Writing out the full line for every row would be a huge amount to fit into a pattern pamphlet, with maybe 100-200 rows for a sleeve (depending on yarn weight, size, style) . This is why the repeats are abbreviated and a certain amount degree of understand is expected of the knitter.
We can keep helping here though.
Jotting the stitches down in one line on paper takes up much less space and time. Many knitters like to jot down the increase row numbers and tick them off as they go, jotting down what that increase stitch is so that you can work it correctly on subsequent rows is âjust anotherâ tool that knitters use.
I thinknwe all have notes jotted down for our patterns.
On some stitches such as k1, p1 it becomes easier to read the fabric as your experience grows, some very complex cable or lace patterns may have a string of several stitches to do in the repeat which is trickier to read in the fabric and perhaps more knitters jot these down.
Another thing you may find helpful is to put in a stitch marker each end. At the beginning of the row it would need to be between the slip1 and the k1b. Then no matter how many stitches you increase you know this marker is the point where k1b, p1, starts. Having 1 stitch before it means s1 1 just because your first stutch is always slipped, but really that stitch can be called p1 because thatâs the pattern
Slip1, marker, k1b, p1
In repeat terms the slip is a purl
P1, marker, k1b, p1
Another stitch increased would be
S1, p1, marker, k1b, p1
See how the marker moves? And the new stitches follow the pattern of the repeat.
Another increase would be
S1, k1b, p1, marker, k1b, p1
See how the marker moves along the row and the new stitches are named?
Personally I wouldnât bother to write in the slip 1, Iâd just remember to always slip the first stitch, I would just write what the stitch is destined to be.
I would also not write the word âmarkerâ but just put a line or dash to mark it on my paper, or underline, or highlight that original starting repeat
P1, k1b, p1, / k1b, p1,
K1b, p1, k1b, p1 / k1b, p1
As salmonmac said itâs the start of the row that is harder, the end of the row is easier as you just keep going.
Perhaps try a small swatch of 10 stitches of the pattern. Place a marker on your needle and watch what happens to the fabric with each stitch worked and each increase.
If you donât have a marker a scrap yarn loop of a different colour would be fine.
The marker at the end of the row would be before the last stitch, to remind you to increase there. You may decide you donât need this one but sometimes starting with one helps.