I’m a United States knitter & having trouble understanding the directions in European pattern- Sublime #659 Little Constance Wrap. I’m on the 1st row of the back. I have 41 stitches. It reads: K8, k2tog, yfwd, (k9, k2tog, kfwd) 2 times, k9. I end up short 3 stitches every time because I read those directions to say 44 stitches.
Help!
Heather
K8, k2tog, yfwd, (k9, k2tog, kfwd) 2 times knit 9
You use 10 stitches before the ( ), repeating between the ( ) twice uses 22 stitches, and finish with 9. That will [I]use[/I] up 41 stitches and [I]leave[/I] you with 44 to start the next row.
Hi. Welcome to KH. Your yfwd is an increase. It’s commonly interpreted to mean wyif. You probably don’t need a video but her accent is so appropriate. Yarn Forward (YFWD) - Deramores Knitting Tutorial
I see Ingrid already responded but I thought your being 3 sts short and there are 3 yfwd might be the problem. I’ll post it anyhow. Just in case.
Just to clarify should the pattern read (k9, k2tog, [B]kfwd[/B]) or (k9 k2tog, [B]yfwd[/B])? If it is yfwd then you will have 3 k2togs (dec) and 3 yfwds (inc), which will balance each other out, so you will start and end with 41 stitches. If it’s kfwd could you let us know what instructions that pattern gives for that abbreviation?
I read the directions to end with 41 stitches. 10 & (22) & 9
You’re right. End with 41. I didn’t subtract for the k2tog. Sorry!
Now that I’ve had my coffee…
Ingrid, I think you were right in the first place. Using a yo or yfwd before or after the k would add the 3 sts to end with 44. I’ve seen a video showing what I’m thinking and I hope I can find it again. Assuming (dangerous) that the pattern is correct in ending the row with 44 sts and that what we’re looking at is taken accurately from the pattern, then there must be 3 increases. Or I may be way out past left field.
I originally missed the k in the kyfwd. Off to look for a video.
How to Knit the Yarn Forward Round Needle Increase - yfrn ( English Style)
Maybe this video is pertinent.
Does the pattern have eyelets in the spots that call for the kyfwd?
I can see your logic about the 3 yfwd’s adding 3 stitches, but there are also 3 k2tog’s that will subtract 3 stitches. Also tullyfamily said that she starts with 41 stitches and that she’s reading, or interpreting, the directions to say 44 stiches. The pattern doesn’t actually say 44 stiches.
Julie, I counted and came up with 44 when the yo made 3 more sts. Now I come up with 43. You’re right, we don’t actually know exactly what the pattern says. We need to see the pattern I think. I should quit avoiding the necessary and just go do housework and get rid of some clutter. 
Here’s how I’m doing the maths for the stitch count:
K8COLOR=“Blue”, [/COLOR]k2togCOLOR=“blue”, [/COLOR]yfwdCOLOR=“blue”, [/COLOR](k9COLOR=“blue”, [/COLOR]k2togCOLOR=“blue”, [/COLOR]kfwdCOLOR=“blue” [/COLOR])2 timesCOLOR=“blue”, [/COLOR]k9COLOR=“blue”[/COLOR][COLOR=“Blue”]. (+n)[COLOR=“Black”]is the number of stiches that instruction places on the right needle[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=“Black”]So [/COLOR][COLOR=“Blue”]8 + 1 + 1 +(9 + 1 + 1) x 2 + 9
8 + 1 + 1 + (11) x 2 + 9
8 + 1 + 1 + (22) + 9
10 + (22) + 9
41[/COLOR]
Yes, I see how you’re counting it. Because the OP says
I’m a United States knitter & having trouble understanding the directions in European pattern
and yfwd is more or less the same as a U.S. yo and I found a video for something similar, I do think there will be increases in the middle. I don’t need to be right about this, it’s become sort of fun for me as a puzzle to be solved, but I really do want the OP to get it figured out. I know how frustrating these things can be. Either seeing the pattern or a picture of what it’s supposed to look like would be nice. Yo or yfwd increases would show up in a photo.
PS: I just woke up and remembered that you are English, (duh! you say so right in your sig) so if anyone will be able to suss it out it should be you. I’ve become so accustomed to seeing maths used where I use math that I didn’t even pause at it. Something should have clicked sooner.
Wow- you ladies are amazing! Thanks for the quick responses! Yes, it was YFWD. I thought that meant I had to yarn over & knit. If I just have to yarn over, my stitch count is good! Yahoo!
You got it? Wonderful!!! :woot: Oh, maybe not, now I have no excuse for not doing housework. Thanks a lot! 
Seriously, I want to see what it looks like so if you could, would you please post a photo? I’m :happydance: happy dancing for you.
One more thing: How do you do the KYFWD?
If you have 41 sts after the row then you’re good and you’re on your way with this sweater. Yes, the yfwd is just a yarn over in US terms. We lump yrn and yfwd together (not so precise but there you are) and just call them yarn overs, no knit sts involved.
Cute wrap!
http://www.knittingfever.com/c/sublime/book/1083/?pattern=12590
Starting with 41 stitches…
K8 - 1-8
K2tog - 9, 10 (dec 1)
yfwd - new st (inc 1)
K9 - 11-19
k2tog - 20, 21 (dec 1)
kfwd - new st (inc 1)
K9 - 22-30
k2tog - 31,32 (dec 1)
kfwd - new st (inc 1)
K9 - 33-41
You start and end with 41 sts. There are three decreases and three increases. Don’t count the increases as part of the original 41sts.
Pattern is going well! I’ll post a pic when I’m finished but for now, here is a pic of the pattern: http://www.knittingfever.com/c/sublime/book/1083/?pattern=12592
Don’t worry about missing the fact that I’m English and the math/maths thing. Over the past two days I’ve been hunting down minor details on invoices that the Accounts Department sent over to the office where I’m temping. So my thinking at the moment is “If I can see the little details, everybody else can see them.” Also, when I was at school I took, and passed, ‘O’ Level Mathamatics at 15 instead of the normal age of 16, so numbers and calculations don’t scare me. (‘O’ Levels, or GCSE’s as they are now, being the UK national exams for various subjects for 16 year olds.)