Please delete

[goofytinkerbell]

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[PrincessShmoo]

Context: I'm knitting my first sweater, and I have VERY basic skills. I've made a couple scarves and a lot of dishcloths. So patience please

I knit the back from the bottom up until where you make the armholes (basically a rectangle) and now the pattern says (and this is EXACTLY how it's written, spacing and all):
To shape armholes: Cast off 5 sts beginning next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on next, then every alternate row to 61 sts on needle ending with right side facing for next row.

Now... I currently have 87 sts on the needle. I assume this means on my next row I cast of 5 from the beginning, on the row after that I cast off 5 from the beginning, and then I cast off 1 from the END of each row after that until I end up with 61 left. Am I correct, or am I misinterpreting something? I'm really bad at backing things out to "fix" it so I want to get this right the first time.

Yes, cast off 5 stitches at the beginning of the next row. Then cast off 5 stiches at the beginning of the next row. Now you have 77 stitches on the needle.

THEN - dec 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the next row. 75 stitches on the needle.

THEN - knit the next row as normal. 75 stitches on needle.

THEN - dec 1 stich at the beginning and end of the next row. 73 stitches.

Repeat the last two rows (one with no decreases and one with decreases at beginning and end of row) until you finish a row with 61 stitches on the needle. Hopefully the right side of the piece will then be facing you to start your next row. If not, knit back across with no decreases.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

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[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you so much! I'm usually good with things like this, but for some reason I seem to be making this harder than it should be.

It's my grandmother's pattern from the 80s (those ones everyone had with the pattern across the top) and her needles. She gave me all her knitting stuff before she passed away (years ago) and my Dad is wearing out the last sweater she made.

I didn't have anyone to "teach" me to knit, and so I don't know how to carry colors or anything. I found a solid colored one to do, and I'm planning to skip the knit/purl pattern on it to simplify what I can. If this goes well I may consider trying to teach myself some of the more complicated things, but in the meantime my Dad REALLY wants a sweater

You're welcome. I taught myself how to knit in college (years ago, from a book) and I still have difficulty with new patterns on occasion.

Good luck.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I'm a visual person -- it's easier if someone shows me what to do instead of digging the directions off a pattern booklet. OP if you get stuck again, find a local knitting shop -- people there love to share their knowledge.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm highly visual too. I learned to knit and crochet from watching YouTube videos. My favorite knitting/crochet teacher is Kristen Mangus & her YouTube channel. She also has a Facebook group called GoodKnitKisses.

Here is one of her videos decreasing 5 stitches:
(She has videos for left-handers too, as she is left-handed.)

 

[SC Minnie]

@PrincessShmoo is correct

I taught myself how to knit too. When I have a pattern that I have to really think about I will plot it out on another piece of paper to make sure I understand what they're asking. Knitting isn't easy to fix mistakes. If it takes you a little longer to figure out the pattern it will be worth it in the end.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

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[goofytinkerbell]

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[goofytinkerbell]

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[KPeterso]

Have been knitting a long time. My Mom felt it was a life skill I needed and enrolled me in classes (as a birthday gift) when I was about 23-24. Told me she would no longer knit for me...

Anyway, for the decreases, those are not cast offs. Those are decreases. On the right side rows, it would be a slip-slip knit at the beginning of the row and a knit 2 together at the end of the row. That will allow your stitches to lean the correct way.

there is a great teacher at my local knit shop. She also has blog/website (Knit Yourself Happy) and has a lot of videos that can help with some questions.

 

[Imzadi]

Anyway, for the decreases, those are not cast offs. Those are decreases. On the right side rows, it would be a slip-slip knit at the beginning of the row and a knit 2 together at the end of the row. That will allow your stitches to lean the correct way.

Kristen's video that I linked to above shows how to do knit 2 together and slip-slip knit stitches. She is now one of the hosts of a knitting/crochet show on PBS-TV.