Shaping shoulders and neck

#1

I am doing the “zip up pullover” by suss cousins and so far so good. for a new knitter.

This is what I don’t understand:

“At neck edge, bind off 10 stitches once, 5 stitches once, while at the same time, at armhole edge, bind off 2 stitches twice, bind off remaining stitches”

  1. Why bind off 10 then 5 - why not just bind off 15 stitches?
  2. “while at the same time” - I have no idea how to knit in two places at once. Clearly I missed this class, anywhere to read or see a video about it?
  3. Why would I bind off 2 stitches twice and then bind off remaining. Why would I knot just bind off two stitches at once to the end. And why only twice?

Yes, I am trying to teach myself the “gentle” art of knitting so any guidance would be deeply, very deeply appreciated.

#2

“At neck edge, bind off 10 stitches once, 5 stitches once, while at the same time, at armhole edge, bind off 2 stitches twice, bind off remaining stitches”

  1. Why bind off 10 then 5 - why not just bind off 15 stitches?
  2. “while at the same time” - I have no idea how to knit in two places at once. Clearly I missed this class, anywhere to read or see a video about it?
  3. Why would I bind off 2 stitches twice and then bind off remaining. Why would I knot just bind off two stitches at once to the end. And why only twice?

  1. They want the decrease to be a bit more gradual than 15 at once. Since you only bind off at the beginning of the row, there will be a row of purl between the two decreases–more of a stepped decrease rather than straight bind off.

  2. ‘At the same time’ means that you’ll be decreasing at both ends. On the knit side, you’ll be binding off for the neck; on the purl side you’ll bind off for the sleeves.

  3. Again, you’ll be binding off in steps, bind off 2, finish row, work back, bind off 2, finish row work back, bind off remaining.

#3

I think it’s like this:
row1 (at neck): BO 10, work to end of row
row2 (at armhole): BO 2, work to end
row3 (at neck): BO 5, work to end
row4 (at armhole): BO 2, work to end

-kb

#4

Wow - that makes it so clear. I never realized you answered so long ago. I even posted the question again. Ooops. Anyhow, that clears it up completely! Much appreciated and when I am finished my “clearly way too big sweater” I will celebrate with a drink and pick another pattern I am not ready for.