Shaping armholes

General Knitting
1

I’m making a kimono style sweater for my new baby. I’ve never made much more than a scarf, so I’m somewhat lost. I’m making the front left panel and I’ve been instructed to shape the armhole. The way I’ve done it, my armhole goes in and up at an angle. I’m wondering now that I’m done with that portion if the armhole should go in and straight up. Can someone tell me what armholes typically look like? Below is the link to the pattern I’m using:

http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=2993&tabbed=1

Thanks so much!!! :muah:

2

Here is a chart from a knitting magazine. Row 83 is the beginning of the armhole shaping. It begins with Bind Off 3.
Then for the next series of Rows, up to Row 91…the armhole is ‘shaped’, as the chart appears.

This is TYPICAL armhole shaping. It rarely goes in and straight up.

This is a schematic of another sweater I’m making a granddaughter.
Notice that the armhole shaping is also a gradual tapering.

The purpose of the ‘shaping’ and ‘tapering’ is to fit the armHOLE around the human’s arm. The beginning of the armhole shaping is actually in the armPIT. So the tapering allows it to come around from the armpit and underarm of the human arm, then when it straightens out, that is the part that is visible as a seamline up to the shoulder.

3

Attached is the picture of the panel I mentioned. The left side is the armhole. I decreased on the armhole side and this is the result. If I had decreased on the crossover kimono side, my armhole would have essentially been in and straight up, as opposed to the gradual in and up that you showed me (and the decrease would have continued the angle on the v neck). Apparently, I need to get a pattern like the one you have, that looks much more helpful. Thanks for your reply.

4

Ok, I joined Bernat…found your pattern, and saved the PDF pattern.

It looks to me like your armhole has been decreased wrong.

For size 6 months, this is what I perceive the pattern to be saying for the first FRONT:

Cast on 52. Work g st for 2".
Commence shaping as follows:
[B]SHAPE FRONT: [/B]
RS FACING> Row 1: Dec 1 at front edge [COLOR=Red](51 st remain)[/COLOR]
RS Rows 3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33: Dec 1 at front edge [COLOR=Red](35 st remain)[/COLOR]
RS Rows 37,41,45,49: Dec 1 at front edge [COLOR=Red](31 st remain)[/COLOR]
[B]
SHAPE ARMHOLE:[/B]
WS Row 50: bind off 7 [COLOR=Red](24 st remain) [/COLOR] (yes, that’s it for armhole shaping)

[B]Now continuing with the FRONT EDGE shaping:[/B]
RS Rows 51,55,59,63,67,71,75,79,83,87,91,95: Dec 1 at front edge [COLOR=Red](12 st remain)[/COLOR]

Continue with no further decreases anywhere until the piece measures [COLOR=Blue]4 3/4"[/COLOR] [U]from the armhole bindoffs[/U]. End by working a RS row. Then bind off with a WS facing.

NOTE: sometimes [COLOR=Blue]the length[/COLOR] will be satisfied by the time you’ve worked Row 95. Be sure to measure. This would be a garment where ROW GAUGE is important not to be too tall.

5

PS: In this particular pattern, I do believe the armhole edge does go straight up from the armhole bind off row. Too bad Bernat didn’t include a schematic diagram! :pout:

6

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
:woot:

7

You’ve very welcome! :hug: