Debbie Bliss Pattern - Shawl Collar confusion

[njcausey]

Pattern is from Book 4 - Essential Jacket - quoting from pattern:
"Shape Collar
1st row (rt side) Rib 128, turn
2nd row Rib 22 turn
3rd row Rib 24 turn
4th row rib 26 turn
Cont in this way for a further 34 turning rows, working an extra 2 sts, as before, on each row."

'As Before' Reference from previous instruction"
"Knit across 20 sts at back neck and inc 2 sts evenly, pick up and k 38....."

I began shaping, picking up a stitch at each end of the neck with each row - when all the way to the end and ended up with a giant collar very unlike the photo. I am wondering if I am supposed to add 2 stitches at each end?
Thanks for any light you can shed on this.
njcausey

[suzeeq]

The 'as before' instructions refer to just the short rows which are given, not all the way back to where you picked up sts for the collar. It just means to work 2 more sts in the section between the turns.

2nd row Rib 22 turn
3rd row Rib 24 turn
4th row rib 26 turn

Do you see that you work 22 sts before the turn, then on the next row it's 24 sts and turn, then 26 sts and turn? The following row you'd be working 28 sts, then 30 on the next row, and so on. You only work 2 more stitches between the turns, not add stitches between them by increasing.

[njcausey]

Yes, what you describe is what I did. I did not add any stitches, just worked more on each turn, but I still ended up with a very large collar and and ungraceful transition to rib front.

[suzeeq]

How is your stitch gauge on the collar? You might need to work it on smaller needles to make it a little smaller on the same number of stitches and rows. Or if it's too long, you can skip some of the later short rows and start knitting the longer rows sooner.

[salmonmac]

"I began shaping, picking up a stitch at each end of the neck with each row - when all the way to the end and ended up with a giant collar very unlike the photo. I am wondering if I am supposed to add 2 stitches at each end?"
Instead of one stitch at each end, you should be picking up 2 more sts from the resting sts at one end and adding them to the worked sts. This is what the pattern is calling for and it will work into the k2p2 rib more neatly.
That's not going to change the number of rows that it takes to incorporate all the required sts (one stitch at each end per row or two sts at one end).

[suzeeq]

Yes, you're just working 2 more sts at the end of each short row before you turn. This isn't going to increase the overall stitch count, just the number that you do in that section to taper the shape.

[njcausey]

and it all came out perfectly - so thank you both very much for responding to my cry for help.

[salmonmac]

Success! I'm delighted.

[suzeeq]

That's great!