I am knitting a sweater and don’t understand the next instruction. It says to after casting on (53) sts.
[P 2 rows. K 1 row. K, dec 1 st at each end of row.] 4 times.
I understand the P2 rows, and the K 1 row. But don’t understand the
K, dec 1 st at each end of row 4 times - (45) sts.
Next is P2 rows. K 1 row. Next row: K1, [K2 (3), K2tog] 8 times, k4 - (37) sts. Mark each end of last row. Now work in pat same as for back and front, shaping sides by inc 1 st each end of 7th row, then every (8th) row until there are (55) sts. working added sts into pat. Work even until (15 1/2)" above marker, end wrong side.
Shape armholes: work same as back and front - there will be (35) sts after shaping. bind off.
The number in () are the number I have to do for the size. :??
You do everything within the brackets [] the number of times indicated afterwards. IOW,
R1: P
R2: P
R3: K
R4: K with dec at each end/side
Do these 4 rows 4 times.
Same thing applies to “Next row: K1, [K2 (3), K2tog] 8 times” but in this case, the repeats (within the brackets) are in the same row. So first st is K, then repeat [K2 (3), K2tog] over and over…8x.
No wait, back up… Didn’t we establish that you do the first 4 rows 4 times, then p 2 rows, k 1 row and so then the other decrease row is on row 20. On that row you k 4, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k3, p2tog, k4.