Knitting pattern clarification?

Question

I am doing my first major knitting project and am slightly confused by part of the pattern. So I have reached a point where it is row 62 with 63 sts remaining, and these are the instructions from here on:

4. Shape neck. Work both sides at the same time. Work 17 sts. Slip next 29 sts to a holder. With a second ball of yarn, work remaining 17 sts. Dec 1 st at neck edge every row twice, until 15 sts remain.

5. At the same time, when armholes measure 9.5 ins (row 62), start shoulder shaping.

6. Shoulder shaping. Cast off 7 sts at armhole edge, then cast off 8 sts at armhole edge.

Can someone possibly clarify exactly what I'm supposed to do? A row-by-row breakdown would be really helpful, though any more clarification would help. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Something isn't right...you say you're on row 62, but the instructions you wrote say, (in step #5), that you should already have 9 and a half inches of the 2 armholes done by the time you reach row 62, with the center (neckline) stitches being held on a stitch holder.

Take a look at the center picture on this page:

http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/dolls_dollpa...

See the dip in the center and the two sides going up?  The dip is made by holding stitches on a stitch holder while the two sides are knitted individually, forming the armholes.

At row 62 in your pattern (from the instructions you gave), you should already be at step #6..."Shoulder shaping"...where you cast off 7 stitches at the armhole edge.

So, did you just knit straight all the way up to row 62 without putting the center 29 stitches on a stitch holder?  I'm confused as to just where you are, especially without knowing the whole pattern and seeing how many rows you are supposed to have done before you reach the armhole shaping.

Answer 2

4. To shape the neck, you need to work both sides.  You will need another needle & another ball of yarn.  You will knit 17 stitches, slip the next 29 stitches to the other needle & knit the remaining 17 with the other ball of yarn.  For the next two rows, on the neck (inside) side of your knitted sections, you decrease 1 stitch.  This is decreasing on the neck side for each ball.  My suggestion would be knit 14, k2t, knit 17.  Next ball, knit 1 stitch, k2t, & knit the rest on the needle.  This maintains a constant edge stitch.  

6. Is confusing as written. I would cast off 7 on outside of each side on one row. knit the rest  & then cast off the remaining

Answer 3

Sounds like you're going along fine so far.  Hopefully, this is the back, because the neckline won't be deep enough if it is the front of the sweater (in other words, you would have started the neck before you were up to the shoulder).  I'll try to give you instructions from the picture I have in my head.

Row 63: Cast off 7 sts, work 8 sts, dec 1 (k2tog or ssk, whichever suits you), slip the next 29 to a holder, attach another ball for the other shoulder and dec 1 (the opposite of whichever you did before), work remaining 15 sts.

Row 64: Cast off 7 sts, work until the last 2 before holder, dec 1, with other ball, dec 1, work to end of row.

Row 65: Cast off remaining 8 sts, with other ball, dec 1, work to end of row.

Row 66: Cast off remaining sts.