It isn't working out right!

Lin · 06-26-2008, 11:33 PM

Hi, As you can see, I sent in a request for help earlier today....Well, it isn't working out right! This pattern is a real pain in the neck....can anyone decipher it a different way besides the obvious?? I cast on 111 and I should have 93 sts after finishing the first row (which I have redone at least 5 times already..):
Row 1: K1 ssk, *k9,sl2,k1,p2sso, rep from *, end k9, k2tog, k1.
Now I followed the way it was suggested in my earlier thread....it doesn't work out....and I'm getting tired and this isn't fun....

KniftyKnitterGal · 06-27-2008, 05:15 AM

If you tried many times, then i think the person who did the pattern wrote it wrong. Is there anyway you can contact the person who did the pattern?

Knit4Pie · 06-27-2008, 05:17 AM

Just out of curiosity, what do you end up with?

I read this pretty much as how was described before (I'll start from start of row):

k1, ssk (sl, sl, k2tog from right needle), *k9, sl2 (slip 2 sts), k1, p2sso (either individually or together), rep from *, end k9, k2tog, k1

I get that you repeat from * 8 times

k1, ssk (becomes 2sts) *k9, sl2, k1, p2sso repeated 8 times (becomes 80sts), k9, k2tog, k1 (becomes 11sts) = 2+80+11 = 93sts

Lin · 06-27-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to help me! I don't think the pattern is written incorrectly...although I would like to believe that! This pattern has been giving me trouble all along...I've been to the nearby knitting store a few times..lol..but with gas being so expensive, I hate to keep making the trip! Anyway, I will try it again...obviously I'm doing something wrong....One of the last times I pulled everything out, I had 95 sts....so I guess I'm getting close....Thank you again for the replies everyone!

P.S. I hope that someday I am a good enough knitter to be able to reply to someone's request for help!!!

Knit4Pie · 06-27-2008, 02:17 PM

One of the things I do when I have a troublesome row like that, or when there are lots of repeats, is for a little while, I obsessively count back at each repeat. For example, in the repeating part, after the k9, I'd count back to be sure it REALLY IS 9. You'd be surprised how often my count would be off by 1 in situations like those! If it's an isolated row that you don't have to do again, it'll be done...if it's a row that repeats, after a while you'll kind of 'get into it' and it won't cause you as much trouble.

One thing if you do have to do this row over and over is to make sure you have LIFELINES!! Just in case, you know.

Lin · 06-27-2008, 02:22 PM

What is a "lifeline"?

suzeeq · 06-27-2008, 03:17 PM

You may be doing just a sl 1, k1, psso instead of slip 2, k1, psso, or didn't knit the 2 sts together on ssk. With the row on your needle, look back at the beginning and count each st -
k1, ssk (2 sts) *k9, sl2 k1, p2sso (another 10 sts, so you should have 12), etc, all the way across to find out where you goofed.

Knit4Fun · 06-27-2008, 03:20 PM

For me, if a pattern has that many stitches across, it can be helpful to write it out to see the math. Nerdy, perhaps, but it can help!

Knit4Pie did a great job explaining above...I'd print that out or sit in front of it and do exactly like her math shows and then count the stitches and see what you come up with...

Good luck!

Debkcs · 06-27-2008, 03:44 PM

A life line is a piece of contrasting yarn that you put in a row that you like, usually as you knit it, so that if you have to frog a later row, it's easier to figure out where you are.

If you are using circular needles like Denise or Options, you can just attach the yarn at the join of the needle to the cable and pull it through with you.

This can save your sanity.

Lin · 06-27-2008, 04:38 PM

Hi! Again thanks for all who replied and helped me! I actually got it! I did print out the directions given to me...And it is not nerdy to write out the instructions! I have pages of instructions that I have written out...it does take a bit more time initially, but I find it a heck of lot easier to do it like that in the long run! These instructions in the pattern are not written in the easiest wording....That is why it is taking me soooooo long to complete this "summer" sweater. I'm knitting it in red, so I was hoping to wear it for the 4th....no such luck....lol....I completed the back of the sweater (it is the chevron stitch) and wrote all the instructions out explicitly thinking that it would be the same for the front and I would breeze right through....WRONG!! What is funny is that I did the stitch that I just wrote about for the back....but, completely forgot what I did when I had to do it for the front! Now, I have printed out and written notes in case I'm crazy enough to make another one! It is a very nice sweater and would make a nice gift though!! Thanks a milliion to all!