A 'no question too stupid' knitting pattern question

[piemashandliquer]

I am so embarrassed but have no one else to ask, so here goes:

I am knitting my first shawl (22.5 degrees Martina Behm) pattern is as follows:

Cast on 3 sts
row 1: kfb, k1, kfb (5sts) Mark centre st with safety pin
row 2: kfb, knit to centre st, yo, k1, yo, knit to final st, kfb
row 3 and 4: kfb, knit to final st, kfb

stupid question number 1:
how do I keep tally of how many sts I should have to know that I haven't dropped or increased too many?

stupid question number 2:
Once Ive marked the centre st, does this always stay the centre st? ie, at the end of each row should I have the same amount of sts either side of the marker I placed at the beginning, or do I have to count the sts at the end of each row and find the middle one?

Hope the questions make sense. I'd be grateful if any of you would take pity on a simpleton and help me out.

[MrsTrentReznor]

Question 1. I'm not 100% sure, I reckon you would soon spot an inconsistent row. (I'm fairly new to this knitting malarkey...)
Question 2
Yes. The yo k yo is always the centre of the shawl like a spine.
Hopefully soon more knowledgeable peeps will be along!

[BornToFolk]

There are no stupid questions!

You can always put together a simple spreadsheet showing how row numbers and how many stitches you should have in that row. Presuming that you repeat those 4 rows, you are increasing by 2sts on rows 1, 3 and 4 and 4 sts on row 2.

However, I wouldn't worry too much about keeping count. If you miss the odd increase, it's not going to make too much difference to the shape of the shawl. If you miss a central yarn over you'll be able to spot that easily.

Yes, the centre stitch will always been the centre stitch. Personally I wouldn't bother with a marker because after a few rows it's going to be obvious which stitch it is but if it makes you feel better, you can mark it with a safety pin or bit of scrap yarn and just move it up as you knit each row.

Good luck! I love Martina Behm's patterns!

[drspouse]

This type of knitting marker is pretty good for central markers i.e. not one side of a stitch on the needle.

You will get a clue as to whether you've increased enough/dropped any if you count the stitches each side of the central stitch as there should be the same each side on any given row.

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you both so much for your speedy replies and excellent advice! I can see that I've muffed up now, so that's very helpful!

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you Poltergoose, that's good to know! I've had a practice on some yarn I had lying around and I've got the hang of it I think, I still can't make my mind up about what to buy, my heart is saying Fyberspates Vivacious but my budget is a bit tight this month! What did you use out of interest?

Also, bit worried about when I've got hundreds of stitches, whats the best way to use markers to keep count?

[Dutchoma]

For markers I always use only 2" (or so) pieces of thread of the same thickness but a contrasting colour. You can lay it between the stitches or mark a stitch by laying it in, bringing it round the back and leaving it at the front. If you want to keep track of that same stitch (like you do in your pattern with your middle stitch) you need to use a longer bit of thread and keep picking it up at the front, bringing it to the back and then to the front again.

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you Duchoma, but I don't really get it!

[Dutchoma]

I'll try and post picture of the most difficult shawl I've ever done. Don't worry about the different colour of the markers, I'm hoping that yo can see how you lay them in, so that you have groups of stitches which you can count when you have worked them to see you still have the amount you should have.

I hope that makes it a bit clearer, but say if it doesn't.

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you Dutchoma, I kind of get what you mean, the pic is helpful.

[Dutchoma]

You need to work out what the stitch repeat is for your pattern, then lay in a marker and count back that you have the number of stitches you strated with and tink back to the last marker if not. That way you will only ever have to tink back the number of stitches of your repeat but not a whole row and a half when you find out on the next row that you have made a mistake.
Also if it is a very difficult lace pattern consider putting a lifeline in (look on YouTube how to do that)

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you for trying to help me Dutchoma, my pattern is 2 increases rows 1,2,4,5 and 4 increases 3 and 6. The increases are at the start and end of each row (kfb) and an additional 2 mk1s either side of the centre St. So where should I put my markers? I already have a marker either side of the centre St.

I'd appreciate your help as the St cont is mounting up and takes a long time, and is only going to get bigger!

[Dutchoma]

I would use one long bit of thread to mark the centre stitch: lay the thread between the stitch before the centre stitch and the centre stitch itself, bring it round the back of the centre stitch and to the front between the centre stitch ad the stitch after it. Then every time you come to that point you wind the thread from front to back, round the centre stitch and to the front again. That way you will always know what the centre stitch is and you will be able to increase before and after it. Additionally you need to keep track of which row you are on i.e. whether it is a 1st, 2nd or 3rd row.
I would do this with another piece of thread which you can put anywhere in the first half of the row. Again you just put the thread between two sts, work two stitches and bring it to the front. You will now have a bit of thread at the back and can see how many rows you have done. Take that marker out after 6 rows to begin again with row one.
From time to time I would count how many sts you have on each half, it should be the same number each time.
Say if this does not make sense and I will try and send another picture.

[Dutchoma]

Forget what I said above, it is based on thinking it is a 6 row pattern, where in fact it is only a four pattern repeat, where row 1,2 and 4 are the same i.e. kbf at the beginning and end of the row and the 2nd row has additional increases by way of a yo either side of the centre row. It is possible to mark this in the way I said, but after a few rows it becomes quite clear where that centre stitch is because there are holes either side, made by the yo. I found it a bit hard to determine which side of the work you are on and whether it was a 2nd or 4th row I was doing, so I did put a marker in on the side of the first row. I meant to send you a picture of what I actually did, but my camera won't play ball.
All you need to do is count occasionally to see you haven't missed any of the increases, but after a while you will become used to starting and ending every row with a kbf.

[Dutchoma]

Actuall looking at your first and you last post I am a little confused about whether it is a 4 or a 6 row pattern repeat. In your original post you say 1 inc kbf either side, 2 inc additionally 3 and 4 kbf either side,
But in your last post you say 1 an2 knb either side and 3 and 6 with additional sts.
So you have me a bit confused. If I manage to get a picture up you will see that I have worked on a 4 row pattern repeat, if you do it on a 6 pattern repeat you get quite a different effect as you increase additionally on an odd row (3) first and an even one (6) next. I have a feeling that the first reading in you OP is correct as you always inc on an even row (2)

[Dutchoma]

Here are the pictures. The first one is at the end of the first row, the second is of the other side of the knitting and the third is with the marking thread taken out so you can see the pattern. Hope this helps. All done on the assumption that this is a four row repeat pattern as per your original post.

[piemashandliquer]

Oh Dutchoma, thank you so much for going to such an effort, I've actually started a different pattern which I can't link to but is 22 little clouds by Martina behm on ravelry. It is a 6 row repeat of kfb on each row with inc 1 before and after centre stitch. I should have clarified sorry!

Also, I've made an error and although I can tink knit and purl I don't know how to tink a kfb, any advice?

[CaTsMaMmA]

kfb is knit front and back

so just two stitches into the same loop....one as normal (into the strand at the front nearest you) and one into the strand at the back of the needle.

Just be careful on the next row, it's easyish to forget it was a kfb and think you have looped the loop or something. :o instead of having two stitches.

[avocadotoast]

There is an app I use that's just called Knit - it's really useful for counting rows and stitches as you go. You can add in a completion row so it shows how far you've still to go to complete your project

[piemashandliquer]

Thanks catsmama, I can so kfb but I don't know how to tink it.

Thanks for the app recommendation that sounds fun Avo!

[Dutchoma]

By 'tinking' do you mean knitting backwards to get back to where you made the mistake? if so then you just let the stitch fall off the pin, give it a little tug and it shold become one stitch again.

[piemashandliquer]

Thank you again Dutchoma x

[piemashandliquer]

Thanks especially to Dutchoma for all your help, I got there in the end and I'm chuffed with the shawl!

[Dutchoma]

Oh, that is just beautiful, really nice and well done for persevering. Are you going to put any more pictures on Ravelry? I would like to see som close up pictures.