Sandbar Pullover Pattern Q's

Hello, I recently just started knitting a sweater using a pattern. I’m self taught, and am used to just winging it, so I’m a bit confused and don’t fully understand the pattern.

Here is the pattern: https://www.knitting-bee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Sandbar-Pullover-Free-Knitting-Pattern-Download.pdf

At the start of the “Front” part of the pattern it says “Work as for back until armholes measure 6 1/2 (7 1/2, 8 1/2, 9, 10)” ending with a WS row.

What does it mean “Work as for back”? Is this connected to the back piece at all or is it a separate piece?

Later on in the pattern, when making the sleeves, it says “Work new sts into pat when possible.” What does this mean? I know what it means in theory but it tells you to cast on a certain number of sts right after it. Is this wanting me to add more sts whenever or only when specified later in this section of the pattern?

Thanks for all the help! (I will probably have more questions later on in the process)

Welcome to the forum!
We’ve had knitters making this sweater and asking questions before. It’s a lovely sweater.

“Work as for the back” means to follow the directions for the back up to the point where the armhole measures the given inches. The front and back are knit separately. Rather than repeat the same instructions for the front, the editor saves space by telling you to follow the instructions for the back up to a given point. Begin the front by casting on with a new end of yarn and working the set up row, etc.

Cast on the given number of sleeve sts for your size and work the sleeve until you get to the increase row (Inc row). This is where the note about taking new sts into the pattern applies. Make the increase one or two sts in from the edges and then on the next row, work that increased stitch into the pattern stitch. You’ll want to keep the pattern aligned with the previous rows and not let it jog due to the new stitches. If you don’t have enough sts to work a full repeat of the tuck stitch, you can work in rib until you can work the repeat with the increased sts.

Hello! Thank you for the help on my previous question. I was hoping you could help me with a couple more I have.

I just finished the Front and am starting to work ok the neck and shaping. It said to end with a WS row. I ended ok Row 4 of the pattern, is this correct?


What does this mean? Am I doing the pattern as normal until I am the correct number of stitches in?

For both the right and left neck directions I’m confused. Are you able to give me a general breakdown of what I should be doing here?

Thank you for the help!

If it helps, you can mark off the center 17sts. You’ll continue your pattern across 36sts, bind off the next 17sts. You’ll end with one stitch on the right hand needle after the bind off and 35sts on the left hand needle. Work across these sts in your pattern. That will leave you with 36sts for each shoulder.
You are going to work on the right shoulder now (that’s the right shoulder as you would wear the sweater).
If you end on a row 4 of the pattern, that’s fine. That’s a wrong side row so the next row will be a row 1 (a right side row) and on this right side row, you’ll work the neck bind off. You can leave the left shoulder sts on the needle but unworked until the right shoulder is finished or you can slip them to a holder.

Thanks! I have another question already…

If I understand correctly with me ending on Row 4 before starting the neck, the row that I have the 17 sts BO in the center is a RS row. To follow the pattern correctly I would need to do Row 3 of the stitch pattern like normal and then on Row 4 I would then BO 2 more sts at the start. Then, Row 1 like normal. BO two sts more at the start of Row 2. Then the Dec row matches up bc I would be on Row 3 which is a RS row… Is this correct?

Is the note above just letting me know that if I am at a BO stitch and it has yo or sl to just purl/knit them together and then bind it off?

The bind off of the center sts is a pattern row 1. Row 2 is then a wrong side row.
Row 3 begins with a bind off of 2sts. The following row 4 is a wrong side row.
Row 1 is the next right side row and it begins with a bind off of 2sts.
All of these bind offs are on the neck edge.
The note is reminding you that the knit stitch and its yarn over are considered as one for the bind offs. In other words you want to make sure that you are left with the given stitch counts after you bind off 2sts.
The rest of the decreases follow on right side rows.