Hi There! I am new to knitting. I have a book of stitch patterns and I am trying to figure out how to read one of them. I completed one sample, and it turned out fine, so I think I have the individual stitches down. Each pattern starts out by stating Multiple of X, which I believe is the number of cast ons I’m supposed to do, correct? But one of the patterns I want to try says “Worked across 24 sts on a background of reverse St st.” What does that mean?
Welcome to knitting. Have fun!
Multiple of X is not the number of cast on stitches, but does help determine the number of CO stitches.
For instance, a pattern might be K5 P5, this is a total of 10 stitches. Therefore, the pattern is in multiples of 10, so you need to CO a multiple of 10 ( such as 10, 20, 100) in order for the pattern to be evenly repeated across the row.
“Worked across 24 sts on a background of reverse St st.” means just what it says. Ha Ha.
Reverse ST st is reverse stockinette stitch. This means that your right side rows are purled and your wrong side rows are knitted. I’m not sure because the whole pattern is not included, but I am going to assume that the pattern is 24 stitches, but that the CO stitches was larger (lets say 30). This means that you have 6 extra stitches in the row, 3 before the pattern and 3 after the pattern. These 6 stitches should continue in the reverse stockinette pattern while the 24 stitches in the middle do whatever the pattern calls for.
Hope this helps
Ok, I think that makes sense. I just wasn’t sure what it meant by a “background”. I thought maybe I had to knit some kind of a basic fabric that this pattern would then go on top of… I dunno, lol 
Here’s the whole pattern:
Worked across 24 sts on a background of reverse St st.
1st row (right side): K3, k2tog, k4, yfrn, p2, yon, k2tog, p2, yon, k4, sl 1, k1, psso, k3.
2nd and every alt row: P9, k2, p2, k2, p9.
3rd row: K2, k2tog, k4, yf, k1, p2, k2tog, yfrn, p2, k1, yf, k4, sl 1, k1, psso, k2.
5th row: K1, k2tog, k4, yf, k2 p2, yon, k2tog, p2, k2, yf, k4, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.
7th row: K2tog, k4, yf, k3, p2, k2tog, yfrn, p2, k3, yf, k4, sl 1, k1, psso.
8th row: P9, k2, p2, k2, p9.
Rep these 8 rows.
I understand how to do each of these individual stitches; I just wasn’t sure how to begin. The fact that every other pattern just mentioned the multiple to use, where this one made reference to a “background” threw me off. So, basically, do I just cast on a multiple of 24 and begin following the pattern?
Thanks so much for your help!!
Ok, I just re-read your post, RochesterKnitter, and I think I get it now. Basically, if I want to have this spiral pattern down the middle of an item, I can just cast on however many stitches I want for the width of the “background”, add another 24 for the pattern, then another set the same as the first, such as 20, 24, 20, for a total of 64 CO stitches and repeat as necessary. Does that sound right?
I’m just doing a baby blanket, so I can pretty much make this whatever size I want it to be. It sounds like, for this pattern, I could just come up with whatever pattern I want as long as I have 24 stitches in each place where I want the spiral pattern to go.
Why do I feel like I’m taking a math class, LOL :mrgreen:
Cast on a multiple of 24 plus some even number of sts for the background: 3 on each end of your multiples of 24 or 4 or whatever you wish. What a great way to learn lots about sts and knitting.
You got it!
Happy knitting
Alright, I’m back with another question about the pattern I posted above. I’m confused about the yfrn vs. yon. On this website, the glossary considers both of these, as well as other similar abbreviations, to mean the same thing: they all are like yo. But, why does this pattern specify the two different terms? I ended up running out of stitches once I got to about the 7th row, so I’m wondering if I’m not doing the yarn over quite right.
If yfrn means “with yarn in front”, then when it says … yfrn, p2, …, does that mean to purl 2 with the yarn in front each time, or does it mean yarn over, purl, purl?
These are different ways of writing YO depending on what sts it’s between. Going from a knit to knit is yfwd - bring yarn to front, then knit; from a knit to a purl is yfrn which mean wrap the yarn all the way around the needle and bring to the front for the purl st. From a purl to a knit is yon and just lay the yarn loosely over the top of the needles.