Hello! After trying this a few times and not ever seeming to get my yarn in the right place, I thought I’d come here for help!
I am knitting a top where the back’s shoulders have short row shaping after putting the central neckline stitches on hold. I realize that for these couple rows, I am working from two balls of yarn (one for the right shoulder, one for the left). But I can’t seem to get the yarn in the right place after wrapping. In Row 3, I wrap the stitch. But then do I transfer the unworked stitches over to the right needle so I can keep working on the left shoulder (plain knit stitches)? If so, when I arrive back at the right shoulder in row 4, where I’m supposed to purl across the right shoulder, my yarn is partway through the row…is that correct? Do I slip the unworked stitches back to the right needle, again? Seems like I am missing something.
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Thanks in advance!
What is the name of your pattern and the designer?
You’re going to be alternating shoulders, each with it’s own ball of yarn. You could consider working one shoulder at a time although you’ll have to separate out the left and right shoulder directions.
It may help to make a diagram of the various rows and short rows.
On row 3, the right shoulder short row: knit 12 sts (smallest size) work the wrap and then drop the yarn where it is. Pick up the yarn for the left shoulder and knit.
On row 4 you’ll work a short row on the left shoulder: 12 purl sts and wrap then drop the yarn and pick up the yarn for the right shoulder and purl.
If you have another set of needles you could work the two shoulder each on its own set. Otherwise, yes, you’ll have to slip sts over to the right needle, work the other shoulder, then slip the sts back in order to get to the working yarn strand that is midway down the needle. That does sound tedious. I’d be tempted to go with working one shoulder at a time.
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The pattern is Empire Rib Knit Top by Lynn Burdick https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/empire-rib-knit-top
https://lburdickdesigns.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/empire-rib-top.pdf
Thanks for this, Salmonmac! I will try it one shoulder at a time as I think this makes it easier for me to read and understand. And even though I’m working with few stitches at a time, it has been tedious as I try to switch back and forth.
When I pick up the yarn for the right shoulder and purl on Row 4, do I pick it up mid-row and knit back over the 12 stitches only? If I am not meant to purl all 18 stitches, why does it not say purl 12 stitches?
On the right shoulder, row 3 you’ve knit 12 and made the wrapped stitch in preparation for the turn. For row 4 the yarn is in place and you make the turn, then purl back on the 12sts to complete the next row of the short rows.
I don’t know why the designer doesn’t specify the number of sts. The stitch number after the turn is specified for the other rows.
Thank you for the link. I love the look of the sweater.
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This does sound tedious if the stitches have to be slipped and reslipped . I wonder if a spare double pointed needle or short circular or even a cable needle might be used as a temporary holder for the centre stitches? With a stopper on each end to prevent the stitches falling off whilst on hold?
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Thank you both. Knitting it one shoulder at a time worked for me and made more sense. I just couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to pick back up at the short row spot, or purl across the whole row, but your response helped me!
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You are a champion! Not easy to tease out those directions but I’m glad you made it work. Post a photo when you finish, please.
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Oh, thanks!! 
I sure will!
