How to convert pattern instructions for short rowing?

How-to Questions
1

I’m making a child’s wraparound cardigan - the fronts cross over each other. It’s Sirdar 1559. See picture of pattern here:
http://www.knitandsew.co.uk/Sirdar_Snuggly_baby_dk_pattern_1559.htm
or here http://tinyurl.com/2tq89c

The pattern tells you to shape the front slopes by casting off a different number of stitches in each row. Then at the end you have to pick them all up again to knit the decorative edging… :???: So, I’m trying to use short rowing instead.

In case it’s relevant, I’m making the 2nd size, and I generally knit these small garments in one piece as far as the armhole.

I’ve put the pattern instructions for part of the Right Front at the foot of this post. Although I’ve studied the online videos and think I understand the various techniques needed, I could do with some help with converting the pattern instructions to short rows.

Thanks for any assistance.
Moonrocker
UK

[B]RIGHT FRONT[/B]
Work as given for Left Front to **

[B]Shape Neck[/B]
1st Row. Cast off 3 sts, knit to end. 46 [50:56:60:66:72] sts.
2nd Row. Purl to last 2 sts, p2tog. 45 [49:55:59:65:71] sts.
3rd Row. Cast off 3 [3:2:1: 1:1] sts, knit to end. 42 [46:53:58:64:70] sts.
4th Row. As 2nd row. 41 [45:52:57:63:69] sts.
5th Row. Cast off 3 [2:2:1: 1: 1] sts, knit to end. 38 [43:50:56:62:68] sts.
6th Row. As 2nd row. 37 [42:49:55:61:67] sts.
7th Row. Cast off 3 [1:1:1: 1:1] sts, knit to end. 34 [41:48:54:60:66] sts.
8th Row. As 2nd row. 33 [40:47:53:59:65] sts.
9th Row. Cast off 3 [1:1:1: 1:1] sts, knit to end. 30 [39:46:52:58:64] sts.
10th Row. Purl to last 2 sts, p2tog. 29 [38:45:51:57:63] sts.
For 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th sizes only
Work [6: 10: 16: 18: 16] rows dec 1 st at neck edge in every row. [32:35:35:39:47] sts.
For all 6 sizes
Next Row. Knit.
[B]Shape Raglan[/B]
Next Row. Cast off 5 sts, purl to last 2 [2:2:0:2:0] sts, (p2tog) 1 [1:1:0:1:0] times. 23 [26:29:29:33:35] sts.
For 1st and 2nd sizes only Work 2 [4] rows dec 1 st at neck edge in every row AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at raglan edge in 1st row. 20 [21] sts.

For all 6 sizes , Work 6 [4:6:6:12:6] rows dec 1 st at each end of next and [I]every foll alt row[/I]. 14 [17:17:20:17:23] sts.
Work 14 [18:18:22:18:26] rows dec 1 st at neck edge in next and [I]every foll 4th row[/I] AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at raglan edge in next and every foll alt row. 3 sts.
Next Row. K1, k2tog. 2 sts.
Next Row. P2tog. Fasten off.

2

hi again

I’m really stuck about what to do next and the baby’s due next week.

Please can someone help - I’m sure I could work out the rest if someone would be kind enough to translate the first 2 rows…

thanks

3

I think your question is unclear , maybe that’s why no one has answered.

Do you want to follow the pattern and need explanation, or do you want to change the pattern ? It sounds like you don’t want to shape the cardigan by casting off…but why not?

4

Thanks for your reply, MrsDavis3. Sorry if my question wasn’t clear.

I’d like to shape the front using short rowing because I think it’ll be quicker - also I did the casting off/picking up method the first time I made this jumper and was disappointed with the finish.

What I’d like is to have some help converting the casting-off shaping instructions into instructions for short rowing. For example:
[B]1st Row.[/B] Cast off 3 sts, knit to end. 46 [50:56:60:66:72] sts.

For this row, it seems to me I need to wrap/turn at the [B][I]end[[/I]/B] of the previous row so the line reads instead:
Work to last 3 stitches, wrap the 3rd stitch and turn the work.

But with shaping at the beginning and end of subsequent rows, presumably that means working to the last 4 sts, rather than 3? I get confused as I get further into the shaping.

Hope that’s clearer. Thanks if you can help.

5

I started to reply that yes, on the rows previous to the BO rows you just leave the last 3 sts, turn and knit back. But then I got to the next row where you k2tog… But maybe you if you leave 4 sts, mark them and when you pick up the stitches for the end, knit them together… Or maybe it wouldn’t matter. I think this calls for some 'sperimenting on your part.