I am trying to make the Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly Pearls DK 4550 and am totally stutck on the first row! What on earth do they mean? If I knit K1, K3 and cast off 3 using these stitches, it will leave me the one stitch they reference on the right hand needle but then I have to ‘cast off 5 sts (1 st rem on right hand needle), cast off 3 sts (1 st rem on right hand needle),’ What does this mean? Here is the pattern excerpt:
‘V NECK CARDIGAN
FRONTS AND BACK
(Worked in one piece to armholes)
** Using 4mm needles or 4mm circular needle
if required, cast on 181 [201:221:261:281:301]
sts.
1st Row. K1, * k3, cast off 3 sts (1 st rem on
right hand needle), cast off 5 sts (1 st rem on
right hand needle), cast off 3 sts (1 st rem on
right hand needle), k3, rep from * to end.
82 [91:100:118:127:136] sts.’ As usual, I have received no response from the company and I need to make this quickly and would be so very appreciative of any help. Thank you xxx
Re: Stuck on row 1 of a girl's cardigan pattern...
Welcome to KH. As I read it you cast off 3 sts then cast off 5 sts and will have a gap between the remaining sts from both. Continue across all your stitches as written in the pattern. You’ll have single stitches (the 1 st rem) separated by cast off stitches. Does it give the stitch count at the end of this row? I wish I could see what it’s supposed to look like but have had no luck finding the pattern.
If I’ve got it wrong someone else will say so.
Clarification to my previous post.
When you’ve cast off 3 sts, k the next 2 sts and pass one over to begin the next cast off set. This leaves the single stitch on the needle.
@GrumpyGramma - thank you so much for your response. I am really sorry but I am still confused. So, do I K1 then another K3 and then cast three of those four stitches off thus leaving one stitch? Then, do I knit another five stitches and then cast those five stitches off thus leaving one stitch. Do I then knit another three stitches and then cast those three off thus leaving one stitch. So, rather than knitting one stitch and casting it off and then knitting the next and casting it off, it seems I should maybe knit three stitches and then cast those three off, then knit five stitches then cast those five off etc. The stitch count is above on the penultimate line of my question. Here is the pattern: https://us.deramores.com/products/girls-v-neck-and-round-neck-cardigans-in-sirdar-snuggly-pearls-dk-4550-digital-version xx
In order to cast off 3sts, you need to knit 4. The 4th stitch will be left on the right needle.
In order to cast off 5sts, you need to knit 6. The 6th stitch will be left on the right needle.
So knit 1, start the repeat with knit 3 then knit another 4 casting off 3 as you knit. One stitch left on the right needle. Then knit another 6, casting off 5 as you knit. Again one stitch left on the right needle. Proceed by knitting 4, casting off 3 as you knit and leaving another single stitch on the right needle. Knit 3sts to end the repeat.
It’ll take 20sts for each repeat so there are 9 repeats total. It may help to place markers every 20sts before you start the row just to keep on track.
One repeat will end up looking like this:
||||—|-----|—|||
where the | is a knit stitch and the - is a cast off stitch. You’ll end up with 9sts per repeat.
I’ve just made many of these mistakes or had the same questions myself. You might as well benefit.
@salmonmac - you are a knitting hero!! Thank you SO MUCH!! I could not work out what on earth they meant and you have cracked it! Wow! I am really impressed. Thank you to you and to @GrumpyGramma . Much love xxx
We’re all looking forward to seeing this lovely cardigan when you finish. Please do post a photo.
Ooh, I will. Thank you once again. You are amazing. You and @GrumpyGramma have helped me a long time ago with patterns. You really have no idea how appreciated your help is - it is the difference between a finished article and a pile of wool (which our Egyptian Mau kittens love! ) . Thank you once again xxx
I’ve just had the same problem myself, searched for help and just discovered this amazing site!
Not just that, but the answer to the question!
Thank you so much.
Welcome to the forum! I’m so glad you’ve joined and doubly glad the answer was right here.
Hello again, I can’t believe I’ve found this site! I’m self taught and have no one with knitting experience to help me, so I do have another question, to do with the same pattern:
If I cast on in the middle of a row, do I knit that stitch (separately) or slip it onto the right hand needle? The instruction in the pattern (row 2) is “K4, cast on 1 St, K2tog…”
I did, initially, include that stitch in the K2tog, but I realised it was a separate point. I’ve knitted it and then did the K2tog. Was I correct to knit it or should I have slipped it onto the rh needle? I’m wondering if it would have a different outcome.
Thank you, Jayne
Usually the cast on sts are onto the right hand needle and are considered already worked.
A cable or knit cast on ends up on the right hand needle so no need to knit or purl them. just proceed with the next direction (k2tog).
A thumb loop cast on which is ok if you’re only casting on a couple of sts can be cast onto the right hand needle directly and then you would proceed with the next direction (k2tog).
These cast on sts are then knit or purled on the next row.
Thank you so much for this. I think I’ll leave them as they are now, but I’ll know in future.
You’re a star!
Jayne