Knitting pattern help

[DoNotDisturb]

This is my first real pattern (have only knitted hats, scarves and blankets before) and I'm having trouble knitting the sleeves..

It's the Debbie Bliss shawl-collared jacket for my ds.

The pattern says "beg with a p row, work in st st and inc one st as before at each end of every foll 4th row until there are 50 st"

Currently 34 stitches.

First q - it says as before but so far the pattern has only required me to make one not increase. Should I increase rather than make?

Q2 - "at each end" does that mean I increase the first and last stitch?

Q3 - "every following 4th row" - so I increase the 1st row and then the 5th? And 9th?

Q4 - is increasing the same for pearl as straight stitch?

I was doing so well. I knitted the back and front all on my own but now the sleeves have completely flummoxed me

Muchos gracias in advance

I wouldn't increase on the purl row, that just sounds a bit pointless. How did you do the increases 'as before'? I guess kfb in the second and second-to-last stitches of a knit row? I think that's what you're meant to do.

Assuming row 1 is the purl row, I would increase at the start and end of row 2 (I wouldn't actually do it on the first and last stitch but the ones next door) and then on row 6, row 10 and so on.

Does it say specifically you have to end on a knit or purl row? Just keep a note of how you end up doing this one, as you have another to do to match.

Wow quick response thank you!!

The previous make ones involved picking up the loop below on the left needle then knitting into the back. The book describes increasing as knitting the same stitch twice. I'm assuming I increase?

It doesn't say whether I end on a pearl or not as I st st for a certain length after all the increasing.

Just realised I've spelled purl wrong. Ha ha. Absolute novice! Sorry

Oh right, okay, like this (although you're knitting into the back of the loop to make it firmer). Well, you should carry on increasing in the same way, which means you need to do it on a knit row.

Increasing means you need to end up with more stitches than you had before - you've obviously started at the cuff of the sleeve and are working up the arm. I think 'knitting the same stitch twice' is a not very helpful way of describing increasing, so I wouldn't worry about that unduly. You just need to get neatly from 34 stitches to 50.

Thank you so much tribpot! I'm back on track. You're a star.

No probs - enjoy!

Well done for tackling a cardi!
Q1 by increase, the pattern is just telling you that you are going to increase the number of stitches you have. In this case and you are to do this in the same way you have increased before, so use the make one method.

Q2 yep, exactly that so you get even sleeves when you fold them in half when you stitch it all together.

Q3 don't increase on your first purl row,(if you had needed to do that it would usually say 'next and each following fourth row') just the fourth and each following fourth so row 1 is purl which means you'll always be increasing on a knit row. When you've done your first increase row the next row will be purl and row 1 again iyswim.

Q4 no it's not quite as easy in my opinion but you shouldn't need to now.

Best of luck

Beaten too it!

*to

Thanks Ilovewoollystuff!! You lot are very helpful gotta love mumsnet

I've increased instead of making one now.. Hope it'll be ok... Eeek!!

Make 1 is an increase, DoNotDisturb. Does that mean you're doing instead? Nothing wrong with that, should be fine.

Yep that's what I ended up doing as my brain hurt looking at your clever one ha ha. Gonna master that next time!

It's going well. Other than I've just finished the ball of wool so working out the best way to start the new one. Any insider tips?

is what I usually do.

Link didn't work so I went for the knit three at the end with the two pieces of yarn technique. Looks ok. I was hoping I could weave it into seam..will see how it goes when I get there.

Thanks again for all your help! So brave was I after last night that I've just bought some sock needles and yarn for my next experiment!!

Should have worked but try - however, it sounds like you did what it suggests anyway :)

Socks are great projects - I love the Amy Singer Autopilot Sock recipe and Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel patterns to learn the basics. Then my fave sock designer is coopey Rachel Coopey for the more complicated patterns.

Hmm, that link didn't work - try this for Rachel Coopey!

Ha ha. I found an online sock knitting tutorial with photos as not sure I'm up to reading a pattern for socks yet... Will see how brave I am :). Bought lovely bright red wool. Can't wait to knit it. Have to say that this knitting and crocheting malarkey is addictive