Hello,
I am just beginning this beautiful cardigan for my Aunt. This will be my first time knitting from a Drops design pattern from garnstudio.com, the Charm Valley Cardigan.
In the first piece called the Body it says to cast on 422 stitches and so I did. What confuses me is the next instruction is to “purl the wrong side”.
I thought after casting on it begins with the right side?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
It is a free knit pattern here is the link:
Sincerely,
Barbara
Hi & welcome to KH. Thank you so much for linking to the pattern, that’s a huge help. Usually the first row worked is considered the RS but not always. I think the idea is to get a RS knit row before starting the first chart. I like to mark the RS with a piece of contrasting yarn or a removable stitch marker when it might be confusing and starting on the WS could make things confusing.
This is so lovely. I might decide to make it myself! I hope you’ll share photos of your progress. I found it on Ravelry save it. Here’s the link should anyone want it.
eta missing link
Wonderful! I will give that a try. Thank you so much!
I’m so glad you like that pattern as well. I will be sure to post photos too!
Sincerely,
Barbara
It depends how you cast on. Some cast-ons leave the you ready to work a right-side row, some leave you ready to work a wrong-side row.
It sounds like you used a method that leaves you ready to work a right-side row.
If this is the case, proceed as follows:
No need to rip out your cast-on. You can launch into the first row of the ribbing, a right-side row, with no worries.
Ignore the instruction “Purl 1 row from wrong side” and move onto the next line of instructions, which describes a right-side row.
This will mean a very slight difference in how the bottom edges of your pieces look. I don’t think it will be noticeable, but if you want to make it exactly the same as the sample garment, there is a way to do that. I won’t write it now but if you like I can explain it.
BUT
If you have used a cast-on that leaves you ready to work a wrong-side row, do as the pattern says and purl one row, which will be a wrong-side row.
If you are not sure which type of cast-on you have used, give us some more info and we can tell you 
Do Drops patterns specify a cast on? I looked at the pattern and didn’t see one so I don’t think which cast on is used matters, the first row is supposed to be a WS purl row. RS and WS of a cast on is often a matter of which side the knitter likes the look of.
They don’t tend to specify in the pattern which cast on tongue but the video tutorial they lost with the pattern is a continental or long-tail cast on which produces stitches on the right needle meaning the first row would be WS.
I agree with kushami that if a cast on is one which is ready for the first row being the RS the purl row can be skipped. A cable castmon or knit cast on or a cast on in pattern can begin kn the RS.
Anything in knitting is personal choice though.
Beautiful pattern. I have so many drops patterns saved I don’t think I can ever get through them all.
The only thing I find is often the tops are quite short not quite cropped but barely to the waist, in the body. If this is a gift you might want to check what length your aunt would prefer as it could be quite easy to make the body longer before the armhole shaping so long as you have enough yarn. You can get help here if you’re not sure how to do that.
I can’t wait to see your finished top!
The pattern doesn’t specify, but it does seem to assume. Hence the original poster’s confusion, if I read the question right.
But I could have it all wrong!
Maybe someone on Ravelry has knitted the cardigan with the cast-on facing the “other” way? That way the OP could see how it looks and decide which way they prefer.
I do apologise for only focusing on the sample photo. You are right that we should change and branch out from the pattern in order to make it work for us.
I can see the rest of you kind folks covered all the bases
I don’t think you have it all wrong. Your POV is other than mine and that’s good! Personally if I make this I will do the purl row on the WS to put a knit row on the RS to start. I think Drops patterns are written the way they are for good reasons. I play fast and loose with patterns but take notice when Drops patterns say to do things a particular way. I might decide I don’t like the way it’s done and change it but I will have learned something. I’m glad yarn isn’t like sculpturing stone and one false move can ruin the whole thing!
I’ve had a moment to reconsider. If I do something like this I’ll start at the top and work down probably. Then I would do a row to have knits on the RS before binding off. A closer look might make me decide bottom up is best. I’m not ready to start anything like this lovely piece so I’m not delving in at the moment.
Thanks. That IS a charming little sweater.