Help Needed: Debbie Bliss pattern

[Peggy Ann]

Hello knitters, if someone would be so kind as to read this pattern and help me understand where to bind off I would be very grateful.
It's a Debbie Bliss pattern from the book "The Baby Knits Book" pattern is on page 87 "beaded fair isle cardigan" it's a yoked cardigan knit from the bottom up, the bottom is done in one piece and then you divide for the fronts and back.
So for the size I'm knitting (9 mo) you cast on 157 stitches, do a few rows of ribbing, switch to st st until piece measures 5.5".
Then here's where the "fun" starts:

157 stitches
Divide for Back and Fronts
Next row: knit 39, leave these stitches on a holder for right front, knit next 79 and leave these stitches on a holder for back, knit 39 to end
{this I can do, no problem}
Left Front
Work straight on last set of 39 stitches for 6 rows, so ending with a purl row
{this I find a little confusing because if I do 6 rows I would end on a knit row, not a purl row, no?}
Yoke Shaping
Bind off 6 stitches at beginning of next row, 3 stitches at beginning of 3 following alternate rows, then 2 stitches on 5 following alternate rows
{would one take this as binding off 6 stitches, 3 sts, 3 sts, 3sts, etc all on the same side of the piece, so bind off on alternate rows, but all on the knit side, for example? or do you bind off 6 on one side and then the 3, 3, 3 on the other side?}
Dec 1 stitch on every following alternate row until 7 stitches remain
{again, what???}
Continue straight until front measures 10.25 inches from cast on, ending at armhole edge
Shape Shoulder
Bind off
Back
With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to next stitch on back holder, purl 79
Work straight on these stitches for 6 rows
Yoke Shaping
Next row (right side) knit 33 stitches turn and work on these stitches
Bind off 3 stitches at beginning of next row, and 2 following alternate rows, then 2 stitches on 5 following alternate rows
{again, I'm confused about the "alternate rows"}
Dec 1 stitch on every following alternate row until 7 stitches remain
Continue straight until front measures 10.25 inches from cast on edge, ending at armhole edge
Shape Shoulder
Bind off
With right side facing, slip center 13 stitches onto a holder, rejoin yarn to remaining 33 stitches, knit to end
Purl 1 row
Complete to match first side
Right Front
With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to next stitch on right front holder, purl to end
Work straight on these 39 stitches for 6 rows
Yoke Shaping
Bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next row, 3 stitches at beginning of 3 following alternate rows, the 2 stitches on 5 following alternate rows.
Dec 1 stitch on every following alternate row until 7 stitches remain
Continue straight until front measures 10.25 inches from cast on edge, ending at armhole edge
Shape Shoulder
Bind off
Yoke
Join should seams …

I know this was a long post, if anyone can offer any help I would really appreciate it

thanks!

[Ingrid]

OK--You're going to be working on the left front. You're probably supposed to start this with a new ball of yarn and the center edge at the beginning of your row, and that's why 6 rows will have you ending with a purl row.

When you bind off the stitches, they always will be at the beginning of the rows--that would make them on the knit rows, which are the alternate rows (every other row).

Dec 1 stitch on 7 alternate rows would be to decrease at the same edge that you bound off--the neck edge.

Hopefully this will get you on your way.

[Peggy Ann]

Thanks for the speedy response Ingrid, but here's where I am still stuck
here's how the piece looks to to me when I look at it (right side facing)

left front ... back section ... right front

If I am binding off on the knit rows on the left front section, then my bind off edges will be between the left front and the back section and based on the picture of the finished garment (I know I didn't post the pic, sorry about that) it looks like most of the bind offs are on the left side of the left front, which would be on the purl rows,
but here's where I'm off because I don't know if that bind off 6 stitches part is supposed to be between the left and back section to allow room for the sleeve, so then the piece would look like this

VVVVVVVV
_ _ _ VVVVVVVV
VVVVVVVVVVVVV_ _ _ _ _ _ <divide>VVVVVVVVVVV
Left front............................ back section

or if it should be all the bind offs on one side like this
_ _ _ VVV
VVVVVVVV
_ _ _ VVVVVVVV
VVVVVVVVVVVVV
_ _ _ _ _ _VVVVVVVVVVVVV <divide> VVVVVVVVVVV
.............Left front ...........................back section
and then I would just have the divide to allow for the insertion of the sleeve,
have you ever knit a cardigan where the opening for the sleeves was just a divide between two sections, and you didn't bind off any stitches between the two sections?

I don't know, I love the sweater, it's beautiful, but the pattern is driving me nuts!

[Peggy Ann]

sorry, all those "typed" stitches aren't lining up right, but do you know what I mean?

[Ingrid]

I took a look at the sweaters posted on Ravelry, and I believe that the bind offs are at the front edge to create the curve of the yoke. It looks from the picture that you create the curve with the decreases on the fronts and back and then pick up stitches to work the yoke. Am I on the right track?

Left front
vvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

The rigth side will be bound off with the purls side facing you so the two curves form the curved front of the yoke.