I’m working on a pattern which I’m almost finished with from Knitter’s Magazine Fall 1996 Nine to Five Warm Up Jacket.
For the L front it lists decreases at the neckline. I’m getting a little confused as to whether or not I’m doing these correctly as it states there should be a specific number of sts left after carrying out ALL the decreases.
I started out with the correct number of stitches however as I decrease and reach parts of the pattern that state to decrease 2 sts every other row twice…… I understand that to be decrease 2 sts on one row, skip a row and then decrease 2 sts again on the following row. If I do this twice will I be decreasing 4 sts total or 8 sts.
Sorry to be such a bother with this particular pattern however after buying yarn and getting as far as I have I want to make sure it’s done correctly.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nine-to-five-warm-up
You’ve really made progress on this jacket. Very nice.
Decreasing 2 sts every other row twice would mean decreasing 4sts. No decrease on row 1, decrease row 2, no decrease row 3 and decrease row 4, assuming that is the way your pattern is set up.
Every other row is telling you to skip a row between decreases. Twice is telling you how many times to work the decrease.
Just making sure before I go ahead. I have 4 rows that are being used to make Moss stitch pattern. The first decrease of (decrease 2 sts every other row twice) starts on a row 4. I skip row 1 work in pattern. Then my second decrease (which is twice?) is then on Row 2. Correct?
I guess what is getting me confused is when it’s stating Twice
I’m attaching the part I am talking about. It’s for shaping the L front.
Thanks soooo 
much for your assistance salmonmac! I think I’ve got it.
Yes, first decrease on a row 4, next decrease on row 2. That’s it and you’ve got it.
The twice is a bit confusing. Even saying 2 times might have been clearer. You can often check this by looking at the total stitch numbers from the last time they were given to the current number.
Sometimes I exagerate the numbers to see if it still makes sense. So if the pattern said, bind off 2sts every other row 10 times, how would I work that?
I’m trying to figure out the increases for the collar on Knitter’s magazine no. 44 Nine to Five Warm Up jacket. My understanding is that there is a 4 stitch increase on each increase row. If that is correct I coming up short 2 stitches after carrying out pattern repeat 3 times. My number totals 67.
Directions read as follows for the Collar: With RS facing,beg at right front neck edge, pick up and k51 sts evenly around neck edge. Work 1 row Seed st pat, then cont working in Seed st as foll: Next (inc) row (RS) Inc 1, work 1 pair of inc sts at each shoulder seam (incs must be worked in pairs to keep in Seed st pat), inc 1 in last st - 57sts. Work 3 rows even. Work inc row; rep from once more - 69 sts. Work 3 rows even. Bind off all sts.
What am I doing wrong with my calculations?
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nine-to-five-warm-up
The instructions are a bit confusing. You’re correct. There should be 4 increases, 2 at each shoulder seam for every increase row. There is additonally the increases at the beginning and end of the row. So a total of 6 increases per increase row.
(This looks like a set in or maybe drop sleeve, not a raglan so 2 shoulder seams.)
The directions I provided are for working the COLLAR not the Shoulders.
My understanding is to work 1 increase at the beginning and end of the increase rows as well as 1 stitch at each shoulder. That’s where I am getting 4 increases for each increase row. If I’m starting out by picking up 51 stitches and then adding 4 stitches every increase row my numbers are 55, then 59, then 63 then 67 not 69.
This is where I am confused.
Yes, the collar is being knit but the placement of the increases on the collar is at the line of the shoulder seam. It might help to place a marker on the needle at the line of the shoulder seam then inc on either side of the marker.
The collar is worked in seed stitch which means an alternating knit, purl sequence. That’s why you need to work 2 increases on the collar at the line of each shoulder seam. Working one increase would misalign the seed stitch. Working 2 increases keeps the seed stitch aligned.
Next (inc) row (RS) : Inc 1, work 1 pair of inc sts at each shoulder seam (incs must be worked in pairs to keep in Seed st pat), inc 1 in last st (6sts increased)
Your numbers should be 51sts, 57sts, 63sts, 69sts.
Correct me if I am wrong. So at each shoulder there will be 2 increased stitches along with one stitch at each end of the increase row making a total of 6 increases every inc row! That make sense! Sorry to bother you so much!
Thanks for all your assistance. 
You’ve got it! It’s not a problem to ask such a good question or to follow up. These kind of directions often need clarification. Hope it all goes smoothly from here on. You’ve almost finished this big project.