Expert: Marilyn Jane Rimmer - 9/21/2008

Question
I am not sure how to do reverse shaping, when you must do a double crotchet decrease at the beginning of the row, for example, to make a v- neck sweater. Can you explain?
Thanks. Sharon

Answer
In case you're new to garment construction, I'm going to start with some basics.
Start with laying the back, if you've finished it, on a bed or table, with the outside (right side of fabric) down.  Take the beginning of one front and place it with the outside (right side of the fabric) up.
I'm referring to the inside and outside of the fabric, rather than right and wrong side so that I can use the terms right and left to refer to the edges of the pieces.  Now I'd take a piece of paper, write "right side of right front" and pin it to the front.
Now the piece that is going to be the right side of the sweater will need decreases at the neck edge, which is the right edge when you are looking at it.  So at the first row that you need to decrease you will do it at the beginning of the row, work even to the left edge, turn and work even to the end of the row.  Decrease at this edge if the shaping is done at every row (some decrease on every other row).

Reverse shaping:  With the left front, your first decreasing row will be at the end of the row instead of the beginning.  So you start the row, work even to the end and decrease (I'm not being very specific, because your decrease could be skipping stitches, slip stitching in stitches, or working two stitches together).  If you're decreasing every row, when you turn you will work a decrease at the beginning of this row, and then work even to the end.

I had a nice diagram with Xs for stitches to give you a better picture of what it would look like, but the preview showed that it wouldn't stay formatted!  That wouldn't have helped at all.  I'm going to see if there's a good video tutorial.

I find that it's helpful to write out the row with the reverse shaping.  For example: if row 22 of the right front is decrease, work 34 even, turn.  Then row 23 is work 33 even, decrease.
The left front would be row 22, work even for 34, decrease. and row 23 would be decrease, work 33.

If you need more help, write again.  You could even send me 1 decreasing row of your pattern and I could write the reverse shaping for that row.