I’m trying to interpret a chart for the toy duck from the [U]Knitted Toys[/U] book by Zoe Mellor (p. 45, in case anyone has the book and would like to refer to it to see what I’m talking about). After I cast on the 8 stitches and knit the first row, I need to increase the second row to 12 stitches. This is where I’m stuck. From the chart, it looks like I need to add 4 stitches to my needle before I start purling the 8 stitches that are already on it, yet all instructions I have found for increasing stitches in a row use the stitches that are already on the needle to create the increase.
What is the best way to shape the duck? Do I just use the first 4 stitches that are on the needle with any standard increase method and then continue to purl the remaining 4 stitches? Or am I supposed to somehow cast on 4 new stitches before purling the 8 that are already on the needle?
Hope I’ve expressed my dilemma clearly and that someone can help with this. I’m making this as part of a gift that I am giving a friend who is expecting a baby in a few months!
Thanks for any help you can give!