Need Help With Instructions

#1

I came across an instruction I haven’t seen before in a 5 stitch eyelet pattern
P2,p1,P2
Does this mean all purls? Or does the capital P indicated a pass? The previous row had SKP -slip,knit,PASS.
And if it means pass, do I pass two stitches or pass one over the other or does it means just slip two and if so why not use S for slip?
And if it means purl all, why not just say purl row 2?
I’ve never seen this before so thank you for any help?

#2

Welcome to the forum!
What is the name of your pattern? It may have a list of abbreviations either at the beginning or at the end (maybe even in the middle) of the pattern.
Can you quote the entire row as it appears?

#3

There weren’t any abbreviations. The pattern says to work row 2 of the eyelet panel. Row 2 of eyelet panel says P2,p1,P2. So I know P is purl but I’ve never seen the use of capital and lowercase letters like this. Row 1 of eyelet is K2tog, yo, k1,yo,SKP…note it uses both capital K and lowercase k. AND in SKP, the last capital P is a pass over previous knit. So I’m confused. Do I just purl 5 stitches? Or is the capital P a pass?
I’m leaning towards all purls now that I think about it. I’ve just never seen this before and I was stumped.

#4

It is strange but I agree with you. The most likely interpretation is purl 5. Row 1 makes that even more likely as yarn overs are usually purled on the wrong side.

#5

That’s an odd one. Is there a photo along with the instructions? If you can tell us the name / source that might help, even if it is an old, out of print pattern.

#6

Maybe the lower case p helps to keep the fabric in line when reading the work as you go? The lower case p being in line with the lower case k of the row before, whereas the upper case P2 lining up with the dec and yo of the row before?

Just a guess.

#7

I also wondered whether it might be something like that – I was thinking it might be aimed at indicating 2 selvedge stitches.

I wonder whether this is taken from pattern instructions for a garment or shawl, where you might have a selvedge, or whether it was instructions for a stitch pattern.

It’s probably a stitch pattern and you are closer to the mark. I have some vague memory of seeing upper and lower case used to indicate things in Victorian-era patterns. Like, really vague! I think I should head off to bed.

Happy knitting!