Please can someone give me some advice about an Aran knitting pattern?

[LaMarschallin]

DD (late 20s) has done a little knitting in the past but never followed a pattern.
I've not knitted for years but can read patterns, so she brought round her wool, needles, pattern etc for us to go over together.

It turns out she's been a touch overconfident and bought, what looks to me like, a fairly complicated Aran knit.

She's quite talented with sewing and crafts in general, so I'm pretty sure she'll plough on with this and make a success of it.

However... There's one bit of the pattern I don't get.
There are 3 separate pattern pannels (one over 4 rows, one over 8 and one over 18). After the ribbing for the back welt, instructions are given for the next 2 rows, incorporating the 1st and 2nd rows of each pattern.
Then it just says "Cont in established pat, until work measures 171/2" " whereupon you start shaping for the sleeve.
I've very little experience with Aran so wasn't sure if that means she carries on in that way but then - on the next row - does the 3rd row of each pattern, then on the next row the 4th etc

Now I come to write it out, it seems very likely that's how it should be
However, I don't just want to assume I'm right and let her waste her time knitting away if my assumption's wrong.

Please can anyone help?
And sorry for the long screed - thanks to those who've managed to get to the end

You've read it right. On row five the first pattern will start again. My mother used to have little cards written out for each panel, I've done enough to be able to look at what I've done and see what comes next.

It will help to put stitch markers (loops of coloured wool will do) to mark out where the column of pattern is until she's knitted enough to be able to see the pattern emerge. There's quite often a bit of knitting in between the patterns and it's easy to lose sight of where you should be starting each one.

I'd be tempted to start with a sleeve. Yes, there is shaping but it's a smaller number of stitches to rip if it all goes wrong.

@Knotaknitter

Thank you so much, that's really helpful.
I shall pass that on (and I'm relieved that I had the right idea).
Very good idea about the sleeve too

@Knotaknitter

Just wanted to say how much your advice helped.
She decided to continue with the back that she'd begun and is now starting shaping for sleeves. It's taking a while because it's so complicated but - given it's her first proper project - that's not surprising.
I'm no good at attaching photos or I would have sent you one.
Thanks again and (belated) Happy New Year wishes

@LaMarschallin I'm glad to hear that she stuck at it. Looking forward, before she starts putting it together get her to look at some videos and maybe have a practice on some squares of plain knitting. When I look at sweaters I made long ago the knitting is lovely but the seaming sucks. There's a rush to be wearing what you made rather rhan washing the pieces and blocking to size. It does make it easier and if she takes her time with the assembly it will show in the finished item.

She's done so well to start with such a difficult project, hope you are able to attach photos at some point. I use a brilliant app called Row Counter. You can keep track of patterns with primary and secondary counters - so you could have 4 counters, one each for each pattern panel, and there's one overall one for if you need to keep count of how many rows you've done in total. You can also add notes and highlight sections of the pattern if you import it into the app. Think it's about £3 or £4 a year.

By the way, I don't work for them, am just a regular name changer!

@Knotaknitter @Snowflakesonhisnose

Thank you both so much for your kind words and helpful tips - I've passed them on to DD and she was delighted and so grateful.
I'll keep working on the photo (partly because I'm so proud of her ).

@Knotaknitter @Snowflakesonhisnose

I can't manage to download the picture she sent of the work she's done so far, but this is the picture of the pattern she sent me when she was first thinking about embarking on her project.
Since she was going from not being able to read a pattern (all she'd done were little bits of stocking stitch) to this...
You can imagine my face 😱

She's up to the top of the 5th diamond on the back, just to give an idea of progress.

It's lovely, she's certainly gone big for her first project. After this everything will be a breeze.

Absolutely nothing to add apart from....

Why do I click on these threads when I have absolutely no idea and can't actually knit?

I think I'm addicted to MN ☹️

Thanks, Knotaknitter, I agree!

yepmeagain

Well, if you decide to learn to knit, I'd suggest something other than an Aran pattern.
My first attempt was a jersey for Val Doonican - I thought he was wonderful and he used to wear knits that his fans sent in.
The "jersey" ended up being a very thin (I'd got my mother to cast on 10 stitches for me) and long (I didn't know how to cast off) rectangle. Suppose he could have used it as a (weird looking) scarf.
Tbf, I was about 5 at the time; I'm sure you'd do a lot better

Can just see Val wearing your scarf in his rocking chair

That's a lovely pattern. Although Aran is harder, it's good for spotting mistakes really quickly. Plus I find it gets you into a great rhythm as you always want to complete the next diamond, cable twist or whatever.

Well done her!

Snowflakesonhisnose

Poor Val - one of the few stars who wouldn't want a personalised number plate.
Thank you DD's behalf
And she's very interested in the app.