Manly Sweater...shaping on front **Update** Please help!

[gamerchik]

Hi there! I'm working on the Manly Sweater again, and now I'm ready to shape the neck and shoulders for the front piece. Here are the instructions:

Left side: *Work 48 sts, ssk, turn. Place rem sts on a holder. Dec 1 st at neck edge every other row 11 times then every third row 2 times.

At the same time, when the armhole measures 8.5", work shoulder shaping: BO 8 sts from shoulder edge 4 times. Break off yarn.

Right side: With WS facing, join yarn to shoulder edge and work as for left side from *.

Here is my interpretation:

Left side:

Row 1: *Work 48 sts., ssk, turn. Place rem sts on a holder.
Row 2: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 3: Work even.
Row 4: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 5: Work even.
Row 6: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 7: Work even.
Row 8: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 9: Work even.
Row 10: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 11: Work even.
Row 12: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 13: Work even.
Row 14: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 15: Work even.
Row 16: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 17: Work even.
Row 18: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 19: Work even.
Row 20: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 21: Work even.
Row 22: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 23: Work even.
Row 24: Work even.
Row 25: Dec 1 st at neck edge.
Row 26: Work even.
Row 27: Work even.
Row 28: Dec 1 st at neck edge.

(When when the armhole measures 8.5", incorporate the shoulder shaping along with the decreases: BO 8 sts from shoulder edge 4 times. Break off yarn.)

Right side:

Right side: With WS facing, join yarn to shoulder edge and work as for left side from *.

Can you awesome ladies and gentlemen let me know if I've interpreted the instructions correctly? I just have to have it all written out, step by step, so I understand it clearly, lol.

I have one other quick question:

The instructions for the front (up to the neck/shoulder shaping) were as follows:

"Work as for back and armholes to **. Work even until work measures 4" from beg of armholes"

It doesn't say whether or not to end on a RS or WS row -- so how do I know which side to start the shape neck/shoulders on?

Thanks in advance for all of your help! :D

[shan]

Hi Gamerchik,

Looks like you're on the money there!

Normally shaping starts on the right side, so I would finish on the wrong side if I were you.

Best of luck.

Shan

[gamerchik]

Thanks, Shan!!!

I wasn't sure about which side to start on because the decreases for the armholes actually started on the WS, but it specified that's where I should be (it told me to end the color pattern on a WS row, work 1 row even, then begin the armhole shaping). For the front, though, it doesn't say anything at all about RS or WS, so of course I just sit there wondering what to do, lol.

[gamerchik]

Okay, something is wrong -- I have 4 stitches remaining when I'm supposed to break off the yarn, but I can't see where I would have made a mistake -- in fact, it seems like I'm supposed to have four left, but that doesn't make any sense.

According to the instructions, I would have started with:

49 stitches (work 48, SSK, turn)

Then, there are 13 decreases, so I should have:

36 stitches

Then, I'm supposed to BO 8 stitches, 4 times, which means I should have:

4 stitches left

What is going on? I am so frustrated and confused!

[suzeeq]

Does the pattern indicate that you should be binding off all sts? Look ahead and see if you use the 4 sts for the neckband or collar.

[gamerchik]

The pattern says nothing about binding off all stitches. It says BO 8 stitches 4 times, break yarn. There are 4 stitches still on the needle (as it seems there SHOULD be), and I don't know what to do.

I was supposed to start this step with 99 sts, which I did. I knit 48, ssk, turned, put the rest on a holder. There are 49 stitches on the holder -- so how am I supposed to "knit 48, ssk, turn", for the right side, when I would need 50 stitches to do that? That's another problem!

What do I do with these extra stitches? I am so frustrated right now. I have looked ahead, and the only instructions for the neckband are as follows:

"With RS facing, B and smaller needle, pu and k 35 sts up right front, 4 sts down back neck, 27 sts from back holder, 4 sts up back neck, 35 sts down left front - 105 sts.

Beg with p1 on WS, work k1, p1 rib for 6 rows. BO loosely in pattern. Sew down one edge of neckband to the inside of the neck shaping, then overlap the other neckband edge and sew it to the outside of the neck shaping."

Help me!