Need help with "easy" sweater pattern!

Pattern Central
1

Here is the pattern…
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/70217A.html

I’m confused where it states…
Next Row (RS): K21 (22, 24, 26); 28 (29, 32, 35, 37, 40) sts, join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off center 10 (14, 16, 18); 22 (24, 26, 28, 32, 34) sts, k21 (22, 24, 26); 28 (29, 32, 35, 37, 40) sts. Working both sides at the same time with separate balls of yarn, bind off 2 sts at each neck edge once, then decrease 1 st at each neck edge every other row twice - 17 (18, 20, 22); 24 (25, 28, 31, 33, 36) sts for each shoulder. Work even until same length as Back to shoulder. Bind off.

What does the “join 2nd ball of yarn” mean? Am I supposed to be knitting w/ 2 strands at this point? And also the “working both sides at the same time with separate balls of yarn”.

This is my first sweater. I’ve made shrugs, but never a full blown sweater. This one looked easy but that spot is throwing me for a loop! Any help is super appreciated.

2

Yes, knit with another strand of yarn; doesn’t have to be from another ball, can be from the other end of the ball you’re working with. That way you can knit on both shoulders with different strands of yarn. They don’t really needl to be done at the same time, you can knit one side, then take the other strand of yarn and knit the other side. Your piece will look something like this -

------|______|------

With the bound off stitches forming the neck.

3

Gotcha… the picture definately helped. Again, this forum is the bomb! I’d be completely lost w/o you guys! Thanks again!
Erin

4

OKay, just to be clear, when I pick up the 2nd strand of yarn, do I drop the 1st, leaving in on the one side of the neck?

5

Yes, you only want to work with one at a time, and not carry it across the neck gap to the other side.