First time using complicated pattern - PLEASE HELP!

[MariaLucia77]

I am working on a pattern for a "shrug". I've done the BACK, ARMHOLE & SHOULDER SHAPING, and now I'm up to shaping the armhole on the LEFT FRONT. Here's where I'm confused:

**Dec. 1 st. at armhole edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows and at the same time inc. 1 st. at front opening edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows, then on following 4th, 6th, and 8th rows. 13 sts.

I'm working in st. st.

Can anyone help me clear this up? I'd greatly appreciate it!

[Ingrid]

You're doing shaping on the armhole and neck edge at the same time

Row 1, 2 and 3 - dec one stitch at each edge

Then decrease at each edge or rows 5, 7, 9

Decrease only on the neck edge on rows 13, 19, and 27

You should have 13 stitches when your done.

[MariaLucia77]

I'm more confused now...where does the increasing come in????

[Ingrid]

There is no increasing in the parts you mentioned.

There is always decreasing at the arm edges and the neck edges or else your pattern will come straight up the front and sides.

This is one of the cases where you just follow the pattern.

Where do you think there should be increases?

[MariaLucia77]

and at the same time inc. 1 st. at front opening edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows, then on following 4th, 6th, and 8th rows. 13 sts.

I'm trying to write it out before knitting and it seems if I keep decreasing, I'll soon have no stitches left! I've only 10 to begin with....

Thank you for your help![/quote]

[Ingrid]

Quote:

and at the same time inc. 1 st. at front opening edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows, then on following 4th, 6th, and 8th rows. 13 sts.

I'm trying to write it out before knitting and it seems if I keep decreasing, I'll soon have no stitches left! I've only 10 to begin with....

Thank you for your help!

[/quote]

Then you've already got a problem, I think. After all these decreases, you should have 13 stitches on your needles, so should have something like 28 before you start these decreases. :thinking:

[MariaLucia77]

The step before has me ending with 10 sts. The entire left front is as follows:

Cast on 9 sts. Commencing with a K row, continue in st. st throughout as follows: Work 1 row.
Inc. 1 st. at beg. (front opening) of next row, finishing on a wrong side row. 10 sts.

Shape Armhole:
Cast off 2 sts. at beg. and inc. 1 st at end of next row. 9 sts.
Inc. 1 st at beg. of next row. 10 sts.

Then the bit I get confused: **Dec. 1 st. at armhole edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows and at the same time inc. 1 st. at front opening edge of next 3 rows, then on following 3 alt. rows, then on following 4th, 6th, and 8th rows. 13 sts.

It's a shrug, so the shoulders should be short.

I found an image on the web: http://www.angelyarns.com/images/wen...lg-book304.jpg
(the blue one on the right - tho mine is brown)

[Ingrid]

The only stitches you have 'live' are the 10?

I'm afraid I just don't get it. Where are the stitches at the neck edge and armhole edge? I wish I could be of more help here, but

[Jackie F.]

Let's say that you did do the increases per the directions on the neck edge. On rows 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 you'll always have 10 stitches since you're dec 1 and inc 1 in the same row. After doing only increases at the neck edge on rows 13, 19, and 27, you'll have 13 stitches.

What directions come after the ones you've given so far for the left front? Eventually you'll have to decrease at the neck, unless this is one of those weird-shaped shrug patterns.

[MariaLucia77]

Continue straight unitl Left Front armhole matches Back armhole to start of shoulder shaping, finishing on a wrong side row.

then: Shape shoulder
Cast off 4 sts. at beg. of next and following alt. row. Work 1 row. Cast off remaining 5 sts.

then onto Right Front.

THANKS!