aran toque slipping and following chart

[candy]

http://floryknits.com/fp-arantoque.html This is my pattern, at first I thought what am I getting into but after I analysed it I think I got it except for a couple of things. First, it says at the botton of the first page slip all first stitches. but the first stitch on row 2 is Knit2tog, then knit the first st again, drop both sts tog. on the simple braid row 2 I am to make a cable with the first st. How can I slip these stitches? Second, it says row 1 of chart is the right side but row 1 for the twist, simple braid, and five-fold braid is the wrong side. How can that be? And finally, it is to fit a 20" head but it says to keep working in pattern until 22 inches. Won't it slide down? Should it be 19" so it is snug? Oh, one more question. Do I work the chart from right to left on row 1 and left to right on row 2? Can someone help me with all these questions?

[knitqueen]

http://floryknits.com/fp-arantoque.html This is my pattern, at first I thought what am I getting into but after I analysed it I think I got it except for a couple of things. First, it says at the botton of the first page slip all first stitches. but the first stitch on row 2 is Knit2tog, then knit the first st again, drop both sts tog. on the simple braid row 2 I am to make a cable with the first st. How can I slip these stitches? Second, it says row 1 of chart is the right side but row 1 for the twist, simple braid, and five-fold braid is the wrong side. How can that be? And finally, it is to fit a 20" head but it says to keep working in pattern until 22 inches. Won't it slide down? Should it be 19" so it is snug? Oh, one more question. Do I work the chart from right to left on row 1 and left to right on row 2? Can someone help me with all these questions?

The actual pattern instructions start at the bottom where you do a temporary cast on of 48 stitches. Everything prior to that is explanation of the chart. The part that you're looking at where it says Row 2: knit2tog, then knit the first stitch again, drop both stitches together. isn't actually row 2 of the chart. It just right side rows of the 'T2' portion of the chart. On the chart itself, row 2 is the second row from the bottom, reading left to right because you are working a wrong side row. So it actually starts with two knit stitches (the gray shaded squares are purls on the right side rows and knits on the wrong side rows). So the entire row 2 of the chart, written out step by step would be exactly the same as what's called the 'set up row' in the instructions. In fact, ALL wrong side rows will be exactly the same as that.

So you will be able to slip every first stitch without problems because none of the rows will begin with anything other than a knit or a purl stitch.

And just to clarify about charts in general - if you are working 'flat' (ie. not in the round) as you are in this pattern, all right side rows are read right to left and all wrong side rows are read left to right.

[candy]

I think I got it. you tell me. First I do the set up row(wrong side) then I work first row of chart right to left. I do the set up row every alternate row(I don't need to follow the chart just do the set up row)? when I am doing row one of the chart I am doing row 2 of T2 and row 2 of B6 and row 2 (5FB) then I do a set up row. On row 3 of the chart I do row2 of (t2) and row 4 of (B6) and row 4 of (5FB) then set up. then row five of the chart I do row 2 (T2) then row 2 of (B6) and row row 6 of (5FB) Do I have it or am I still not getting it. How do I keep track of the rows if the chart and patterned row are off like that.

[knitqueen]

Take a look at the 'set up row' and take a look at every even numbered row on the chart. They are the same. So you don't have to think of it as doing a set up row, just follow the chart.

Aside from that, I think you may be analyzing it a bit too much and you're having a hard time visualizing how it will go. ALL of the cable stuff will happen on right side rows, including the 'T2' twist.

What you might benefit from is practicing on each cable panel seperately first so you can visualize it better and see how it is all supposed to fit together. Then proceed with the actual instructions once you are comfortable with the individual parts.

Take it one step at a time, and you'll get the furthest if you actually cast on and start instead of just trying to figure it out 'on paper'. You can do this!!!

[candy]

Thanks for your help I have just started and I forgot to slip the first provisional cast on so I went back. Luckily I was only half done the first row.

[knitqueen]

Let us know how it goes.