Pattern Confusion

chaoscrdntr · 02-24-2008, 11:10 PM

Hello everyone! I am fairly new to knitting. I have the basic stitches down, made a few scarves. So I thought I was ready for a real pattern. I picked a pretty shawl from elann.com website called SUN RAY SHAWL IN PEGASUS. The link is http://elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=237024. It is one of the free patterns listed in case the link won't work.

My problem is understanding how to work the additional rows it requires. How do I know how many times to knit the repeat each row. I tried counting the total stitches and dividing them out. That didn't work. I tried to look at the work and figure out where the pattern should go. That didn't work. I am fairly sure this should be a simple process, but for now I am not getting it. Looking at this, can anyone help???

Here is the body part of the pattern...

All even number rows: K3, p to the last 3 sts, k3
From * to * is a 10 stitch repeat.

R 15: k3, yo, k4, *(k3, yo, k1, ssk, k4)*, K4, yo, K1, yo, k4, *(k4, k2tog, k1, yo, k3)*, k4, yo, k3

R 17: k3, yo, k1, ssk, k3, *(k3, yo, k2, ssk, k3)*, k3, yo, k1, yo, K1, yo, k1, yo, k3, *(k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k3)*, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k3

R 19: k3, yo, k3, ssk, k2, *(k3, yo, k3, ssk, k2)*, k3, yo, k2, yo, K1, yo, k2, yo, k3, *(k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k3)*, k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k3

(the pattern is specific and goes through 34 rows then says...)

Repeat chart 2, row 15-34 five to six times for the desired length, working additional sts into pattern repeats as established.

I have made it through the first set, now have to do the repeat... Don't have a clue how to make it work. Help anyone???

fibrenut · 02-25-2008, 04:38 AM

Hiya chaos,
K hun, do you see those funky looking charts #1 and #2?
Now do you see those groups of stitches in the blue boxes?
Those are your repeats or on the written pattern it's the part that's between the *'s.
You are going to repeat rows 15-34 for your pattern lengthwise, and the stitches in the blue box for the repeats widthwise.
At the beginning and the end of each 15-34 repeat just follow the chart and it shows you how to incorporate those extra stitches.

chaoscrdntr · 02-25-2008, 05:16 AM

Thank you for responding so quickly!

I haven't knitted anything from a chart yet, so I am not real comfortable. I think I do get the basics though. I can read it up to row 33- it is the same as the written directions, but then what?

Do I pretend the pattern continues up the page? I thought about using some graph paper and working it out on a hard copy... I may be making this too hard, but I am having difficulty visualizing the continuation of the pattern.

Should I get some graph paper, or is there an easier way for beginners?

Thanks!

suzeeq · 02-25-2008, 05:19 AM

I'm doing this one too, but using the written instructions. Every time you start over on Row 15, you repeat what's between the ** as many times as you need to get to the middle, then to the end. This is where you should mark the middle stitch so you know where you are. I think the first time through you repeat the 10 sts between ** 3 times, then it may be 6, then 9 the next two repeats. I'm not sure how many times I've repeated, but it doesn't matter. Just follow the instructions (or chart) line by line and it works out.

It may help you to print out the text instructions - leave a blank line between each row and mark the rows 15-33 (don't forget row 34 is a WS row) each time you go through them.

fibrenut · 02-25-2008, 05:23 AM

Thank you suz, you are a lifesaver.

chaoscrdntr · 02-25-2008, 05:32 AM

Okay, I see my first problem- I don't have a middle stitch marked. I can go back and do that.

If I understand, for knowing the number of times to repeat *sts*, my middle marker is on the K1 stitch, so it should stay in the middle of the garment all the way up... It sounds like that is easier that what I was trying to do.

I am going to give it a shot...

Thank you both for your help!

suzeeq · 02-25-2008, 06:09 AM

That's right. The shawl is divided into 2 mirror images on either side of the center st (that's why it's written in a capital to show it's different - K1, the others are k1). After you've gone through the pattern repeat, you'll get the hang of it. Though I found with this one, I have to mark each row as I finish it; when I put it down I get confused as to where I'm at. And I know how to read patterns and my knitting. This one I just haven't been able to `intuit' as easily as others.

chaoscrdntr · 02-29-2008, 03:24 AM

Just wanted to say thanks to fibrenut and suzeeq!

Marking the middle made all the difference in the world. I am flying along now!