Need help interpreting pattern directions

[ZooZooB]

Hi,
I'm knitting a tank top in Erica Knight's Classic knits. I'm on the front and have half the stitches on a stitch holder as I knit one half of the deep v-neck. Here's the instructions that I'm having trouble getting:

Next row (dec row) (RS): K to last 5 sts, k2tog tbl, pl, ki, p1
Cont in St st with 3-st rib border, dec 1 st inside 3-st rib border as set on every foll 4th row and at the same time when front same as back to armhole, shape armhole as for back.

I don't get the part from "as set ....to back." What does "as set" mean, and does this mean I hold the back armhole up to the front to determine how to shape the front armhole? I thought there would be more specific instructions on shaping. THANKS!!!

[ArtLady1981]

Hi,
I'm knitting a tank top in Erica Knight's Classic knits. I'm on the front and have half the stitches on a stitch holder as I knit one half of the deep v-neck. Here's the instructions that I'm having trouble getting:

Next row (dec row) (RS): K to last 5 sts, k2tog tbl, pl, ki, p1
Cont in St st with 3-st rib border, dec 1 st inside 3-st rib border as set on every foll 4th row and at the same time when front same as back to armhole, shape armhole as for back.

I don't get the part from "as set ....to back." What does "as set" mean, and does this mean I hold the back armhole up to the front to determine how to shape the front armhole? I thought there would be more specific instructions on shaping. THANKS!!!

Below is your question, and my comments are interjected in red:

"Next row (dec row) (RS): K to last 5 sts, k2tog tbl, p1, k1, p1. Cont in St st with 3-st rib border, dec 1 st inside 3-st rib border as set (the directions I changed to blue are what they are referring to by saying 'as set') on every foll 4th row and at the same time when front same as back to armhole, shape armhole as for back."

They want you to continue to work that decrease (k2tog tbl) "as detailed" or "as set forth" or "as we previously said" ....as seen in the blue type.

When I'm shaping one side of the neck of something, I keep good track of the row numbers that all shaping was executed on. Then, when you are going to work the other side of the neck...just repeat the decreases on the same rows, except for the fact that shaping will be at the opposite end, that is to say, next to the neck!

I make a notebook page for the shaping rows cuz sometimes you are working neckline shaping every so many rows, and AT THE SAME TIME, you are also working armhole decreases/shaping at the other end of the row every so many rows. Sometimes the neckline shaping and armhole shaping occur on the same row, sometimes they are on their own rows.

"AT THE SAME TIME" is another ambiguous term pattern writers like to use. It's means that you are having to keep track of two things at once, such as I stated in the paragraph just above. So watch for those 4 words to hit you about everytime you are making a garment that needs shaping for the neckline and armholes!

I'm sure a couple other moderators will also toss in their 2 cents to help you out. And we also have some very good garment knitters here at KH that will have some useful words. Don't be discouraged. It sounds like you have a good grip on your knitting and pattern!

[suzeeq]

To 'work in pattern as set' means keep to the established pattern, which is the 3 rib border at the edge, and to decrease just inside that border. You don't have to hold the back up, just refer to the armhole shaping instructions in the pattern for the back. You do these 'at the same time' by working the 2 different shaping instructions at different edges of the same rows. Or they may be on different rows, so you have to keep track of where you are in each set of decs.

[ZooZooB]

Thanks for both responses. I get the "as set" It's the doing the armhole shaping at the same time as the neck shaping that is going to be toughed. This is only the second sweater I've knit and the first w/ an armhole. The other was raglan w/ no seams in entire sweater. I think I'll have to stop in at my local knitting store, Knitty City, to get the nice ladies there to help.
Best,
Nancy

[suzeeq]

It can be tricky but not impossible. What some people do is write out the shaping for the 2 edges in column format so they can keep track of what to do when and where.