How to keep lace pattern straight while decreasing?

How-to Questions
1

Hi

I just started Red Hot by Rowan
http://www.knitrowan.com/download.aspx?id=43&fcd=3

and my lace pattern is out of skew because of the decreases. It still looks pretty :slight_smile: but I would like to know how to keep the pattern aligned while decreasing. The instructions are as follows:

Cast on 89 (89: 97: 105: 113) sts using 41⁄2 mm (US 7) needles.
Knit 2 rows, ending with a WS row.
Row 3 (RS): K1, *yfwd, K2, sl 1, K2tog, psso, K2, yfwd, K1, rep from * to end.
Row 4: Purl.
Rows 3 and 4 form lace patt.
Cont in lace patt for a further 6 rows, ending with a WS row.
Change to 5 mm (US 8) needles.
[B]Cont in lace patt, shaping side seams by dec 1 st at each end of 7th and every foll 4th row until 77 (77: 85: 93: 101) sts rem.[/B]
Work a further 2 rows, ending with a RS row.

Also, is the 7th row (first decrease) the one immediately following the first batch of 6 or must I knit another 6 rows then the first decrease row?

Many thanks for your help,
Sandra

2

Also, is the 7th row (first decrease) the one immediately following the first batch of 6?
Yes.

Right after the 6 rows begin the decreases. I worked this out on the needles (more than once :lol: ). Here is what I recommend.

First a couple of notes. Since you do the decreases on every 4th row after the first one, you will always have an even right side row to work between the decreases, since they have been effected by the decreases I include how those are worked.
I have changed ywfd to yo. It means the same thing and is shorter and I am more used to it.
skp= slip one stitch, knit one stitch, slip the slipped stitch over. This is a single dec and not to be confused with the similar double decrease used in the pattern.

Row 7 (first decrease row, RS) SSK, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1. Then begin at the * on your regular pattern row and repeat to the last 8 stitches; Yo, k2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2tog.

Purl a row: This will not be shown from here on out.

The even right side row: K3, skp, k2, yo, k1; rep from * to the last 7 sts; Yo, k3, skp, k2.

2nd decrease row: SSK, k3, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 7 sts; Yo, skp, k3, k2tog.

Even RS row: K4, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 6 sts; Yo, skp, k4.

3rd decrease row: SSK, k2, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 6 sts; Yo, skp, k2, k2tog.

Even RS row: K3, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 5 sts; Yo, skp, k3.

4th decrease row: SSK, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 5 sts; Yo, skp, k1, k2tog.

Even RS row: K2, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts; Yo, skp, k2.

5th decrease row: SSK, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts; Yo, skp, k2tog.

Even RS row: K1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last 3 sts; Yo skp, k1.

6th decrease row: SSK, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts; k1, k2tog.

Even RS row: K3; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

I think this will work well. I checked it and was as careful as possible in typing it out. I hope it works for you. Let me know.

3

This is amazing, thank you so much! I’ve done lacey scarves but never a sweater and was completely flummoxed by the shaping. Thank you for taking time to help me. By the way, I may have mentioned this before but I love that monkey hat!
Sandra

4

You’re welcome. Let me know how it turns out. And thanks for the comment on the monkey hat. :hug: