armhole shaping

[Namwan]

This is the pattern for shaping the armhole for the cardigan I'm making

Shape Raglan Armhole: Bind off 2(3-4-4) sts at beg of the next row, then p 1 row.
For size Small ONLY: Row 3 (RS): K3, KSP, k to end.
Row 4: Purl. Rep these 2 rows 20 times more.
For ALL sizes: AT THE SAME TIME, when 11(11-12-12) sts remain on needle and armhole measures 7-1/2(8-8-8-1/2)", end on RS.
Shape Neck (WS): Bind off 2(2-3-3) sts at beg of the next row then, continuing to work armhole decs, dec 1 st at neck edge EVERY row 5 times. Fasten off.

According to the pattern, I'm supposed to bind off when there are 11 stitches left. I did that, but now I don't know what to do next. It says on row 4 to repeat the decrease 20 times...when I had 11 stitches left I was on the 17th time. Am I supposed to continue with it after the bind off or what? And if so, how?

[JessicaSant]

I hate those "at the same time" instructions... especially when I forget to read ahead in the pattern and don't see them til I've passed the part they told me to do... but I digress.

So here's how I interpret this:
row1: bind of 2(3,4,4) sts at beg of this row
row 2: purl row
row 3: repeat row 1
row 4: repeat row 2
....
you'll do this until you have 11 sts left on the needle (the armhole should measure 7-1/2(8-8-8-1/2)" at this point -- you'lll continue to repeat rows 1 and 2 to make the armhole -- but you'll ALSO start shaping the neck.

so... you said you reached 11 stitches when you were on the 17th repeat -- which I guess would make it row 34?
row 35: repeat row 1
row 36: bind off 2(2-3-3), purl remaining sts
row 37: repeat row 1, decreasing 1 stitch @ neck edge
row 38: repeat row 2, decreasing 1 stitch @ neck edge
row 39: repeat row 1, decreasing 1 stitch @ neck edge
row 40: repeat row 2, decreasing 1 stitch @ neck edge
row 41: repeat row 1, decreasing 1 stitch @ neck edge
row 42: bind off all stitches

Hoepfully someone can verify my interpretation. But does that make more sense?

[Namwan]

When I decrease the one stitch at the neck edge, which stitch exactly do I decrease? Does it have to be the first stitch? Also, am I allowed to use any method of decreasing?

By the way, row 1 is supposed to be this : K3, KSP, k to end. , I think?

[JessicaSant]

I'd decrease the 1st or 2nd stitch on the neck edge. If it doesn't tell you specifically which method of decreasing to use, then you can pick. That being said -- check out Amy's decreasing page -- and pick a method of decreasing that will slope the way you want the neck to slope

By the way, row 1 is supposed to be this : K3, KSP, k to end. , I think?

Actually -- I think it says only do row 3 that way, and only if you're doing the size small... right?

[Namwan]

But doesn't it say here :

For size Small ONLY: Row 3 (RS): K3, KSP, k to end.
Row 4: Purl. Rep these 2 rows 20 times more.

So "these two rows" refer to rows 3 and 4?

[suzeeq]

Other than the decrease - which is only for size small - Row 3 is knit all stitches. Along with Row 4 - purl all stitches - repeating them would result in stockinette. It's oddly worded... are you supposed to do any decs if you're not making size small?

[Namwan]

Yes, you're supposed to do the decreases for other sizes too

But I'm still confused with the "at the same time" part :(

[suzeeq]

That part means that you will also BO for neck shaping while you are still decreasing at the armhole edge.

So, you'll do the arm edge decreasing, then when you have 11 sts and your armhole measures 8", you will BO 2 sts at the neck edge, and decrease there, and also continue to dec at the arm edge. At the same time = work on decs on both edges at the same time.

[Namwan]

Thanks Sue, but the problem is...

I get 11 stitches left on the 17th time on the RS, as the pattern says to end. What I have to do after this is

1) WS : bo 2 stitches --> 9 sts left
2) RS : continue with both arm and neck decreases

• arm decrease for the 18th time : K3, KSP, k to end = 8 sts left
• neck decrease : 7 sts left

3) WS : purl across, decreasing 1 stitch for neck : 6 sts left
4) RS : continue with both arm and neck decreases

• arm decrease for the 19th time : K3, KSP, k to end = 5 sts left
• neck decrease : 4 sts left

5) WS : purl across, decreasing 1 stitch for neck : 3 sts left
6) RS : continue with both arm and neck decreases

• arm decrease for the 20th time : K3, KSP, k to end = at this point, I'm not sure what to do since there are 3 stitches left and I cannot KSP after the third knitted stitch

[suzeeq]

Then I guess you're done. Or there's a part of the pattern you didn't write out...