Hi Everyone , I’ve been knitting for well over 50 years and would class myself as advanced, lets just say I’ve never found a pattern that’s stumped me and had me scratching mt head, but this one does, you would think a wrapover cardigan would be simple, not so, this one has two seperate instructions for decreasing the neckline, firstly is the right and left decreases in alt rows, both 27 rows, then there are different instructions to shape the neck , 38 rows, the pattern doesn’t say which decreasing instructions to follow or how to place them, has anyone knitted this pattern who could help please as I love the look of this cardigan, I’m not sure if I can attach the pattern here (copyright etc) so would be so grateful for any advice, thanks in advance
Welcome to KnittingHelp!
So frustrating. You can quote a small portion of the pattern if you like, maybe the beginning of the decrease sections. You’re correct that we can’t post large portions of pattern due to designer copyright. We can try to help.
Thank you so much for your reply Salmonmac, ok here goes , RIGHT FRONT
DECREASES IN ALT ROWS
1st Row. K1, k2tog, slip this st back onto
left hand needle and pass next st on left
hand needle over and off the needle, slip
st back onto right hand needle, k3, (inc in
next st) twice, patt to end.
2nd and Every Alt Row. Purl.
3rd Row. K1, k2tog, slip this st back
onto left hand needle and pass next st
on left hand needle over and off the
needle, slip st back onto right hand
needle, goes on for 28 rows LEFT FRONT
DECREASES IN ALT ROWS
1st Row. Patt to last 8 sts, inc in next st,
k3, s1, k2tog, psso, k1.
2nd and Every Alt Row. Purl.
3rd Row. Patt to last 7 sts, inc in next st,
k2, s1, k2tog, psso, k1. goes on for 28 rows SHAPE NECK (has instructions for both left and right)
1st Row. Patt to last 8 sts, inc in next st,
k3, s1, k2tog, psso, k1.
92 [99:113:127:134:148] sts.
2nd Row. P2tog, purl to end.
91 [98:112:126:133:147] sts.
3rd Row. Patt to last 6 sts, inc in next st,
k1, s1, k2tog, psso, k1.
90 [97:111:125:132:146] sts.
4th Row. P2tog, purl to end.
89 [96:110:124:131:145] sts. goes on for 14 rows
It’s very hard to explain without seeing the whole pattern, it just seems to be that there are 4 sets of instructions for decreasing along the front, it doesn’t explain what ALT is, I would understand if there was an alternative version but there isn’t, and why is one set of instructions referred to as decreasing front and the other is described as Shaping neck? it’s all so confusing
The instructions for the right front may be part of the chevron pattern and are without overall decreases. There is a k2tog with a pass stitch over which decreases 2sts and an increase in a stitch twice which increases 2sts. So no overall change in
stitch number on the right front despite the title “DECREASES IN ALT ROWS.”
(ALT is short for alternate rows or every other row.)
For the left front, there’s an increase in one stitch and a double decrease so there’s a decrease in stitch number every other row. Since these decreases seem to occur within the last 8sts they can’t continue all that long.
The decrease for the neck shaping decreases every row and are likely forming the V neck.
It’s possible that the right front is worked straight up until the neck shaping. The left front may form a line on decreases until the neck shaping begins and at that point the decreases increase to every row.
Thank you very much Salmonmac for taking the time to reply and for your help, everything you say makes sense and I can see that there is decreasing in some of the set of instructions and not the others, however there are also instrictions (apart from the ones I’ve shown) for the Back,Left and Right fronts which are totally seperate from the ones I’ve shown and these don’t say whether or if I should use the decreasing rows, Oh it is all too confusing, I wish I could send you the pattern pdf so you could see where the confusion arises. however saying all this, I really do appreciate you taking the time to help and it may be that I have to just give up on it and try to find something else to use the yarn for although a big part of me doesn’t want to let it beat me
Hello
It is such a shame the instructions are confusing. Have you tried contacting sirdar for knitting help? I’m not suggesting you can’t get help here of course but if there are multiple sections to the instructions then at least they have access to the entire pattern and can answer with all the info to hand.
Here is their contact form
https://help.sirdar.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
In the drop down menu you can choose knitting help. Be sure to mention the number of the pattern.
I found the “contact us” button at the bottom of their webpage which is here, just in case you need to find it
I haven’t contact lots of places but the ones I have contacted have been very responsive. It may delay you a few days but if you love the pattern and paid for it then you should be able to get clarity on the pattern and make it.
Thank you very much for that suggestion Creations, I did contact the Sirdar website in the UK 10 days ago but still no reply, but I have been very fortunate and lucky that Salmonmac was kind enough to look at the pattern and worked it out for me, she is a very talented lady and I am so grateful
Glad it worked out and your yarn has a lovely project to work. Good luck with the rest of the pattern and please do post a photo when you finish.
Sorry to hear sirdar didn’t reply, that’s very disappointing.
It’s great you have managed to work it out with salmonmac’s help, really good news. Enjoy your project.