I’m trying to knit the Rosette Stitch Cowl in the book “One More Skein” and I’m having trouble understanding some of the pattern instructions in rows 2 and 4.
Here’s the stitch pattern:
[B]Rosette Stitch[/B]
(even number of sts; 4-row repeat)
Rows 1 and 3 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: P1, *p2tog, leaving sts on needle; knit these same sts tbl,
slipping sts from needle together; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 4: P2, *p2tog, leaving sts on needle; knit these same sts tbl,
slipping sts from needle together; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 1–4 for Rosette Stitch.
The part I don’t understand is where you p2tog and then knit in those same stitches through the back loops. How do I do that? Do I purl the two stitches together without taking them off the left needle and then try to knit those two same stitches through the back? It seems really tight and awkward when I try to do that.
Yes, purl 2 tog and leave on the L needle, then move your yarn to the back (through the tips, not over the needle) and knit them tog. I think the only place you can put the needle is tbl anyway. If you scoot the sts close to the tip of the L needle it may help you get the R needle into them and it does help if you’re not a tight knitter.
I have one more question. After I knit the stitches through the back loops, it says to slip the stitches from the needle together. So, does that mean I’m supposed to knit the two stitches without taking them off the left needle separately? So basically, I’d be starting a knit stitch in the first back loop and then knit the second stitch in the back loop and then slide both stitches off onto the right needle?
It means you let those sts off the L needle like you usually do when you just knit them once so you can go on and work the next stitches. I think you knit both sts together, not separately, or you’ll have 3 sts on the R needle instead of 2.