Can someone please help me understand this crochet pattern?

Question

http://www.bfranklincrafts.com/CraftIdeas/CraftIdea-CrochetThrow.html

The pattern in the link above is to a blanket that I REALLY want to make. It says it's an easy pattern, but I keep getting stuck in the same spot. I am not a great at crocheting, but I do know the basics and have made lots of blankets before.

I can get through row 5, row 6 & 7 are the same as row 5 (repeat row 5). Row 8 is the same as row 4. Then there is a comment under row 8 the just throws me off. I don't understand where to implement this commment.

Can someone please help me with this? PLEASE!!!

Also, in Row 5 it says to work to WITHIN last 2 sts. Does that mean leave 2 stitches? (This pattern uses {-} instead of {*}, do they mean the same thing?)

Answer 1

1.  Start by chaining two, and working one single crochet.  

2.  Chain one, turn, work three sc in the stitch.  

3.  Chain one, turn, work two in the first stitch (which is considered an increase), sc one, then do another increase, for a total of 5 stitches.

4.  Chain one, turn, work even - just sc across the 5 stitches

5.  Chain one, turn, sc one, then do an increase, then sc three (this leaves two stitches left), do an increase, sc - so you have 7 stitches on this row.

6.  Chain one, turn, repeat row five - basically stitch one, work an increase (two stitches in the same stitch), work across FIVE this time, increase, sc - for a total of 9 stitches.

7.  Chain one, turn, repeat - stitch, increase, work across 7, increase, stitch - 11 stitches

8.  Chain one, turn, work across without increasing any - still 11 stitches.

This basic repeat you'll do until the bottom edge is 38", or it tells you until you have 125 stitches, end by working row 8.  So the pattern is increase at both ends for three rows, then work even without increasing for one row.  

Ok then, for the vertical shaping, you're basically still increasing on one end for a while, and decreasing on the other, to make the vertical edges.  So:

9.  Chain one, turn, stitch one, increase, work to within three (which should be 120 stitches, I believe), decrease (hopefully you know how to do this, if not e-mail me), stitch one - you should still have 125 stitches, since you increased one at one end and decreased one at the other.

10.  Chain one, turn, stitch, decrease, work 120, increase, stitch.

11.  Chain one, turn, stitch, increase, work 120, decrease, stitch.

12.  Work across, without increasing or decreasing.

Repeat this until the vertical edge is 55"

Hopefully if this makes sense at all, the horizontal top will make sense too.  Good luck with this, and thanks for the link to the pattern - I'm going to make it too now!  It looks cool!  :)

Answer 2

Row 5 Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in first st, 2 sc in next st; work to within last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in last st – 7 sc

Rows 6 & 7 Repeat Row 5 – 11 sc

Row 8 Repeat Row 4 – 11 sc.

Continue in this manner, inc 1 st each end every row for 3 rows and working 1 row even until afghan measures 38” across bottom – 125 sts. End with Row 8. Mark end of this row for bottom edge.

They want you to work the pattern until the afgan measures 38" accross the bottom.  The last row should be row 8, at the end of that row place a marker, because that's where your bottom edge will be.  This will work out if you have checked your guage carefully, if you did not, you may not end up with a rectangular afgan but more of a parrellologram.

As for row 5 comment, they tell you exactly what to do with the last two stitches, keep reading after the comma. (work to within last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in last st)