Maintaining pattern after decrease

How-to Questions
1

I’m knitting a spring sweater for my daughter (Little Miss Strawberry pattern in the Creative Knitting Magazine - March 2008 issue). The lace pattern for the main part of the sweater is as follows:

[B]Row 1 and all WS rows:[/B] Purl across
[B]Row 2:[/B] Knit across
[B]Row 4:[/B] K5, p3tog, leave sts on needle, yo, purl same 3 sts tog and sl off needle, k5; rep from * across.
[B]Row 6:[/B] Rep Row 2
[B]Row 8:[/B] K1, *p3tog, leave sts on needle, yo, purl same 3 sts tog and sl off needle, k5; rep from *, end last rep k1 instead of k5

Okay, that’s fairly straightforward and no problems.

To shape armholes, I bind off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows (falls on a Row 2 and Row 3). It then says “Maintaining pat, work even until back measures…” My next row would be a Row 4. It doesn’t give me any changes to incorporate into the pattern, but at the end, I only have 3 sts to knit rather than 5.

Is this a problem? Would you alter the pattern to make it even at both sides? I’ve stopped there for now and wanted opinions before I pick up my knitting again, either tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks, and I hope I was clear enough!

2

Yes, change row 4 to start with k3, though you’ll have k5 right away to get back in pattern. Or you could start with p3tog instead; then k3 at the end. On row 8 I think you’ll have to start and end with k4.

3

Thanks! I’ve calculated on paper and you’re right with the changes. To keep the p3togethers even with those in the previous rows, I have to k8 at beg and end of Row 4, and k4 at beg and end of Row 8