my stitch numbers don't add up?!

[golgotha]

hi I'm new to he forum and to following patterns for knitting.

I have been finding following the instructions OK but the project I'm doing my numbers don't add up at the end of the line.

Start

Cast on 12sts and 2 rows stocking stitch

1st inc row - K1, (inc1) three times, K3, (inc 1) three times, K2 [18st]

now am i being stupid or does that not add up right. to break this down I'm
knitting 1
including 1
including 1
including 1
knitting 1
knitting 1
knitting 1
including 1
including 1
including 1
knitting 1
knitting 1

that leaves 6 still on my needle to be knitted and would make 18 if I did nothing with them.

also later on another piece again 12sts cast on then

1st inc line - (inc1, inc1, k1) to end [20sts] again when I do this to end I get more then 20 as for ever stitch you add 2 meaning 36!

I am deserate to understand where I'm going wrong......

Please help!

thanks

[mwhite]

Very strange directions....
What do they mean by "incl" 1 stitch? How do you do that?

And on the "inc", do they mean to do a Yo or a M1?

[golgotha]

I don't know, I have been using an M1 as it's the easiest (especially as later they start a line with (inc 1, in1, K1) before doing a stitch.

I have added the link if it helps as I may just be being really stupid - plus if anyone has kids/OH who are gamers they may like it!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2056598.ece

[Plantgoddess+]

I've heard that Alan Dart patterns can be difficult. The only way I can make sense of the 1st increase row would be to use the 2nd increase row as your 1st increase row. I count 18 stitches in the 2nd row. Then if you look at the 3rd increase row it seems to add up to 24 stitches.

[mwhite]

Okay, figured it out!

What you'll need to do is knit into the front and back of a stitch instead of using a M1. Amy has an explanation/video in the glossary. (look at the top of the KH page and click on "Glossary". Otherwise, kfb, means to knit into the next st, twisting it around and knitting into the back of the same st.

You'll cast on 12 sts, knit the first row, purl the second, then:

K1, [kfb]x3, knit 3, [kfb]x3, k2 = 18

I tried it with the M1 and it didn't come out right.

[mwhite]

Okay, did it again, using the M1:

K2, M1, k1, M1, k1, M1, k4, M1, k1, M1, k1, M1, k2 =18 sts
or
K2, [M1, k1]x2, M1, k4, [M1, k1]x2, M1, k2

[lids126]

Please provide a pattern link and/or name if possible and as much information as you can when asking questions so we can help you better and more quickly.

[mwhite]

Please provide a pattern link and/or name if possible and as much information as you can when asking questions so we can help you better and more quickly.

She did! http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2056598.ece

[suzeeq]

This - inc1 - does not mean include, it's inc 1. And probably means kfb, to increase in a stitch, not a M1, which is an increase between sts. Big difference in how the st numbers work out.

[golgotha]

Thanks guys,

suzeeq & mwhite - you are right when I kfb the counting works fine. Have done the body and the head no issue now.

Thanks all