Help with a crochet pattern

[Primrose123]

I need some help from some of the crochet experts out there!

I want to make a blanket from this pattern on ravelry, but I want to make it smaller.

I have tried a little square and it looks nice and is quite easy to do, but I can't seem to work out how many stitches to start with. Many patterns tell you to use a multiple of 6 plus 2 for example, and that's what I need here. I've tried to work it out but just get in a mess!

Can anyone help me? :)

As far as I can tell the pattern is worked as horizontal rows? Ie in the picture the 'bottom' as it is worked is actually the left hand side?

In which case it doesn't really matter how many stitches I don't think as there is no repeat across a crocheted row.

Just remember 2 stitches will form a turning chain.

How much smaller do you want it? A lot of people on Rav have used 125 to start rather than 181

Pihigh, I'm not sure really, it's for a baby's blanket. I was going to do the width I felt was right as long as works out with the stitches.

Edwinias, the amount of rows doesn't matter, I'll just carry on until it's big enough. It's the amount of stitches across that I need help with. For example, row 5 has to be a multiple of 2 plus 1. Most of the rows are single stitches, so they can be any number of stitches. Row 7 is different again, after the beginning stitch, the main part has to be multiples of 3, but I'm getting confused about how many to add on at the beginning.

Therefore my total number of stitches has to take into account rows 5 and 7, as these need to work out exactly.

I'm not sure i explained that well. I think I've confused myself even more.

Ok, for row 7 I think I need a multiple of 3 (the bit in the asterisks) plus 2, which accounts for the one stitch at each end. I will see if that works.

That was the conclusion I just came to,

But I can't get that to work with a foundation row of 181 (which includes a turning chain of 3)

Actually. Multiples of 3 plus 2 does work to give 179 stitches needed at the end of row 1.

But going into the 4th stitch on row 1 suggests a turning chain of 3 stitches. Which doesn't work with a foundation chain of 181 unless I am missing something.

Perhaps that is a mistake on the pattern, and you have to work into the 3rd stitch.

Or start with 182 chain, and work into the 4th stitch?

Bumping this to see if anyone can help. :)

The forum post I read said it was a foundation row of a multiple of 3 plus 2.

I think going into the 4th chain is right - you get a stitch in that 4th chain (the 178th) plus the 3 chain which gives you 179.

But my head hurts!

You can chain a few extra in the starting chain and then undo the unused ones at the start of the chain when you are sure you have the right number of stitches.

Or do a chainless foundation and stop when you have the right size/stitch requirement.

What is a chainless foundation?

It's where you don't make a strting chain, you create it and the first row at the same time. It is a bit tricky but once you get it straight in your head it is fabulous. You'll need to google it and watch You Tube videos lots of a few times.