Expert: Ed Matos - 3/10/2011

Question
Hi Ed,

Having trouble deciphering instructions on how to shape armholes of a toddler sweater. I am making the sweater in the largest size listed. They read as follows:

Next row: Sl st in each of first 4 sts. Ch 1. Pat to last 4 sts. Ch 1. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked. 31(35-39-43)sts. Cont even in pat until armhole measures 4 1/2 (5-5 1/4-5 1/2)ins, ending with RS facing and omitting turning ch at end of last row. Fasten off.


There are a couple of confusing parts. First is Leave rem sts unworked. 31 (35-39-43)sts. Are these number of stitches the amount of stitches I should have after completing the first row?  Second is the next line of wording in the pattern; Cont even in pat until armhole measures 4 1/2 (5-5 1/4-5 1/2) ins. . . Does this mean I continue with the slip stitch in each of first 4 stitches, chain 1 pattern? Also, continuing with the second row, is the second row going to end all the way to the end of the stitches or am I working this until the last 4 stitches again leaving remaining stitches unworked?  This gives me 1 more question that came to mind; when I do the first four slip stitches and then the chain 1 and continue that pattern, do I continue that next slip stitch in the next stitch or am I skipping the next stitch to put my slip stitch in?  

I am teaching myself through videos and help from people who have done crochet before, but I don't always have the help from others readily available when I need them.  I would really appreciate your help and further explanation on this.

Thanks,
Colleen

Answer
Collen:

Thanks for the question, sorry for the delay in responding.

I will try my best to decipher this for you. Since I don't know what the Pat is.

So you will Slip stitch in the first 4 stitches (this is the start of the shaping# chain 1, and do the pattern till the last 4 #the shaping on the other side# at the end of that row, you should have 45 stitches.

The other part is Continue even in pat until the pattern measures 5.5 #at this stages, you are not doing any more decreases, so if you look at the joining, you should have the same spacing to insert the sleeve into the body of the garment.

At the end of the row, you will not do nothing to the last 4 stitches, you will just turn your work and continue the pat. Those 4 stitches at either end are not work at all to the remainder of the pattern (as you are building it up to the 5.5)

You should have a wide area rows, then a notch coming in 4 stitches at either end, and then another even shaped rows.

Hopefully this will help, should you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy Hooking

Ed