Short row question

How-to Questions
1

Hi, I’m working on Alphonse and Mira in Cynthia Vallet’s book Mouche and friends. I’ve started the first short row section for shaping the head. The instructions say;

Set up your sts: the first 30 sts on working needles and the last 16 sts on hold. Place MA (the row start marker) in the first stitch.

Work flat as follows: ROW 1 (RS): K24, turn.
ROW 2: YO, p18, turn.
ROW 3: YO, k18, k2tog, k1, turn.
ROW 4: YO, p20, ssp, p1, turn.
ROW 5: YO, k22, k2tog, k1, turn.
ROW 6: YO, p24, ssp, p1, turn.

I completed row 1 and 2 and got almost to the end of row 3 but didn’t have the correct number of stitches to complete the row. Row 2 I yarned over and purled 18 stitches. I turned to start row 3, yarned over and knitted 16 stitches but this only left 3 loops on the needle- two proper stitches and the yarn over from row 2. That didn’t leave enough stitches to complete row 3 which required two more knitted stitches (to get to 18 knitted stitches), then two stitches to knit together followed by one more stitch to be knitted.

Can anyone advise me on what I’m doing wrong? Thank you!

2

Welcome to the forum!

ROW 2: YO, p18, turn.
ROW 3: YO, k18, k2tog, k1, turn.
For row 2, yarn over then purl 18 and turn. On row 3, yarn over then knit back across the same 18sts you purled in row 2. This brings you to the yarn over. Knit that yarn over together with the next stitch which has been waiting on the left needle, k1 and turn.
The yarn overs knit or purled together with following stitch are to help disguise the holes created when you turn. With each row you’ll be using up some of the sts waiting at the ends of the needles.

3

Hi, thanks so much. I thought the instructions to put the other 16 stitches from the round on hold and then work flat meant I wasn’t going to be using those stitches. I’ll take them off the holding pin and put them on to the circular needle so that I can finish that row.

This type of knitting is new to me and I’m very thankful for your advice so I can keep going :sunny:

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4

Have fun with these two cuties and please do let us see a photo when you finish!

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