Hi all,
I'm very new to knitting and I want to take on a *very*ambitious project. Right out of the gate I need help with understanding how to do these increases.

The pattern is the Comfort Shawl posted in kniting daily and can be found here:

Comfort Shawl pattern in PDF format can be downloaded from here (http://www.knittingdaily.com/register/reg_confirm.html?pattern_title=Comfort+Shawl&pattern_category=shawls_stoles&pattern_file=Comfort_Shawl.pdf&pattern_author=Sandi+Wiseheart)

Towards the beginning of the neckband section, the pattern reads: 'Skipping the first slipped selvedge st closest to the needle, *wyf, insert right needle from back to front under both legs of next slipped selvedge st, wrap yarn around needle as if to purl and draw up a purl st onto right needle; rep from * 25 more times - 26 sts picked up and purled from selvedge of piece....'
So what is meant by "both legs" when refering to the next stitch? :?? I'm starting out with 7 stitches, how does it become 33?:shrug: I know that it says that I PU 26 stitches and that along with the original 7 is 33, but how do you turn 7 stitches into 33? :eyes:

Any help is greatly appreciated,

DAS

The picked up stitches count as stitches so that you end up with the 33.

With this pattern, you knit the 7 sts for rows, then pick up the stitches along one side. By slipping the selvedge stitch you create 26 `chain' stitches along the edge. So you insert your needle into each `chain' . That gives you 33 sts. Then you take off the provisional cast on and knit those 7 stiches for a total of 40.

Sue,
Thanks for the reply - but can you dumb it down a bit? - WAY DOWN...

Thanks,
DAS

What part don't you understand? I have to leave for work now, but look up slipping the first st on each edge, and picking up stitches.

Also, just try doing it step by step -- CO the 7 sts, k 52 rows (I left out the 52 above, sorry) slipping the first st of each row. That should keep you busy for a bit. Then look at the video for picking up stitches. Sometimes it's easier to follow the directions with the needles and yarn instead of in your head. It makes more sense if you have something in your hand.

Have you looked at this video? http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/misc.php

As you put your needle through the stitches and wrap the yarn you are actually creating stitches that weren't there before.

Sue and Lisa,
Thanks for all the help. The problem was that I didn't fully understand the term selvedge as it applied here. :?? I'm VERY happy to tell you that I'm currently on row 29 and it ain't looking all that bad. My guage can be a bit more even, but that will come in time. I should have been almost done with this thing, but I kept on froging the darn piece because of mistakes I was finding in my knitting. I since started using a lifeline every 6 rows and haven't had to rip-it since - go figure. :shrug:

Anyway thanks again for all your help.
:guyknitting: