the dreaded divide for VEE NECK

[salmonmac]

David, just to be clear. The decreases in the pattern are the decreases that they're talking about. After the 3x decreases, there should be instructions to "knit plain" or "knit even" in the armhole meaning without the armhole decreases. You should be doing just the one k2tog or p2tog at the armhole edge on each row.
Can you link to the pattern?

[DavidSydney63]

So - I've typed this out, before I begin so I get to the requisite number of sts, does this look right based on the pattern above?

Armhole edge = odd rows
Neck edge = even rows

1st row K2tog, K35, P6, C4F, P3, turn. 49
2nd row K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2 sts, P2tog. 48
3rd row K2tog, knit to last 15 sts, K2tog, P6, K4, P3. 46
4th row K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2 sts P2tog. 45
5th row K2tog K2tog, Kx, P6, C4F, P3 43
6th row P2tog K3, P4 K6, pur to last 2, P2tog 41
7th row K2tog K2tog, knit to last 15, K2tog, P6, K4, P3. 38
8th row P2tog K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2 sts P2tog. 36
9th row K2tog K2tog, Kx, P6, C4F, P3 34
10th row K2tog, Kx, P6, C4F, P3 33
11th row K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2, P2tog 32
12th row P2tog, K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2, P2tog. 30
13th row K2tog, K2tog, Kx, P6, C4F, P3 28
14th row K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2 sts, P2tog 27

Continue without shaping until armhole measures same as Back to beginning of shoulder shaping, working last row on wrong side

[suzeeq]

Armhole edge = odd rows
Neck edge = even rows

No they're edges and there's an edge on both the odd and even rows.

Starting with row 5 do not do a dec on the armhole edge, only the neck edge. If you continue to dec on the armhole it will look like the V neck and after 4 rows of decs it should be straight up - look at the picture. The neck decs will also only be every other row, and you have them on every row.

Lets try it another way -
1, rs - dec, work across
2, ws - work across, dec at end
3, rs - dec at beg, work across, dec, cable sts
4, ws - cable sts, purl, dec at end of row
5, rs - knit across, dec, cable sts,
6, ws - cable sts, purl
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until you have 36 sts. Then only dec at the neck edge every 4th row on the RS.
If you could link to the pattern, that would help us make sure you're interpreting it correctly.

[DavidSydney63]

Here's the pattern, scanned and shrunk to the the tiny size allowed here ...

[suzeeq]

Ok thanks. See where it says to dec at armhole edge every row 3 times? Those are the only decs you do at the armhole edge; that will be on rows 1, 2, and 3, there is no dec at that edge on row 4 for your size. It's okay if you do it just the first time, one stitch may not matter, but not after that.

Do not do the k2tog at the beg of rows 1 and 3, or the p2tog at end of row 2 after the first time. Just do the decs at the neck edge only, every other row, beginning with row 5. Then work the sts as they appear though, stockinette on the outer edges, dec on RS row, then the cable pattern at the neck.

[DavidSydney63]

I'm now hopelessly confused :-(

[suzeeq]

<chuckle> I wish I could draw it out for you.... At least you're still happy. Let's try some detail for you.

row 1 - K2tog, K35, P6, C4F, P3, turn.
row 2 - K3, P4, K6, purl to last 2 sts, P2tog.
row 3 - K2tog, knit to last 15 sts, K2tog, P6, K4, P3.
row 4 - K3, P4, K6, purl to end of row

row 5 - knit to last 15 sts, k2tog, P6, C4F, P3, turn.
R6, K3, P4, K6, purl to end of row
R 7, knit to last 15 sts, K2tog, P6, K4, P3.
R 8, K3, P4, K6, purl to end of row.

Repeat rows 5 - 8 until you have the 36 sts, then do the dec every 4th row. By the time you get that far, it'll be easier to see than trying to work it out on paper or in your head.

[DavidSydney63]

you know what? in some ways patterns would be easier if they were laid out on graph paper, yes?

gawd!

thanks to all for their help and support!!

[salmonmac]

You're right and some patterns are charted, even for decreases. Believe me, the charts have their own problems. You could chart this pattern out if it would help you visualize the decreases on each edge, neck and armhole.

[suzeeq]

Many people do chart out the decreases on patterns that have cables and lace. It is easier to see that way. Glad the light dawned for you...