Hello,
I am quite new knitting and am wondering if anyone can give me some advice!
I have just started a project knitting a baby cardigan but have got a bit stuck on the pattern.
One row of the pattern says:
P3 [5:8:4:7:9] p2tog, (p6, p2tog) 7 [7:7:9:9:9] times, p2 [4:7:3:6:8]. 55 [59:65(71:77:81] sts.
I am doing the smallest size of the cardy so was reading this pattern as if I should purl 2 stictches, purl 2 together, then purl 6, purl 2 together seven times? Finishing with purl 2.
However when I do this I can only do the purl 6, purl 2 together 5 times and then I don’t have any stitches left! And I only have 42 st not 55! I am sure the first 5 rows of the pattern before this are correct so I am sure I am starting with the right number of stitches. Please can someone tell me if I am interpreting this pattern wrong or why I dont seem to have enough stitches?!
Thank you!
For the smallest size you should be…
P3
P2tog
(P6, P2tog) x 7
P2
Ending with 55 sts.
The x 7 only applies to what is in the () immediately before.
Thanks for your reply!
Unfortunately that’s what I was doing and still didn’t have enough stitches!
At least you have confirmed I was reading the pattern right - thank you! But not sure why the number of stitches still isn’t right…
I get the same count as RK. If you’re doing what she wrote out then your stitch count should be 55 and you should have enough stitches to complete the pattern row. Maybe you can post a photo of your work that will allow us to see the stitches you have clearly and we can help you figure it out.
Welcome to KH!
Did you start the row with 63sts? There are 8 decreases so in order to end with 55, you need to start the row with 63sts.
Glad that you have read the pattern row correctly.
Can you give us the name of the pattern or a pattern link? Perhaps there are errata online?
Thanks for all of your help!
I have finally figured out where I was going on - I had muddled up a row two rows above. Sorted now!
Thanks again!
I’m a little stuck again!
Since my muddle with pattern earlier I got back on track (thanks to all of you and your help!) and got well on my way with my knitting again.
However I am now shaping the shoulders of my pattern and have reached the instruction: cast of 5 sts in patt at beg of next 2 rows.
I was told to finish my last bit of knitting following the set patt when it reached 10cm so I am now only about halfway through a set. Do i continue from this row in the st but by casting off 5 at the beginning? And again on the next row?
Sorry I am so confused!!
Yes, as much as possible, continue the pattern. Bind off 5sts in knits or purls and then continue the pattern rows. It really depends on the pattern stitches. You may have to figure out what to do about any increases or decreases that fall in the sts to be bound off.
Is there a link to the pattern or a pattern name that you can give us?
Thank you!
The pattern is a sirdar one. I tried to attach a photo of the pattern but it says it is too large! I am now on a part of the pattern that reads:
1st and 2nd rows set armhole and neck shapings.
work 2 rows in st-st dec 1 st at armhole edge in every row AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at neck edge in 0[0;0;1st:1t] row. 17st
Proceed as follows:- 1st row k2tog, k3, p1 (k5, p1) 1 timw, k3 k2tog. 15sts
I am really confused by the 0 rows bit! And should I presume from now that I am knitting in set? i am worried I havent got my arm and neck holes in the right sides!
You’re making the smallest size? You can ignore the direction to dec 1 st at the neck edge. Whenever thare’s a 0 for your size, you can skip that direction. Just do the decreases at the armhole edge here.
Sometimes it helps to mark the armhole edge with a removable stitch marker or a loop of different colored yarn, just to make it easier.
I’m not sure what you mean by knitting in set?
thanks so much! adding a colour marker really helps. I really wish I could work out how to send the pattern as I keep getting stuck on instructions! this pattern was much harder than I thought it would be!
These patterns get easier the more of them that you do.
Actually, we can’t post whole patterns in the forum because of copyrights. Posting sections that are causing problems works however.
It’d be great to see a photo of the finished sweater if you’d like to post one.
I figured out how to attach the bit I am on!
Hope that has worked. I don’t understand the second bit of the pattern about shaping the arm hole. I think I was fine up until the 8th row (had the correct number of stitches) - 14) but then got stuck!
I will definitely upload a photo if I EVER get it done!
Sorry, just realised how vague that message was!
So I got right up until the 8th row, but then if i do the next 9 rows in that same pattern (row 1-8, 1 again?) then I am already decreasing three because there are 3 k2togs and no increases. However if I then decrease as instructed to do each 4th row then i will be decreasing so many that I won’t have 11 sts at the end! I must be reading this wrong somehow but can’t figure out why!
What sequence of rows are you repeating after you get to 15sts? What number row are you calling that row (the one that ends with 15sts)?
After 15 sts I work down to wear it says 8th row (ignoring the two rows for the bigger sizes) which gives me 14sts. But then i thought I should be repeating from where it says 1st row again (k2tog, k3, p1, (k5,p1) k3 k2tog - and down to 8 again? Is this wrong?
That’s correct, repeat rows one-8 but leave out the k2tog at the beginning of row one. The pattern only wants the decreases at the neck edge here. The armhole increases are finished.
Just another quick question about my pattern. I am doing the smallest size and have just read this instruction:
keeping continuity of patt at set (throughout) inc 1 st at each end of next and every foll 18th [6th:6th:6th:10th:10th] row to 39 [45:47:45:51:55] sts.
I am just concerned this might be a mistake in the pattern because surely the smallest size shouldn’t read ‘18th’ ?!
thank you!
You can check to see if the number of increases you need to get to 39sts will fit into the number of rows it will take to finish the sleeve to the armhole. Convert the number of inches in the sleeve length above the ribbing into rows using your row gauge.
The smallest size may not need many increases to widen the sleeve and thus the increase every 18rows.