Pattern question

Hi, I’m new to the site and have read lots of great things, but haven’t found my answer yet.
I’m making a Norwegian sweater on circular needles (first time using the) and the instructions say to follow the pattern (which repeats every 18 stitches) and then place on holders. But the pattern decreases by 3 stitches at the last 7 rows, and I don’t know if I should just decrease it once by 3? It seems strange that it would only decrease by 3 stitches at the shoulders.
I’m using the book Handknits from Norway, making the original pattern Marius Sweater. Pg. 8-9, and 118-119.
Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Welcome to KnittingHelp!
Looks like a wonderful book. The Marius pattern is a classic Norwegian pattern and is quite striking.
The chart indicates that you should bind off 3sts at that left edge. Is that the shoulder or is it on the front at a neck edge or possibly a steek?

Thank you for the quick response.
It’s at the shoulder.
The pattern has you make the whole body in the round, then later pick up the stitches for the neckband.
So, it seems strange that I would only decrease it by 3 stitches. Just wanted to make sure…

So then are there any decreases for the neck edge? I assume the sleeves are steeked?
Continue reading the pattern to see what happens next at the shoulder. The directions for Finishing may be helpful too.

Yes, the sleeves are steeked (which also makes me nervous, as I’ve never done that either).

The finishing says to seam the shoulders, leaving the center front and back stitches for the neck. There are no other decreases written. So, I guess it’s just the 3 stitches.

Thank you for your help!

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Let us know how it’s going and please do post a photo when you finish.

Looking on Ravelry might help – someone may have written notes about the same section, or there might be an in-progress photo that makes it clear.

Also Arne &Carlos have several videos on this style of construction. I’m not sure whether it will be exactly the same, but seeing it demonstrated may create an “aha!” moment.

Lovely design!

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Thank you so much!

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I’ve been looking at some pictures of this pattern ( I assume you’re working the drop shoulder with the straight neck style). Someone’s selling finished sweaters on Etsy and some pictures show a strange jog at the shoulder but that might just be their execution.

What does the pattern tell you to do?
I assume that you have cast on the steek stitches on each side after the armpit and these must travel up in addition to the charted design. What are you supposed to do with the steek stitches if you have to cast off 3 stitches?

I wonder if you don’t cast off stitches at all. The different motifs in the chart all repeat at varying frequencies, with different start points for different sizes. Does the final 7 row chart motif fit into your number of stitches? Could it just be the difficulty of showing all the different motifs in a single chart?

I’d read through the pattern really carefully, especially the instructions on picking up the sleeve stitches. That might give a clue as to the anatomy of the sweater at this point! :rofl::rofl:

Also, I don’t see how you can continue knitting in the round if you have a cast off gap. All very confusing!

So, I did the best I could with the directions on the pattern. I think it turned ok. Here’s the final product.

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Much better than OK. The sweater looks fabulous. it’s such a classic Scandinavian stitch pattern. Thanks for the photo.

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Stunning!

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Thank you! It’s been a fun project!