Expert: Ed Matos - 11/23/2008

Question
I am only concerned with the first row of this pattern which is the start of the hood and how 67 sts are the end result of that 1st row.  The pattern is as follows:  
With Red, ch 37 loosely.
Row 1 (Right side): 2 Dc in fourth ch from hook (3 skipped chs count as first dc), skip next 2 chs, sc in next ch, *skip next 2 chs, 5 dc in next ch, skip next 2 chs, sc in next ch; repeat from * across; "working in free loops" of  beginning ch, (5 dc in ch at base of next 5-dc group, sc in ch at base of next sc) 5 times, skip next 2 chs, 3 dc in next ch; do not join, finish off: 67 sts

What I am wondering is once I get to the end of the row where it says to work in free loops, am I going back across the bottom of the chain area to create a double pattern look and end up with 67 sts?  Cannot figure this out.

I am adding the next rows of the pattern for your info:

Note:  Loop a short piece of yarn around any stitch to mark Row 1 as right side.

Row 2:  With wrong side facing, join White with sc in first dc; *ch 2, work Cluster, ch 2, sc in next dc; repeat from * across; finish off:  12 sc and 11 Clusters.

Row 3:  With right side facing, join Red with slip st in first sc; ch 3 (counts as first dc, now and throughout), 2 dc in same st, sc in next Cluster, (5 dc in next sc, sc in next Cluster) across to last sc, 3 dc in last sc; finish off:  67 sts.

Rows 4 – 17:  Repeat Rows 2 and 3, 7 times.

This is only the hood part of the pattern and I have not included the scarf portion as I am not concerned with that part at the moment.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and thank you.  

Answer
Susan:

What the first row is doing is creating a seamless row. Yes you are working one half on the chain, but then you are coming around and on the loop that is left from that row you are working another row of stitches. Yes you will end with 67 stitches. Once done you will end at the beginning of where you started.

So do your chains, work the stitches till the end, then come around and work the stitches, but this time you are securing them on the free loop left from the first set of instructions. You will end at the beginning of the row.

I do hope this make sense and that you are able to see what I am referring to.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with.

Happy hooking

Ed