[B][I]I’ve tried this pattern a number of times and have to keep ripping it out. I am repeatedly short 2 stitches. What am I doing wrong?[/I][/B]
Panel of 50 sts
Note: (K1,p1) in parentheses indicates that these two stitches are worked into double yo of preceding row.[B][I]This might be one of the places I’m having trouble. What does this mean?[/I][/B]
[B][I]The purl stitches in Row 5 is where I have trouble. I only end up with 34 stitches to purl as opposed to 36. But I am not short stitches in the previous rows. For some reason I feel it may have to do either with the Not; above or yarn overs. LOL…I am determined to knit this.
Lets see. In row one, you have 50.
Row 2, you end up with 50
In row 3, you should have 50 as well.
You’ll k1, p17, then slip one of the double yo’s off and knit into that stitch, don’t slide it off, then bring the yarn forward between the needles and purl into the same stitch. That will give you 2 stitches.
Since on row 5 (which is a repeat of row 1) you begin and end with 7 stitches, it seems like the part you are having trouble with is the part in the middle of row 4. The k14, (yo,ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice, k14. It is safe to say you are getting the knit 14 at each end of that right too, so it must be in that other part. The (yo, ssk)twice, (k2tog, yo) twice. To be 2 short you must either leaving out 2 yarn overs or not doing all the decreases.
(yo, ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice
You do what is inside each set of ( ) twice. 1st ( yo, ssk)—yo makes 1 stitch, ssk turns 2 stitches into 1. So where you had 2 stitches you would end up with 2 stitches. Do that twice. (4 sts) Then the 2nd group, the (k2tog, yo). Knit 2 together takes 2 stitches and turns them into 1, and the yarn over makes a new stitch. So you had 2 and you end up with 2. You do that twice. (another 4 sts)
You could try putting a stitch marker after the first P7, K14 (21 stitches), and before the last K14, P7 (21 sts), there should be 8 stitches in that section that involves the 2 sets of ( )s. Before and after you finish that section you should have 8 stitches in that middle part. It takes 8 stitches to do what it says and you should end up with 8 after you follow the directions.
I hope this will help you to figure out where you are messing up.
Thanks everyone. Yes the place I’m having trouble with is in the middle and I think it is the double yo right next to each other. I think what I will do is knit 1st yo and not take it off the needle and then purl the second yarn over and remove both stitches from the needle.
All right. I thought you maybe were getting row 3 right because you didn’t say the stitch count was off until you got to row 5. But—
I think what I will do is knit 1st yo and not take it off the needle and then purl the second yarn over and remove both stitches from the needle.
, yeah, that is how I would do that part. It sounds like you have about got it figured out.
Hmmm LOL…I’m so confused. All rows are right until I have to do row 5. I’ve used stitch markers etc. At that point I only have 34 stitches in the middle as opposed to 36 :::throws hand in air:::: I’m determined to knit this sucker:::sheepishly says::: LOL…this should be so easy :(. :::shrug:::
So at the end of rows 1,2,3, and 4 you have 50 stitches? Do you have those center 8 stitches sectioned off with stitch markers? There should always be 21 on each end and 8 set apart in the middle. Here is how the 8 in the middle would be worked each row:
Row 1: Purl the 8.
Row2: ssk,yo,ssk,(yo) twice, k2 tog, yo, k2 tog.
Row 3: purl 3, K1, P1 (in the double YO from row 2), purl 3.
Row 4: (yo,ssk) twice,(k2tog,yo) twice
Row 5: Purl 8.
Row 6: ssk,yo,ssk,(yo) twice, k2 tog, yo, k2 tog.
There should be 8 in the center section as you begin each row and 8 when you finish the row. All I can say is to work very carefully. If you have 8 at the beginning and end of each row in that middle section, it has to be right, if you don’t you should be able to see where you are losing stitches.
I looked up the Gingerbread Castle pattern on Ravelry, and I love it! I can see why you are trying again and again to get it right. I ordered the book today from Amazon – and am planning to use the pattern in an afghan for my dgd who loves princesses. I plan to copy one I saw on Ravelry. Thanks so much for bringing up this pattern. What are you making?
What you have is a double decrease, you’re going to take 3 sts down to 1. It’s like a slip 1, k1, psso - slip a stitch, k2tog, then pass the slipped st over the st that results from the k2tog.
