Armhole shaping

[dianamh324]

Hi all,

I'm a long time crocheter and cross-stitcher and I've just started knitting. I've picked up all the how-to books I can and I think I'm ready to attempt my first sweater.

Reading through the pattern at Armhole Shaping it says:

"bind off 8 sts at beg of next 2 rows, 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows, dec 1 st each side every other row 2 times..."

What exactly is it telling me to do? The pattern has me starting with 110 sts and ending with 80 sts, -30 which is what I count for how many sts will be decreased. I'm interpretting it like I bind off 8 sts on one side of the row, turn and bind of another 8 sts, but that sounds like it would be odd (unsymetrical) and I wondered if I should bind of 4 on each side for 2 rows. This is so confusing. Won't it look odd if I bind off 8 at the start of one row and another 8 at the start of the next? I'm confused.

Thanks for any help.

Dianamh324

[suzeeq]

You can't do a bindoff at the end of a row, that's why patterns have you doing it over two rows at the beginning of the rows. It may look odd on just those two rows, but by the time you're done it won't be noticeable. So you BO 8, knit to the end of the row, turn and BO 8, and finish that row. That's 16 sts gone there. On rows 3 and 4 you BO 3 each, another 6 sts. Rows 5 and 6, BO 2 each, 4 more sts gone. Then the next row, you would dec (not BO) 1 stitch at either end, turn and work the WS row, and dec 2 on the RS row again. That should put you at 80 sts - 30 sts decreased.

[dianamh324]

Thank you very much Your explanation is what I was picturing... hopefully it won't be noticeable at the end, especially after attaching the sleeves.

Diana