Reading Isager decreasing Top Pattern

How-to Questions
1

Hello Angels!!
I could really use a bit of help, pleaseee :pray:
I’m working on a beautiful top pattern by Isager and I’ve reached the armhole shaping section, where I’m not quite sure I understand the instructions correctly.

I’m working the first side, knitting from the bottom up.
I’ve attached, at the end of this, pages 5–6 of the pattern, with the section I’m stuck on clearly marked.

As instructed, I’ve already bound off 3 stitches at the beginning of two rows (on each side), and now I’ve reached the part where I should start working the armhole edges and continue decreasing.

This is where things get confusing for me, and I’m not sure how to move forward.

Would anyone be kind enough to walk me through it step by step?
I’d really appreciate anyone who has the time and patience to help :heartpulse:

With love,
Natalie

Here’s the text I’m relating to:

Work 20 (22) 24 (26) rows of stockinette
stitch in color A. Note: Begin working armhole
decreases and armhole edges after work
ing the first 14 (16) 18 (20) of these rows of
stockinette stitch (see below).
Work 1 repeat of the pattern (i.e. work Row 1–8
twice). A total of 16 rows.
Work 20 (22) 24 (26) rows of stockinette
stitch in color A.
At the same time, bind off for the ARMHOLES
where indicated above (the work now measu
res 31 (33) 35 (37) cm [12¼ (13) 13¾ (14½) in
ches]). Continue in pattern as described above
while working as follows:
Bind off 3 (3) 3 (6) sts at the beginning of the
next 2 rows. There are now a total of 113 (125)
137 (143) sts on the needle.
Now work armhole edges and continue de
creasing for the armholes as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Sl1 wyif, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, work to
the last 7 sts, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, sl1 wyib, k1.

Row 2: Sl1 wyif, p1, k1, p1, k1, work to the last 5 sts, k1, p1, k1, sl1 wyif, k1.
Continue as established working decreases inside the rib edges every RS row 2 (4) 6 (6) more times (i.e. a total of 3 (5) 7 (7) times). There are now a total of 107 (115) 123 (129) sts on the needle.
Then work decreases every other RS row a total of 6 (7) 8 (8) times. A total of 12 (15) 18 (21) sts have been decreased at each end of the work across 32 (40) 48 (48) row. The armholes now measure 10 (12,5) 15 (15) cm [4 (5) 6 (6) inches] and there are a total of 95 (101) 107 (113) sts on the needle.
Note: The rib edges are worked in color A on all rows. This means that color changes need to be made on pattern rows worked in color B, so the first and last 5 sts are worked in color A. It can be helpful to wind a separate little ball of color A to join to one side of the work, when working pattern rows in color B. Remember to twist the yarns around each other when changing color to avoid holes.

2

Maybe this one?

You’re to work decreases at each end of the row as given in Row 1 following the underarm bind off directions.
Then dec on rows 3 and 5 (that’s every RS row).
Dec on rows 9,13,17,21,25 and 29 (that’s every other RS row). You’ll finish with 95sts.

Would you help us out please by editing your post to crop the sections of the pattern that aren’t highlighted? We can’t post large portions of patterns on the forum due to designer copyright. Use the pencil icon in the lower right of the Reply box to edit.

1 Like
3

Hi, yes it’s this one and of course! I just edited my post. Thank you for letting me know!

just wanted to clarify:

  1. What about the WS? Should I repeat the WS (Row 2) the same way each time as I continue the armhole decreasing and edge shaping?
  2. Regarding the main pattern between the decreases – should I continue working it from the beginning of the pattern row, or from the asterisks ?

Here’s an example of what I mean (quote a Row from one of the sections):

Row 3: K1, sl3 wyib, k3. Repeat from * to *. End with sl3 wyib, k1.

So when I’m doing the armhole shaping, should I work the row like this:

Sl1wyif, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k1, sl3wyib, k3, repeat from * to * k2tog, p1,k1,p1, sl1wyib, k1.

or

Sl1wyif, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, sl3wyib, k3, repeat from * to the last 7 sts, k2tog, p1,k1,p1, sl1wyib, k1.

Same question applies to the WS rows.

4

Thanks very much for the edit.
Yes, repeat Row 2 the same way. The number of sts between the edge rib at each side will decrease but follow the directions for the WS rows as Row 2.

You want to continue the overall pattern while you’re working the decreases. So whatever pattern you have been working, continue that. Most of the time this is going to be stockinette so that won’t present a problem.
On the color change rows and pattern sts, you’ll have to account for the decreased sts so that the pattern aligns with earlier rows. You can do this by eliminating part of the pattern repeat to account for the dec or you can look at the previous rows to make sure you’re continuing the pattern stitches.
The pattern reminds you to: “Continue as established working decreases inside the rib edges…”