I’m making a sweater and my pattern asks me to:
Cast off 3 sts at the beg of the next 5 rows. 92 sts rem.
Work 50 rows SS.
Is the 5 rows that I cast off on included in the 50 rows? Or do I cast off in the next 5 rows THEN do 50 more rows??
Thanks Everyone!
No. The direction to knit 50 rows comes after the directions to cast off for 5 rows. [That is unusual - usually if you have to cast off for x number of rows, it’s for an even number of rows so your project isn’t lopsided.]
So the 5 rows are separate from the 50 rows that you work straight without any casting-off.
Hope this helps,
Dot
You’re right, the pattern isn’t making sense. It says I should have 102 sts right now, but if I take 3 off the next 5 rows, I won’t hav 92 like they say… I’ll have like 87! I’m so confused…
Sounds like it’s time for a visit to Aunt Dot’s Fudge Pot.
Since they are so thoughtful as to give you the number of stitches you start with - 102 - and the number of stitches they want you to wind up with - 92 - then you’d need to subtract one from the other, giving you 10 stitches you need to cast off.
Let’s take 10 and divide it by 2… gives you 5 stitches for each side to bind off, if you’re to keep your work even.
So. There you go. The Fudge Pot says, for your 5 rows, bind off [or cast off] ONE stitch EACH side - a total of 2 stitches - for each of your 5 rows.
Then work 50 rows over your 92 remaining stitches.
Does that sound right? Would it fit in with the end result of what you are making? If not- then back to the Fudge Pot for another try.
Hope this helps,
Dot
Hahaha, that’s better!
So, Cast off one stitch at the beginning and end of the next five rows. Will do. I think it will work. This is the remaining bit of the pattern for that side:
Shape back neck and shoulders:
Cast of 13 sts, K13 sts, then turn, leaving rem sts on stitch holder.
Next row: P.
Cast off.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to sts on holder. Cast off centre 40 sts, K to end.
Next row: cas off 13 sts at the beg of the row, P to end.
Cast off.
So I think it mathematically adds up if I do what you suggested. This pattern is so screwy, and it’s my first sweater!! 
Thanks for your help Dot! Greatly appeciated!!
Since it’s just one st, do a regular decrease. Some translated patterns tend to use castoff instead of decrease.
I want fudge.