hi!

so, you can probably guess that i'm new to knitting. i rented a book from the library and i am having trouble making sense of the instructions. i am using douple-pointed needles.

i have figured out the first steps (casting on, splitting it across the needles, knitting the first row). BUT, i start to get caught up on this part:

Rnd 2: *k1, m1,* repeat around -- 18 stitches total

the first few tries, i got 24 total stitches, which to me makes sense because (1+1)12 = 24. i then tried only doing the alternation of "k1, m1" on each needle, which gave me 21 total stitches (4 knits with 3 makes).

i'm obviously missing something here, because i checked the author's website, and this pattern doesn't have any corrections listed. i eagerly await any help you may be able to offer!

you're starting out with 12 sts on your needles, right? If so, you're only making 1 every 2nd stitch, which means 6 make 1`s... so 12+6=18sts.

that's what doesn't make sense to me. how does "knit one, make one" = "make one between every other stitch"?

the way i'm doing this:
kkkkkkkkkkkk (before)
kmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkm (knit one, make one)

now I'm confused, too LOL I suck at math!

I'm sure one of the other girls will be able to figure it out when they see it. It's gonna drive me crazy, too, wondering how that's supposed to work out! Sorry I couldn't help!

Some pattern writers use `m1' to mean increase, not necessarily the m1 increase. So try k 1, kfb, k1, kfb... that should take youre 12 sts to 18.

Good info, Suzeeq! I just learned M1 on my last project, and it never would have occurred to me that the pattern was just asking for an increase (if it weren't specified in the instructions). I'd be nice if pattern writers tried to be consistent with their abbreviations (so us newbies can feel like we know what we're doing LOL)

Most designers who've been writing patterns for a while are consistent, or at least explain what they mean when they use a term. Some of the newer ones just put in what they're used to and it doesn't seem to occur to them that others may use the term differently. When in doubt, especially on increases, figure out how to get from the number you have to the number you need, and adjust accordingly. You can still use a M1 inc in this pattern, but it would then read k2, m1, k2, m1, etc....

thank you! this definitely helped me get past the anger & frustration phase :)