Help with chevron blanket

[Redpurple]

Can someone help me break down the first row in this pattern? I'm new to knitting. I'm confused about the ssk repeating from * to last 13 stiches and the 86 stiches. Thanks so much for your help!

K1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, ssk repeat from * to last 13 stiches, k10, k2tog, k1 (86 stiches)

[salmonmac]

Hi and welcome!
The repeat is of the directions in between the asterisks. So k1 ssk and then repeat the k10, k2tog, ssk until you get to the last 13sts, then follow the k10, k2tog, k1 directions. You'll have 86 sts total at the end of the row.

[Redpurple]

Thanks so much for your help! I think I get it...just to confirm, here is what I plan to do:

1. k1, ssk
2. k10, k2tog, ssk repeatedly until I count that I have 13 stitches left and then
3. k10, k2tog, k1.

I'll have 86 stitches total in this row.

Do I count the 86 as I go or at the end? And since there are 13 stitches in step 3 above and 2 stitches in step 1, does that mean there are 71 stitches in step 2?

[mojo11]

Thanks so much for your help! I think I get it...just to confirm, here is what I plan to do:

1. k1, ssk
2. k10, k2tog, ssk repeatedly until I count that I have 13 stitches left and then
3. k10, k2tog, k1.

I'll have 86 stitches total in this row.

Not exactly. You'll start step 3 with 13 stitches, but you'll only have 12 when you're done, because you're making 2 of them into one with the k2tog. So you'll have 72 stitches in step 2 -- or 6 repeats -- when you've completed the step.

Do I count the 86 as I go or at the end? And since there are 13 stitches in step 3 above and 2 stitches in step 1, does that mean there are 71 stitches in step 2?

Depends on how obsessive you are about counting things, I suppose. It really only matters when you finish the row. If you're worried about losing count in a repeat (Step 2 in your instructions) then you might count the stitches in the repeat.

[Redpurple]

I had the ah ha moment. Thanks! I'll post a pic when I done.

[salmonmac]

Actually, when you finish the steps that you've written out, you'll have 2, 12x6, and 12 sts for a total of 86sts
1. s1. k1, ssk 2
2. k10, k2tog, ssk repeatedly until I count that I have 13 stitches left and then 12x6
3. k10, k2tog, k1.12
It might help with the pattern in general if you use stitch markers (this cam be as easy as a loop of yarn) to mark off the repeats. Makes counting easier and also spotting any possible mistakes. Love to see the finished blanket!

[Marina1109]

I completely agree with stitch markers.

Sometimes, especially in the beginning of a pattern, you have to really concentrate on what you're doing.
Having stitch markers help in the event of a mistake.

I often have stitch markers at the end of each repeat until I can make out what the pattern/work looks like.
If I make a mistake somewhere I go back and count each repeat and find where my mistake is and fix it.

[mojo11]

I have to admit, I didn't like stitch markers much when I started out. I had enough trouble managing all that yarn and a couple of sticks and trying to keep all that together and DO stuff with it. I didn't want something else in the way.

BUT.

After having to back out of a cable twist a few times, I decided maybe the training wheels weren't so bad after all.

[Redpurple]

So where would you put the stitch markers? I'm thinking after step 2 (the repeat) and another one at the step 3 (the end of the row)?

Here's row 2 and the steps of how I read it: k6, *knit into front and back 2 times, k10, repeat from* to last 8 stitches, kfb 2 times, k6 (100 stitches)

(Wrong side)
Step 1: k6,
Step 2: *knit into front and back 2 times, k10, repeat from * to last 8 stitches
Step 3:kfb 2 times, k6

(100 stitches)

Where would you put the markers in row 2? After step 2 and another at step 3?

[mojo11]

So where would you put the stitch markers? I'm thinking after step 2 (the repeat) and another one at the step 3 (the end of the row)?

Here's row 2 and the steps of how I read it: k6, *knit into front and back 2 times, k10, repeat from* to last 8 stitches, kfb 2 times, k6 (100 stitches)

(Wrong side)
Step 1: k6,
Step 2: *knit into front and back 2 times, k10, repeat from * to last 8 stitches
Step 3:kfb 2 times, k6

(100 stitches)

Where would you put the markers in row 2? After step 2 and another at step 3?

I'd use markers at the beginning of each repeat and the end of the last repeat. But there's no "right" place to put them. Place them where they'll best help YOU remember what's coming up.

BUT. Since you're adding 2 stitches in each repeat in Step 2, if you want to mark all the repeats before you start the row, you'll have to put one after the first 6 stitches and then after every 12th stitch beyond that until you get through the 6 repeats. At that point you should have 8 stitches left in the row, so the beginning of step 3 is already marked by the end of the last repeat in step 2.