulder and again leave a 6" tail, Work to the end of row, turn, work the RS row, turn and bind off remaining 5sts.
Very good looking coat and a big project as a beginner. Your knitting looks nice and even and you’re doing well.
Thank you so much! It is alot but I thought because it was mostly knitting I would manage. I will follow your very helpful advice and will likely be back at some point
Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
I’m back! And stuck again at the casting off for the armhole on the front left panel. I’m attaching pics of where I am in my dilemma. I’m confused as I don’t see how I have enough stitches to do all this and get to 34”. Also does this mean I’m binding off on almost every row after row 4? And although the pattern picture shows what looks like one side of the shaping is straight, mine is clearly not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ps. I followed the previous advice and the back looks great!
These instructions are going to take the 27sts cast on and will finish off the left front.
Bind off 5sts for the underarm (22sts remain). At the given measurement, which will be soon, bind off one stitch at the neck edge. Call that row 1. Bind off one stitch on rows 1,5,9 and then15,21,27,33 (15sts remain).
Again at the given measurement for the shoulder shaping, with the RS facing bind off 5sts, this time from the armhole edge. On the next 2 RS rows, again bind off 5sts each of these rows (0sts remain).
Hello again!
I’m looking for some help with the next steps for my sweater. I’ve finished all the separate pieces- back, front panels and sleeves. The pattern describes picking up selvage stitches to complete the ribbing and I’ve searched for how to videos which have been a bit helpful but I am still struggling to figure this out. Is there possibly an easier way or a more straightforward description of how to proceed? I’m attaching photos of the pattern description and what the finished sweater looks like. Any help would be very much appreciated! Thank you so much.
This is going to be gorgeous. It’s a major project for sure!
Here’s a video for picking up sts. The sts are picked up inside the edge stitch and you would pick up between the selvedge stitch and the garter stitch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7HuRXWsnfU
It’s also helps to mark off the section along the front and then use markers to divide it into fourths or what ever seems reasonable. That way you have a check that you are picking up approximately evenly along the edge.
There are also yarn over short rows coming up when you start knitting this section of front ribbing. Here’s a video that may help with those. The short rows will shape the front which widens near the collar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQwBPdGLSm0
The picking up stitches vidywas very helpful and I’ve gone ahead and done that. There was only enough rows for me to get 58 stitches tho. Should I try to double some of them up to get 72 as the pattern calls for or can I proceed with 58?
Then there is all the instructions about the short rows and yarn overs…the video does explain but I am terrified I will mess this all up and have a bunch of holes everywhere. Is it possible it might work if I just k2p2 for basic ribbing, maybe 2 in or so and then cast off? Do you think that might work out ok?
It may be that your row gauge is different from the pattern’s. You should increase to a multiple of 4 because of the 2x2 rib however, say 60sts.
The short row techniques work out very nicely but it’s worth practicing on the swatch if you’re hesitant. Work the swatch in 2x2 rib with scrap yarn until you’re happy with the result. Give it a try. You may be surprised at how nicely this works.
If you don’t like the results you can always eliminate the short rows and go for straight ribbing with out the shaping.
So I did the swatch and and think I completed the ribbing in the front right’s panel. I hope it’s correct as it looks like the pattern picture and I do like it. Pic attached. Thanks for the encouragement to do the swatch.
Then I thought I could ‘just’ knit up the ribbing on the left panel (haha) and see the pattern says:
Work the left band as for the right front, mirror inverted, beginning the short rows with 7 stitches and ending with 9 stitches. I googled mirror inverted and the videos say I have to knit backwards. Good grief
More videos and another swatch and I’ve learned to knit and purl backwards.
Now my questions…
Will every stitch on this panel be backwards?
Will I pick up my stitches for the left ribbing beginning at the bottom edge of the panel like I did for the right and knit them backwards up to the neck edge?
As for the short rows it says start with the 7 stitches which would be at the bottom edge. I don’t understand how this will work out and can’t find a video demonstrating mirror inverted short rows.
I feel like I might be over complicating this?
I hope I’m not being too much of a bother over this sweater but I’m so far in now I really want to finish it. Your help has been invaluable.
That looks excellent, short rows and all. Good going!
Questions are never a bother. We’re happy to have them all.
No need to knit backwards although it can come in handy for some techniques like entrelac.
Usually the right band is picked up from the bottom to top with the RS or public side facing. Then the first row is the WS row as in the pattern you posted.
For the left band, pick up from top to bottom edge with the RS facing. Again the first row will be a WS row.
For the short rows, first work in p2k2 rib up to the top, turn and then begin the short rows. Work the selvedge stitch and 8 more sts, turn, yo, work back over 9sts. In the next row work 8sts more than the previous row, turn, yo. Continue with the same directions that you worked on the right band.
You are so close to finishing this lovely sweater!
100% fabulous! This jacket is going to be a dream to wear. You’ve worked the bands and collar so well. Perfect finishing touches.
It’s a delight to see. Thank you for the photo.
thank you so much!
for your help. I finished the sweater! It’s not perfect but it’s pretty good. 
