I am at the shape armhole part of this sweater and the instructions say:
Keeping front dec correct (??), cast off 4 sts at beg next row. Work one row. Keeping front dec correct, dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 7 rows and 5 foll alt rows (26 sts). This completes armhole shaping.
Keeping armhole edge straight, cont dec at front edge on every foll alt 4th row to 18 sts.
Cont without further shaping until front matches back to shoulder shaping ending with a WS row.
Shape shoulder:
Cast off 5 sts at beg next row and 6 sts beg foll alt row. Work one row.
Cast off rem 6 sts.
So what do they mean, to keep front dec correct?( Especially since the decrease in the previous part of the pattern was 1 decrease at beg of purl rows, and 1 decrease at end of knit rows.) Also, how do I know where the armhole edge is? What do I do to keep the armhole edge straight? Reading patterns still is a mystery!!! Sally
‘Keep front dec correct’ just means that you are going to continue with whatever decreases you were making on the front edge.
To know which edge is the armhole edge – if you’re doing the left front, the armhole edge will be at the start of right side rows. If you’re doing the right front, the armhole edge will be at the start of wrong side rows. You can take your piece and physically hold it up to yourself - if you’re working left front piece, hold it up to your left front as though you were wearing it, with the right side of your work facing out, and that should make it easier to visualize.
After you have finished the armhole shaping and it says ‘keeping armhole edge straight’ it just means that at this point you are going to be doing no further decreases at the armhole edge. Patterns will often say ‘work straight’ or ‘work even’ and that always means that you have been doing decreases or increases, and now will not be doing anymore.
So Hi Knitqueen,
I ended with 51 sts on the preceeding part:
Please let me know if I am decoding this right!
I am going to cast off 4 sts, and finish knitting one row. Then I am going to decrease one at the beginning of the next (Purl) row and decrease again at the end of that same row. So Purl rows will have a total of 2 decreases, and the knit rows will have one decrease at the end of the row for 7 rows for a total of 11 decreases. Then on rows 8-17 I am going to decrease the same total of 2 decreases, just on the purl rows for a total of 10 decreases. Then on rows 18-49 I am decreasing 1 decrease on every 4th Purl row :rows 21,25,29,33,37,41,45 and 49 . Ending with 18 sts? Thanks in advance for your endless patience. Regards, Sally
Keeping front dec correct (??), cast off 4 sts at beg next row. Work one row. Keeping front dec correct, dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 7 rows and 5 foll alt rows (26 sts). This completes armhole shaping.
Keeping armhole edge straight, cont dec at front edge on every foll alt 4th row to 18 sts.
Cont without further shaping until front matches back to shoulder shaping ending with a WS row.
Shape shoulder:
Cast off 5 sts at beg next row and 6 sts beg foll alt row. Work one row.
Cast off rem 6 sts.
If I remember correctly, you are doing the front edge decreases every other row, so just keep on doing that. On a right side row you will bind off 4 sts, then complete the rest of that row. Again, continue with the front edge decreases as you have been, and at the same time decrease 1 stitch at the armhole edge (the same edge where you BO 4 stitches) every row for 7 rows, so that means on a WS, RS, WS, RS, WS, RS, WS, and then on 5 alternate rows, in other words the next 5 wrong side rows you will decrease 1 at the armhole edge.
That will be the end of your armhole shaping, then finally your front edge decreases will change. You’ve been doing them every alternate row and now you will be doing them every 4th row and continue that way, keeping the armhole edge straight, until you have 18 stitches left.
Then, you will continue working on those 18 stitches with no decreases on either edge until your front left piece matches the back piece, up to shoulder shaping. The last row you work here will be a WS row. Then you’ll do the shoulder shaping instructions.
Thanks (as usual) knitqueen! I was well into these directions, made a huge mistake, and had to rip out back to the 4 cast off row! I am not good at ripping out and successfully picking up stitches, either! But I did learn how to pick up a dropped stitch in the process and decided to put in a life line while I was at it. I’m sure I’ll be checking back after I finish this section!!! You are the best!!! Sally