K4 tog tbl is too hard on shell pattern baby blanket

How-to Questions
1

I’m making a shell pattern baby blanket. The first few rows include many yarn overs, then on row 7 I do [B]K4 tog [/B]and also [B]K4 tog tbl[/B].

The K4 tog is difficult enough, but the K4 tog tbl is impossible because I just cannot get the yarn to come through the 4 stitches. I have to get the stitch with a crochet hook or a #1 DPN. I spent over 20 minutes last evening getting through less than half the row. At this rate the baby will be starting school before I finish!!

My questions are:

Is there a trick to doing these K4 tog tbls that would help?

Anyone have a nice shell pattern afghan that doesn’t involve these awful K4’s? I’m thinking of giving up on this blankie and starting with another pattern.

Susan

2

The main tricks are to not knit too tightly and/or loosen up the 4 sts with the right needle tip before you knit into them. It’s okay to use a hook or smaller needle, too.

3

cheat.

for the k4tbl; slip 2 purlwise w/ yarn in back. k2togbl, pass the slipped stitches over.

for the k4tog; k2tog, slip back to left needle and pass the next 2 over. slip to right needle.

4

Thank you both for taking time to reply. Mario, I’m going to give your suggestions a try. They sound much more doable than the K4’s which take waaaay too much time.