Help with Pattern/Pickup sts

[knittylongstock]

Hi - I'm new to the forums - and was hoping someone could please help me out how to start square two of this lap blanket i'm trying to knit? :XX:

Here is the pattern I'm following:

THROW
Square 1: With straight needles, using A, cast on 41 sts.
Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Row 3 (Right Side Row): K19, k3 tog, k19 – 39 sts.
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: K18, k3 tog, k18 – 37 sts.
Row 6: Knit. In this manner, continue to dec 2 sts in center of every other row until 3 sts remain, end when you have just completed a wrong side row. K3 tog and fasten off.
Square 2: With RS facing, using E, pick up and k20 sts along left edge of square 1, then cast on 21 sts – 41 sts. Knit 1 row then, beg with Row 3, complete same as for square 1. Continue in this way to make 2 more squares, using colors F then B, so that you have a row of 4 squares as shown at bottom of Color placement chart.


Ok so I completed Square 1 and my question is on the underlined part of square 2. Hopefully I can explain what I don't understand....Am I suppose to pick up 20 stitches on one side of square and then cast on the remainding 21sts so that the squares are even or so that the 21 cast on stitches are hanging off? And if the 21sts are even than am i only picking up 20 sts so that its just half way across the square?

Here is the direct link to the berroco pattern which shows a picture of it.
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/mu_shu/mu_shu_D.html

I appreciate any help.

Thanks so much!!

[Ingrid]

The picture makes all the difference! At first I couldn't understand what was going on. I think that since this is the first square, you will be casting on those 21 st "in mid air". Check farther along in the pattern. Later on, will you be picking up those stitches on formerly completed squares? If so, this makes sense.

My mantra is--just follow the directions exactly as they appear, and it will work out. :D

[knittylongstock]

Thank you for the reply - but then its not making a square - i have one square and then then a second larger than the other - i don't understand how that works out to all come out looking even. am i making any sense?
Thanks again for your help.

[knittylongstock]

and if the first square is 41sts along the edge how come i am only picking up 20 of them and casting on the remainder and not just picking up the whole side.


sorry for all the questions

I appreciate the help!

[Ingrid]

From what I get from the pattern is that the st you are picking up are for square two. Because the squares are not lined up in straight lines, at some point you'll pick up the half of square one and half of another square and the corner of that square will fit in there. This is why you're only picking up half the stitches and casting on. Its hard to explain it exactly without actually having it here in front of me, and I could, after all be wrong, but it makes sense to me to follow the directions and I think it will become clearer as you get further along.

[knittylongstock]

Thank you Ingrid again for your replies - good thing I am practicing on some cheapie yarn before i spend the money on the good stuff. I will try to make a few more squares and then see how it turns out! :D

[Ingrid]

Thank you Ingrid again for your replies - good thing I am practicing on some cheapie yarn before i spend the money on the good stuff. I will try to make a few more squares and then see how it turns out! :D

Excellent idea!