Shaping armholes

How-to Questions
1

Okay…time to shape the armholes for the sweater I’m making. I have 121 stitches to start.

Here’s what the directions say:
[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]BO 6 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st each side of next row; then every other row 5 times total – 99 sts.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=“Black”]Here’s my interpretation:[/COLOR]
[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]Row 1: BO 6 sts, continue in K5, P1 ribbing to match the rest of the pattern. (115 sts).
Row 2: BO 6 sts, continue in K5, P1 ribbing to match the rest of the pattern. (109 sts).
Row 3: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of row. (107 sts).
Row 4: Work even.
Row 5: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of row. (105 sts).
Row 6: Work even.
Row 7: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of row. (103 sts).
Row 8: Work even.
Row 9: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of row. (101sts).
Row 10: Work even.
Row 11: Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of row. (99sts).
Row 12: Work even.
[/COLOR]

Is that correct? Also, what kind of decrease am I supposed to use? K2tog?

Thanks in advance for your help!

2

that’s how I am reading it too! K2tog I believe as well.

3

The K2tog tends to lean to the right. That will follow the angle of the left armhole but not the one on the right. I’d suggest using the SSK on the right side.

There are samples of the incs/decs via the links at the top.

cam

4

Excellent interpretation! I agree - use SSK on the right and K2TOG on the left. You might also consider knitting 2 stitches on each end before and after the decreases to make your finishing nicer. Can’t wait to see your garment :slight_smile:

5

Okay…when you say SSK on the right side and K2tog on the left…does that mean no matter if it’s RS or WS? I just would start with SSK when knitting across the row, and do K2tog when I get to the other side?

Also, will knitting two stitches to the right and left of each decrease mess up the K5, P1 ribbing pattern? This is more complicated than I thought!

Thanks so much to everyone for your help!

6

I’d do your decs 2 sts in from the edge. Work 2 sts (in patt), then work the dec over whatever the next 2 sts are…could be 2 Ks, K and P, etc. Same goes for the other edge…work til there are 4 sts remaining, do the dec and then you’ll have the 2 (in patt) to the edge.

If you’re working decs on the WS you’d need to work whatever decs are applicable to how the sts show. The back of 2 Ks is 2 Ps so you’d have to work a SSP, etc. But being the patt indicates eor (every other row) all will be done on the same side.

cam

7

Okay, that makes sense about them all being on the same side. But I’m still wondering…is the “right” side (for the SSK) the side where I start knitting across the row, and the “left” side (for the K2tog) when I get to the other end?

8

Picture it this way- when you’re looking at the RS of your knitting, a k2tog will lean to your right and SSK will lean to your left.

9

Your RS is the odd rows (3, 5, 7 etc) in the patt inst you orig posted. Work your SSK and K2tog on those rows.

cam

10

I still write out my decrease instructions EXACTLY like you posted, gamerchik! Good woman!

I also agree with the others: Right side facing…I do a K2T at the beginning of the row…knit across the row as per pattern…then do the SSK at the end of the row.

I always knit one stitch first, then K2T…knit across the row as per pattern…til the last 3 stitches>SSK>K1.

The plain knit stitches at each end are edge stitches, and will ultimately be hidden inside the seam.

Making your decreases “one stitch in from each edge” creates a nice edge for later seaming.

11

You’ll have to decide which way you want the decs to lean.

If you want them to follow the angle of the armhole, the seq is SSK, K2tog and look like this:

[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]| /[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]|
| /[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]|

Working them K2tog, SSK looks like this:

[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]|[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]/|
|[COLOR=“White”]…[/COLOR]/|

cam

12

I’m confused…I’m sorry! LOL…with the right side facing and knitting a RS row, wouldn’t you do the SSK first and then do the K2tog when you get to the other end, since you kind of knit across the row from right to left?

EDIT: I just saw cam’s post. How do I know which way I want the decreases to lean?

13

You want the decs to lean toward the middle, so you have it right - ssk at the beginning of the row, k2tog at the end.

14

Cam, you’re a genious! I love love love the diagrams! Couldn’t have put it better!!! Genious!!!

I prefer to have the decreases slant in the direction of the armhole, as shown in diagram #1. The decreases follow the line!

Doing arm decreases as shown in diagram #2 creates hashmarks.
But at least it is consistent!

Doing K2T on both ends, or SSK on both ends creates confusion!

Thanks again for a great diagram!!

15

I thought she meant the decs for the armhole? You’d want the armhole decs to slant left at the beginning of the row, to the right at the end. And for the neck they’d be __/ like that.

So the top of the sweater would look like /__/\

16

Suzeeq and everyone else, thank you SO much for explaining and re-explaining…lol. I’m pretty sure I now know what to do! I’m actually not at the shaping part yet, but that is the next step after the color pattern I’m working, so I wanted to be prepared…I’m thinking ahead here! Now I feel prepared.

Just wait until we get to the “shape neck and shoulders” part! LOL… :teehee: :teehee: :teehee:

Thanks again to all of you!

17

Okay just remember as you look at the piece - for a left slanting increase \ you’d do the SSK. For a right slanting one / you do k2tog

18

I think I will remember from now on – and if I ever do forget, I will look at the picture on the decrease page as a reminder! :smiley:

Thank you again!!! :hug: :hug: :hug:

19

The reason I posted the ‘diagram’ was because ArtLady stated

Right side facing…I do a K2T at the beginning of the row…knit across the row as per pattern…then do the SSK at the end of the row.

I always knit one stitch first, then K2T…knit across the row as per pattern…til the last 3 stitches>SSK>K1.

I’ve seen some patts that recommend this ‘contrary’ angle so wanted to give the orig poster the option to choose. Personally, I opt for following the armhole angle (SSK/K2tog).

cam

20

Oh doh! :doh: I stated it backwards! Sorry! You’re right! I also opt for the armhole angle (SSK/K2tog). I guess it was just too late at night for ole Artlady! Thanks Cam! You’re be bestest! :thumbsup:

I won’t go back and edit my mis-stated post. It’s good to hang my errors out there once in awhile! :teehee:

Cam, I don’t think your intent was to hang me out to dry! :teehee:
I don’t need any help doing that! :teehee: TeeHee! I manage just fine on my own! :aww: