Incorporating incrases into a lace pattern

#1

HI =

I would love and appreciate some help on a sleeve pattern. I am working a Vine Lace Zig Zag pattern and it calls for increasing a stitch at each end every two rows and then every four rows. I start with 67 stitches and go up to 99. It also says something about keeping the first and last stitch in st st for seaming. I am confused as to how to integrate these increases into my pattern listed in brief below. Can anyone help me — I am trying to make this for my mother and want it to be perfect.

Many Many Thanks,

GCP

Pattern: (multiple of 11+1)
Row 1: K1, k2tog, k4, (ko, k1) twice, ssk, k1
Row 2 and all WS rows, Purl all stitches
Row 3: K1, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1
Row 5: K1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k1

#2

What is it you’re actually making?

The only thing at the ends of these rows you posted are decreases not increases. The increases are the YO parts.

Are you having trouble with the decreases? There are videos of each technique listed under the video tab/decreases at the top of the page.

#3

Jan, those are decs because they offset the YOs in the lace pattern. She’s to repeat the stitch pattern across, but increase sts at the edges.

#4

Thank you Suzeeq and Jan — so appreciate your reading and commenting. I am making a sweater — from the “Knitting New Classics” book —I am wondering if there is any easy way to conceptualize incorporating the pattern into these increases…

#5

Okay. I didn’t see any increases written so I thought maybe it was a mistake since I didn’t have the pattern to check. :wink:

#6

Sometimes the best way is just place a marker before the first repeat of the lace pattern and after the last one, and keep the new sts in stockinette until you get enough to do a whole pattern repeat. Or you can chart it out so you know how many of the beginning and end sts you can do as you increase. For every k2tog/ssk you’d have to have a YO so you won’t end up with less sts. For this pattern, that would mean you have to do about 6 incs or so to keep in pattern, and with the 4 knits, it’s pretty much stockinette anyway.

#7

That makes sense! Thank you so much :stuck_out_tongue:

#8

I prefer working with charts than instructions. I think they make this kind of transition easier.
But you can always make your own chart.

If you do so, make a “flared” chart that shows those rows.

If you want to work without writing it out, it helps when you know where your repeat starts (like with a marker or maybe it is obvious in the pattern fro you?) and then you have to count your pattern.

Just pay attention to the number of stitches: for every decrease you need and increase and the other way around…

which brings me to the point of my posting. sometimes you can use the increase of the pattern to make your increase in size. In THOSE cases only you can actually combine the shaping and the pattern by increasing with a YO or whatever the pattern calls for.

Same with decreases, too, of course.

I have seen people turn grey over lace patterns. But don’t give the pattern that satisfaction.

Since you are making a sleeve of a sweater, the line will be underneath the arm and therefore not in the most visible part of the sweater. Be bold and do it!