Help! I can't quite grasp these knitting instructions!

[Flossyfloof]

It's a Sirdar pattern so it should be straightforward but I can't make head nor tail of it. Please could you lovely people have a look for me?
It is a sleeve pattern for an Aran jumper. First bit is rib, as you would expect. Then-
Instructions are written out for rows 1-10. Row 5 in these instructions is an increase row.
At the end of these instructions it says
From 3rd to 10th row sets position of cable and textured rib patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) inc 1 St at end of 3rd and every foll 8th row.
Does that mean ignore rows 1 and 2? So that I am actually following rows 3-10 each time? I think it does, because that would mean the increase rows would be in the same place each time. What do you think, would be ever so grateful for your advice, thanks.

[florentina1]

Is the Arran pattern an 8'row repeat. It would seem from what you have said that the first 2 rows after the rib are foundation rows done once only. Then the rows 3 - 10 make the pattern.

Are you starting with the sleeve or have you knitted any other pieces.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

1x/
2x/
3x/x/x
4x/x/x
5xI/xI/xI
6x/x/x
7x/x/x
8x/x/x
9x/x/x
10x/xI/xI

right....I always write stuff down like this...

1-10 are the rows, the x is a row done, the I shows it is an increase row
so row 1-10 are normal, with the increase on row 5
once you get to end of row 10 the next one is 3, then 4 then 5....etc

the 3rd and 8th rows are the original row 5 and 10

so I think you have it right in your post up there. :o

[Flossyfloof]

Thanks, I have just written it down and I think I have got it. I do think it is a weird way of putting it though!

[Flossyfloof]

I have done the front and back but the sleeves are slightly more simple. Front and back were worked on 24 rows, so sleeves are very different!

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

yes, why not just say

do the rib
do these two rows
do this pattern of eight rows increasing on the 3rd and last


it's why I generally write it all down with random symbols and ticks and crosses, plus the fact that I always imagine that OF COURSE I shall keep count of the rows in my head, or be able to work out exactly where I have got to next time I pick it up, and I never can.

[ouryve]

I would take that to read as you increase at the end of every 8 rows, but to keep the increases even, with as little stepping as possible, the first increase is done at roughly half that distance.

Best thing to do is to work out how many rows there are, how many stitches you need to increase by and whether what you've settled on works - you're normally given stitch counts that will help you with this and, iirc, Sirdar patterns often work by no of rows rather than length knitted.

[Flossyfloof]

Thanks. I don't think it will be a disaster if I don't increase at the correct row but I am a bit anal about these things; it has to be right or it would bother me a lot!
The pattern does state no of stitches at various points so I will be able to make it work, I think.

[Flossyfloof]

Just sharing my pain. I am nowhere near the required stitch count but almost at the required length. I can't just increase madly now, two inches before the armhole shaping so I am going to rip it down and restart, increasing every 6 rows.

[florentina1]

I know what yoy mean. I don't know it anymore, but I always used to have this problem.

Did you sort the other bit out?

[Flossyfloof]

Well, I have restarted the sleeve but the textured rib pattern is worked on 3 row sequence, the cable is 8 rows and I a, now doing the increasing on 6! It will be a miracle if I get through this sleeve without problems.
Thank you ever so much.
Why don't you have this problem any more, Florentina? My working over the pattern is very slightly loose but not loose enough to drop down a needle size.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

I write knitting patterns for magazines sometimes so this is something I struggle with - making instructions clear.

You do all the rows - increasing on the 3rd once and thereafter on the 8th every time (which implies you do 1 -7, first). A way to double check is to loo at the row count - usually in square brackets - at the end of the sleeve instructions. See the difference between the number of sts you started with and what it wants you to have nearer the top of the sleeve when you stop decreasing? Then go back and do the maths - you can see how many sts you need to add in x cms of knitting... (using the tension suggestion at the start for rows).

To be brutally honest, if you can figure out how many sts you are aiming at, you could divide the number increased in any way that seemed reasonable to you, up the length of the sleeve. So long as you hit the recommended number of stitches when the increasing's meant to end...

If you have clashing counts like you describe, one trick is to use several row counters - different colours for the different things (ie: one to keep track of rounds or rows; one to keep track of when to do cable repeat, or whatever).

If I was writing that pattern and it was for people who might have less experience, I'd strip it back and keep it simple so everything was in compatible multiples (eg: do a cable every 6 rounds; an increase every 3 rounds) but not all designers are so kind to you. xxx

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Doh! loo = look. Damn my "k"!

[Flossyfloof]

Thanks very much for that, I think it is more or less what I have done! Luckily the pattern for the sleeve is much simpler than for the main body. The main difficulty is that the increasing stitches are being incorporated into a textured rib ( I row k, 1 row p, 1 row k1p1 rib) and I find it hard to count where I am - before, I was increasing on the row after the cable twist so it was easy to remember. I am not used to using a row counter but I am for this!
I am hoping that I will end up in the right place when I have the right number of stitches. Weirdly, I have never experienced this before, my tension is usually pretty good. I didn't want to drop a needle size because the jumper is for this lady's grandson. He is 14 and I am assuming he is more likely to grow than shrink!
Thanks very much

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Ack, incorporating your stitches into a convoluted pattern makes it really tough! Sounds like you're on top of it though. ;o)

[Flossyfloof]

Yes it is a pain in the neck! So far, so good...

[Paula2021]

From 1st to 8th row set patt
Keep continuity of patt as set [throughout]
Work 32 more rows


Does this mean I work rows 1 to 8, 32 more time, equaling 256 rows in total?

[Paula2021]

Shape are holes : Work 5 rows dec 1 at each end of every row [59 sts]

Then it skips to row 3