help: decreasing a rib

[yuyay]

So I'm knitting my first sweater... and I'm stuck. I knew it would happen at some point! The problem is in the decreasing for the arms

The rib pattern is as follows:

Row 2:[k1, yo, sl the next st] repeat to end of row, ending with k1
Row 3:[p1, k the yo and slipped st tog] repeat to the end of row ending with p1
Repeat Row 2 and 3 throughout the entire work.

Now, to do the decrease, it says: p1, k1, p1, k2tog, work rib pattern until 5 sts remain, sl1, k1, psso, p1, k1, p1. Repeat this every other row altogether 4 times. (so 8 stitches total decrease)

Where I get lost is in the regular row in between. If I decrease one stitch on each side, it puts the ribs out of alignment. Am I missing something? Does this make sense?

Thanks for any help!
yuyay

[Ingrid]

When you decrease in rib, you can't just rely on the pattern after that to maintain the ribbing. You need to look at your work and knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you.

If you're not sure what comes next, look at the left needle. If there's a V there, knit it, if there's a bump, purl it.

[yuyay]

Thanks Ingrid. I did that for the rest of the row in between the decrease, but the next row is [k1, yo, sl the next st]. Thats where I'm confused. Normally for this row I'd be knitting the v then yo and sl the bump, but both the 4th and 5th are bumps, how do I work the yo into this? Or am I supposed to just p1, k1, p1, k1, until I pass the previous row's decrease and then start the rib pattern again?

[of troy]

1--this is not a standard rib, but a variation of the brioche stitch.

the brioche stitch (k1b) is OFTEN (MOST OFTEN) worked by
Knitting into stitch below (which causes upper stitch to unravel (and become a YO) and lower stitch (the one you knit into to stretch and become a slipped stitch)

the method you are using (YO + slip stitch in row A, Knit Yo +slip stitch together in row B creates the same effect!

2--when decreasing in ribbing, you'll always have to pick a 'break point' --a place where the ribbing breaks pattern

in this case, its after 3 stitches have been worked.

so it will look like this:

VvVvVvVvVvVvVvVvV (no decreases yet
VvVVvVvVvVvVVvV (bold=decrease..note 2 K's in together_
VvVVvVvVvVvVVvV (no decrease this row)
VvVvVvVvVvVvV.....(now decrease is in P--and ribbing patterns is established again.. (next decrease will once again have 2 Knits next to each other..

here is sort of how it looks.

(this is the crown of hat (not a sweater) and its standard ribbing (not brioche!) and its 2 X 2 ribbing.. but look at hat.. in 2 rows (rounds) there are actually 6 knits in a group! but it still looks like 2 X 2 ribbing.. (with a main RIB)
your Main rib will be in the seam (underarm or in shoulder of raglan --and isn't nice looking?

Look at the image of your sweater i bet it has a nice 'strong line' at the underarm (or in shoulder line of raglan)

[yuyay]

Just wanted to thank the both of you, Ingrid and of troy. It was a long day of trying to follow everything but I think I got it, or at least something that worked!
Thanks,
yuyay