confusing repeat/parenthesis in pattern, plus revision?? -- HELP!

[missm88]

Ok, I thought I could figure this out. But after ripping out all of my stitches 6 times, I admit failure and ask for your help!

simple (haha, right!) scarf pattern calls for:

CO 15
each row is : k1 (p1,k1)*
BO

but, I am not getting a staggered seed pattern, just a weird, wonky-looking ribbing.

I cast on 15. done. Then, I knit 1, purl 1, knit 1 to the end, except for the last stitch, which I knit 1.

Question 1: What am I doing wrong??

AND, since I will have to re-do the darn thing (again), I would like to make it wider. I can CO extra stitches, but in how many multiples? 5? 3? Does it matter??

so frustrated...

Thanks in advance!

[suzeeq]

Since the 15 sts is an odd number when you do k1 p1 across, the last stitch would have to be a k1. Make sure you actually have 15 sts - a cast on number includes the first loop or slip knot, so if you're not counting it and casting on 15 more, then you'd have 16 sts. Oh! You might be including that first knit one in the repeat - k p k k p k k p k - which isn't correct. It should be k p k p k p k and so on, alternating knits and purls. Only repeat what's in ().

Any odd number will do to make it wider - 19, 23, or whatever. This isn't a staggered seed stitch, it's just a regular seed st pattern.

[missm88]

Thanks so much SuzeeQ! I was including the first k1 in the repeat. I wonder why didn't the pattern just read (k1, p1)*?? the first k1 threw me off.... i think....

counting is hard... haha

[suzeeq]

I wonder why didn't the pattern just read (k1, p1)*??

Cause then you'd wonder what to do with the last stitch...