I found a great pattern for striped fingerless mittens in Knitty’s Spring 2008 issue (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/FEATspr08FK.html). I started them this past weekend and encountered a problem that I’m hoping you can help me with.
I’m an experienced beginning knitter and this is my first pair of mittens - I loved the stripes and the fact that they’re knit flat and then sewn up. When I got to the first decrease row (right after the 2.5 inches of k2,p2), I didn’t have enough stitches to complete the row as written.
The pattern notes that there should be 46 stitches when you complete that row. When I count the stitches that are written for that row, it comes out to 48. If I’m counting correctly, than in order to complete that row as written in the pattern, I would have needed to start with 52 stitches.
When I knit that row starting with 50 stitches, I end up with 47 stitches and am unable to complete the last k2tog and just skipping to the last k1.
I love what I’ve started and really want to make them. As I said, I still consider myself a beginner and may have made a mistake in my counting, but after trying knitting that row as written several times, I don’t end up with the correct number of stitches. Of course, that will affect all the following rows as well.
I’ve already fallen in love with what I’ve knit and would be heartbroken to have to abandon it.
Your dec row has four decs. (Bolded above) 50-4=46. If you need help with the terms… or how to work the decs, check the ‘Decreases’ vids and/or the Glossary.
The first row as written is worked over 52 stitches and with the 4
decreases would leave 48. At least that is what I get when I add them
up. However the second decrease row is worked over the 46 sts as a
result of the first decrease row as stated on the pattern so something
does not add up here.
Hehe, yep it says to cast on 50 stitches but if you count the number
of stitches being used in that first decrease row it comes out to 52
unless I’m adding wrong:
I agree that you need to start with 52, even just to have an even k2p2 ribbing–it needs to be divisible by 4 or you end up with 4 knits in a row when you seam them up.
I’d either start with 52 and continue with the decreases as written, or start with 48 and skip the first decreases if you want the wrist to be narrower.
cam90066 I do know how to decrease and you’re right, 50-4=46, but if you [B]count[/B] the stitches in the pattern for that row, you have to have 52 stitches.
Also, if you’re making four decreases, than you’re actually using 8 stitches (each decrease uses 2 stitches from the previous row). So, the math would actually be 50-8=42, right?
Someone else had problems with this pattern too - the 50/52 sts for the CO. I don’t remember how it was resolved. You might search the old threads here for the solution.
[QUOTE][So, the math would actually be 50-8=42, right? /QUOTE]
No, because you still have a st from the decreases, you’re taking 2 sts and making them into 1. So you’re only losing 4 sts on the row.
cam90066 I do know how to decrease and you’re right, 50-4=46, but if you count the stitches in the pattern for that row, you have to have 52 stitches.
Oops. Sorry. (I should never post really late…or really early. Brain fog.) I see there ARE issues with the st count per the other posts. Hope you get it fig’d out.
Crossed Fingers
