Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Stuck... (help?) this pattern is confusing...

OK folks - I really need your help! I'm working on the "MEDIUM" (or second) size of this snowflake sweater... I'm on row 19 of the chart (row 14 was the last row before decreasing, row 15 and 16 were "bind off 6" rows, and row 17 and 18 were "bind off 4" rows... (which finishes me at the end of the "Shape top:" portion of the instructions below) BTW in the "Shape Top" section, I woul d have ended with 69 stitches...
I'm stuck with the 1st row and 2nd row instructions- the thing that's frustrating me about patterns in general is the "word problem" quality they seem to have... saying things like "do "x" 4 times, every 3rd odd row"... or whatever... it is soooooo confusing - and since I'm working a chart, and the chart is patterned (see below) I don't really understand where I am supposed to do what... now I do notice in the photo on the cover of the book that this pattern comes from, that there appears to be a few stitches of solid white where the sleeve and front attach, but I don't see that in the chart and while I know it's hinted at in the instructions, I don't know what I'm doing... so I'm asking for your help!


here's the chart - If you know how to decipher this and think you can explain it to me, I'd love you forever! :) - I am thinking that I do the "with A, K2, K2tog" while ignoring those stitches in the chart - and then just continuing the chart as it's written until the end... and at that part, I "with A, sl 1, K1, PSSO" like the pattern says... again, ignoring the last 3 stitches in the chart... but I want to be sure (because I don't know if I could rip back very easily in this chart!)
Here's where I am so far - I'm SO excited about this and can't wait to finish this sleeve - I hope to hear from some of my expert friends on here that might be able to offer help :)
I love how it's turning out and I WISH I knew what I was doing... but since this is literally the first time I have tried to read a chart, I don't think I'm doing too bad... I am hoping to get to finish the sleeve tonight... if you have suggestions, please let me know :)
Thanks for your help! - Happy December 12th!

7 comments:

carla said...

OK, first, breathe. A pattern is just a guideline, and nothing bad is going to happen if a stitch or two is lost in translation.

That said, I think you have interpreted it correcltly and I'd do as you said, decreasing at either end and continuing the chart pattern in the middle.

See, you know exactly what you're doing!

Beautiful sweater, by the way.

Unknown said...

I think that you're interpreting it right and that once you do it and see the pattern you'll be, like, "D'oh!!".

The K2, k2tog are the 3 "dot" stitches, then you'll have 2 grey sts etc, to the end, your last 3 sts being 2 dot sts (s1 k1 psso - which I would do as a ssk, but that's just me - and k1) and a grey one (k1).

I hope that I haven't made it even more confusing!! Deep breaths & be one with the sweater.

Janice Rosema said...

It looks great and you seem to be doing all the right things. Sometimes, with charts, you just have to read and trust. I agree about the breathing too, otherwise you will stress out and become totally confused. Besides, it is just yarn and if you make a boo-boo, you can fix it. No problems. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Ok, I cannot speak against the Goddesses of Knitting, but look at the wordings, it says, "Chart II includes first and last 4 stitches for RS and 3 sts for WS worked with A." Doesn't that mean that you would work the decreases within the chart??? That's my instinct.

Anonymous said...

Good luck. I am of no use in a tutorial situation. Fair isle scares me. Kudos for taking the risk. I'm off to my "stockinette in the round" project. I hope you still like me anyway.

Charles said...

Hey Kyle~~

I hope you find the way to fix...

I just want to say have a great Merry Christmas!

Great Wishes and Hopes...

Love,

Charles

Anonymous said...

hi kyle! bumped into your blog last night--love it! i am a GWM, 15 year relationship, knitting 25+ years off and on, spinning 16 years, dabble in weaving. my patner and i have a rescue kitty too! would love to email you, but i don't have a blog or myspace page. can you email me? chrisinvermont at comcast dot net maybe delete this email address after you get it? we live in vermont, but were in san diego last month, then train trip to portland, oregon. love to you and gregg! chris