knitting assistance!

[hubbabubbababba]

Hi guys, i hope you can help, I have just started knitting and bought my first pattern to try but I am stumped already.
It says 1st row: (in in nxt st) twice, k1. 5sts.
what does this mean!!

[soremummy]

Do you mean inc in nxt stitch? twice

Which means increase in next stitch

[hubbabubbababba]

yes sorry it says (inc in next st) twice.
I just dont have the foggiest idea what it is trying to tell me to do, then its says k1. 5 sts
i just cant fathom out how to read these, i know what the abbreviations mean but it still just doesnt make any sense to me

[ShrinkingViolet]

how many stitches do you start off with? What are the instructions for the previous row(s), and what are you knitting (will help to give context so we can work out what you're supposed to be doing).

[ShrinkingViolet]

sorry, seen that was for row 1. How many stithes have you cast on?

[hubbabubbababba]

it says to cast on 3 sts, im planning on making a hat, i dont know if i have started too ambitiously.
How did you guys learn how to read patterns?

[domesticsluttery]

I'm assuming you have 3 stitches at the start of the row?

If so, the instructions mean:
Increase in next stitch (making first stitch into 2 stitches), then increase into the next stitch, then knit one stitch.
Which leaves you with 5 stitches when you get to the end of the row.

[ShrinkingViolet]

actually, it looks like you cast on three stitches, then in row one knit two stitches into the each of the first two original stitches, then knit the final stitch, giving you 5 stitches.

Alternatively pick up the thread between stitch 1 and 2 and knit an extra stitch into it, then again between stitch 2 and 3, so you do:
knit stitch 1, pick up and knit new stitch, knit stitch 2, pick up and knit new stitch, knit stitch 3.

Sorry if too simplistic, it's difficult to judge how much someone knows when you can't see their work.

[festivefriedawhingesagain]

You started with 3 stitches.

If you increase in the first stitch, and increase in the second stitch, then knit the last stitch, you end up with 5 stitches on your needle.

Thats what the 5 stitches mean, you should have 5 sticthes when you have done the row.

[domesticsluttery]

Ah, yes, if you have cast on 3 stitches that makes sense.

I learnt to knit when I was about 4 so have been reading patterns for a long time.

There should be a key at the start of the pattern which shows what the abbreviations mean?

[festivefriedawhingesagain]

Oops x posted. But we all said the same

I'm a beginner too, but not done a hat yet.

[hubbabubbababba]

there is no such thing as too simplistic! Thanks you all so much for helping me and taking the time. So I can understand what it means its telling me to increase in next stitch twice, therefore add 2 extra stitches to the cast on 3 and the "5 sts" bit is how many stitches i should have on row one?

[festivefriedawhingesagain]

I've been using this book to help me learn and to look up how to do stuff I don't understand, it is very good for beginners.

[ShrinkingViolet]

you've got it!

I learned to read patterns by trial and error mainly (plus the abbreviations at the beginning are usually pretty helpful). Once you get the hang of the standard ones you shoudl be OK.

A hat is moderately adventurous as there's a lot of inreasing to do - make sure your tension isn't too tight as you'll need some "give" for enough space to increase into.

[hubbabubbababba]

There is a pattern for some wrist warmers on there to, maybe i should start with those, they look quite straight up and down. And there is a scarf too.....maybe they would be better to get me in the swing of it.

[duchesse]

the 5sts means "you should now have 5 stitches". So presumably you
cast on three stitches,
then increase in the first two stitches of the first worked row, then knit one and end up with 5 stitches, yes?

[duchesse]

Ah, I see I'm not the first to say that.

Must read thread first.