Patt 2 tog, twice?

How-to Questions
1

Hi all… It’s been AGES since I posted and that is because for this entire pregnancy I’ve been unable to even look at wool because it’s made me feel ill. Luckily, it seems to be getting better lately and I’ve started knitting a baby hat for the upcoming arrival. :slight_smile:

However, just as I’m getting stuck back into it I’ve come across a problem. I’ve never come across a pattern that reads this way before and I’m confused. I was wondering if somebody could please help me out?

The pattern reads like this:

1st Rnd: Purl
Repeat 1st round twice
4th Rnd: *K1, P1, rep from * to end
5th Rnd: *P1, K1, rep from * to end
Last 2 rounds form Moss St patt for hat
Cont in patt until work measures 8 cm from beg

[color=red]All of this is simple and straight forward. The next part is what confuses me[/color]

Shape Crown:
1st rnd: * Patt 6, (patt 2tog) twice, patt 5, rep from * to end… 70 sts
Work 3 rnds patt

The bit in bold is the part I don’t get… how on EARTH do I pattern two together twice? Does that mean K2tog, P2tog twice? I’m so confused and I don’t want to mess it up…

I should add that I’m doing this hat on DPN’s. Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

2

I’ve seen something like this before. “Patt” is a shorthand way of saying “do whatever is next in the pattern, whether it is knit or purl.” So you would keep to the pattern for 6 stitches, then when you come to the next stitch, if it’s a purl, you’d p2tog; if it’s a knit, you’d k2tog. The same for the following stitch. As I read it, you’re making two decreases, and they’re saying to p or k them depending on where they sit in the pattern. This will probably help you maintain the moss stitch after the decreases.

Bill

3

Thank You!!! I really appreciate it! That makes much more sense… why can’t they just say it that way in the pattern? LOL

Thanks again!

4

I know what you mean.

I think they write it like that because it’s more broadly applicable – the repeats might not always put the decreases in the same stitches (it might be k2tog, p2tog here, then the opposite way the next time). Once you’re on to the convention, it’s really an elegant little writing trick.

Good luck!