I’m having an “Ingrid, Save Me From Myself” moment. :pout:
I just started the Rona Lace Shawl pattern from Knitpicks.com, which is a shawl knit in the round. This is my first time knitting lace in the round, and probably my most complicated lace project to date. It’s to be a wedding shawl - I intend to knit three of these this year.
I’m stuck in Round 11, because I’m not familiar with the symbols/terminology of the directions. My brain took one look at it, assumed it was algebra, and promptly shut down. Repeated applications of chocolate have brought no improvement in the patient (who is now not only confused, but twitchy).
In Round 10, the previous row (which I had no problem with), I knit the following:
[B]Round 10[/B]:*K1, Release yo2 from previous round and work as one stitch. KPK into this one long stitch (total increase of 1), k1. Repeat from * to end of round. (5)
If those are the stitches from the row just completed, how would I approach the direction for Round 11?
The direction is:
[B]Round 11[/B]: *K1,(yo,k1)4 times. Repeat from * to end of round.(9)
Am I to complete the k,yo,k 4 times in one of the previous stitches? What does the (9) mean in parenthesis at the end?
Help me Obi Ingrid, you’re my only hope. 
Hi,
I’m not Ingrid, but I’ve knitted a similar shawl in the round last year and I think I can help you with your problem. First of all, the number in the parenthesis is the stitch count for each repeat. For example, in round 10, after you k 1, kpk, k1, you should have 5 stitches. Count to make sure your stitch count is correct at the end of each round. It sounds like you should have a multiple of 5 stitches at the end of round 10 if there are no other ones than the directions you gave.
Now, for round 11. First, you knit 1 stitch. Then, you follow the directions in the parentheses 4 times, but not in the same stitch. Do a yarn over and knit one in each of the next 4 stitches. If you do this correctly, you should have a total of 9 stitches in each repeat. Does this help?
Good luck,
Lillian
Thank you, Lillian - you are made of awesome. You’ve just saved my bacon.
My brain took one look at it, assumed it was algebra, and promptly shut down.
Wynnie, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever read on a knitting forum, and it’s my main problem with any complicated project.
Thanks for my afternoon giggle.:teehee:
I thought that was funny, too! But then I got scared when I read that the application of chocolate didn’t solve the problem! Tell me it ain’t so! :shock:
Have some nice red wine with that chocolate - then you won’t care… 
Actually, knitting directions ARE like algebra, when you think of it.
(a + b)2 = 2a + 2b
(yo,k)4 = yo,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo,k
Glad you got it worked out!
and these funnies! Wynnie, you’re hysterical!!
And I’m cute, too! cackle
And Deb, if you think that’s the funniest thing you’ve ever read in a knitting forum, you’ve probably never heard about my infamous “muppet pelt” story. 
I couldn’t believe the knitters here when I told it - here I was, reliving a most mortifying moment as an object lesson, and their response was to see how many different muppet skin scarves they could come up with via eyelash yarn. It was a fun discussion, albeit a wee bit disturbing!
Ingrid: you just hurt my wee noodle. :pout: I think I need to apply a King Size Heath bar, which I’ve been keeping in the freezer for emergencies, to my forehead now.
I couldn’t believe the knitters here when I told it - here I was, reliving a most mortifying moment as an object lesson, and their response was to see how many different muppet skin scarves they could come up with via eyelash yarn. It was a fun discussion, albeit a wee bit disturbing!