Expert: Bea Harrell - 6/14/2008

Question
Hi Bea,
I can't figure out how to decrease in this
STITCH PATTERN
Mesh Stitch (multiple 3 + 2)
Set-up row: Dc in second sc, *ch 1, skip one sc, work 1 dc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * across, turn.
Row 1: Ch 3, dc in second dc, *ch 1, skip 1, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; rep from * across, ending ch 1, skip 1, dc in last dc and in top of turning chain; turn.
Rep row 1 for mesh st.

Here is where I get confused. How do I decrease?
Dec 1 st each side every 2nd row once, [every 3rd row once, every 2nd row once] 4 times (9 sts decreased each side for a total of 18 sts decreased) -38 (41, 44) sts.

Answer
Hey, Laura! I am assuming that the decrease will be at the beginning and end of each row, so for the end, begin your dc in the next to last st, work off 2 loop, go into the last stitch, yarn over the hook, work off 2 loops, yarn over, and work off 3 loops. Now you have a dc, covering 2 stitches. Dec is done. Do the same thing at the beginning of the row, but use the first 2 stitches to work over.

Hope this helps!

Best,  Bea