LKC 6 Armhole shaping - casting off and decreasing

[@brigitteriordan133]

Thank you!! This was such a clear explanation.. I often have to rewatch instructional videos but not this one!

[@donnaquinn6746]

I always prefer your videos. You explain very simple how to decrease where some people go on & on before showing. THANKYOU! 🧶💜🧶

[@FMAbdolla]

Saved to my knitting playlist, thank you..

[@diyangeluk]

A nicely shown tutorial. Thank you 🥰🥰

[@rumination608]

Very helpful! Thank you! ❤️

[@dig4info]

Your videos are very well done. Thank you. And the lighting on this one is brighter and easier to see. Thanks.

[@lonafryatt9726]

Thank you for your feedback. I produce these videos for the courses that I teach in Southampton so I don't have a professional videoing set up, I just use a camera on a tripod and then edit them as much as I can. I am very happy that people, other than those I teach on my courses, are learning from my work.

[@ideamissing]

thank you for posting this. It was very helpful

[@TinieMx]

Thank you for this video! I am trying to make my first knitted vest, but I'm struggling with understanding the different methods when it comes to shaping armholes. One tutorial I've watched shapes the armholes by for instance *knit row: k2, ssk, knit until 4 stitches remain, k2t, k2. Purl row: purl all stitches* This is for a vest with longer armholes, and decreases a total of 16 stitches. Another tutorial however, wants me to simply bind off a set number of stitches on each row. What is the difference between these two methods? Does it give a different shape? Thanks in advance!

[@lonaslessonsincrochetandkn102]

Hello there, thank you for your comments. The difference between the methods are: K2 ssk is a gradual shaping, the shaping is of a 'sloped' appearance; the binding off a set number of stitches is what I would describe as a 'stepped' appearance which is commonly used for underarms, neckline and shoulder shaping. Hope this helps and apologies for taking so long to get back to you, I work full time and I am now reducing my hours so that I can refocus on my hobbies.

[@JennyJenn831]

Thank you... this answers my question of when is says “cast off first two switches”, do I end up with 2 cast offs, or only one because two stitches makes one!

[@lonaslessonsincrochetandkn102]

Hi Jennifer, you would end up with two cast off stitches. Two stitches make one when you knit / purl two stitches together. These are two different methods of decreasing - cast off is used when you are doing a 'noticeable' or 'stepped' decrease; knitting / purling stitches together is a more gradual decrease. When casting off you are not knitting / purling your stitches together, you are taking the first stitch over the next stitch. TIP: Don't cast off tightly, maintain a good tension.

[@purplemind93]

let me ask you something. the second time you decreased in this video. why can't you decrease them at the end of the first row, on the "right" side of the yarn? why wait till you turn the work over and it's the wrong side or what you called it in english? pls help me understand

[@lonaslessonsincrochetandkn102]

Thank you for writing. First of all can I just stress that 'decrease' is different than 'casting off'. With a decrease you normally knit / purl 2 or 3 stitches together, with a cast off you slip the 2nd stitch from the working needle and pass it over the 1st stitch. In this video I am knitting the back of a cardigan and just starting the armhole shaping. The shaping requires an accentuated start to the armhole, hence cast off at each end rather than decrease. You would not be able to cast off 3 stitches at the end of the first row in the same way you cast off at the beginning. If you were to try you would be left with a gap at the end of the row and a stitch all on its own. Then if you were to purl the next row you would purl one stitch and have to close the gap you had left in the previous row. The best way to test what you say would be to cast off 3 stitches at the end of a row and see what happens. After these first two rows of cast off are done, the rest of the shaping is done by decreasing at the ends of rows. Please test the cast off and let me know if I need to explain things in more detail. Good luck!

[@purplemind93]

@@lonaslessonsincrochetandkn102 alright, thanks for explaining. i knew there was a difference but somehow no one on the goddamn entire internet wants to let us beginners understand, besides you xD I can't test stuff out like i do with crocheting because i find it hard to undo my mistakes with knitting. but okey, I will take your word for it, I have already cast off the beginning of the first row so now I will finish the row and then cast off three on the wrong side. And then decrease. Have you a tutorial for that as well? My pattern instruction is very lame, it only says decrease 3-2-1-1-1. Also, some people say the first stitch should always be a straight one, why is that? You went with perl alone. Thank you so much!

[@lonafryatt4126]

Videos 6, 7 and 8 in this series will help you with casting off and decreasing. When people say the first stitch should always be a straight one, in these videos I explain why I always knit or purl 1 or 2 stitches before a decrease - it is to keep the edges neater and give a better appearance. The way I interpret your pattern instructions 3,2,1,1,1 is as follows: Cast off 3 sts at the beginning of a row (or next 2 rows). Cast off 2 sts at the beginning of a row (or next 2 rows). Decrease 1 st at the beginning of the next row (or at each end). Assuming the decrease is 1 on alternate rows (as in the vast majority of patterns) you would work 1 row without any decreases. Repeat these last 2 rows twice more (so that you have decreased 1 three times at one or both ends of the row). If this doesn’t make sense could you please give me the full instruction so that I can explain it better. Thank you

[@purplemind93]

@@lonafryatt4126 Hi! Thanks alot! I don't know how to send a link, cause my pattern is on paper. But The gauge is 10 x 10 cm= 12 m x 18 rows. I'm using wool yarn. I started with 68 sts on circular knits. 40 rows of stockinette (knit one row, purl one row). And for the armpit as I said, 3-2-1-1-1 sts decrease. And then continue with 16 rows of stockinette. This is the back side. Front side will be similar though. I'm knitting kind of tight if that's the word. As suppose to loose, so I think it would make sense to decrease every other/alternative row. Cause I don't want it to be too small^^

[@lonafryatt4126]

I think you are working correctly. The back of a garment is one piece and sides should match i.e. casting off or decreasing should be the same each side of the garment. The front of a garment can again be one piece, in which case it will match what you do with the back. However, if it is 2 pieces - Left and Right sides - they should match at the outside edges and match at the inside edges for casting off and decreasing. Decrease the 1st at each end of alternate knit rows and I think you will be fine. If your tension is ‘tight’ this is no doubt because you are new to knitting. Getting the right tension comes with practice so please persevere and try other things. Knitting and crochet are wonderful creative skills and so therapeutic. I have all the videos on my channel for a very simple ladies garter stitch sweater, but it teaches you many different techniques if you want to give it a go. Regards

[@lynvy353]

is this the front or the back ?

[@BilliesCraftRoom]

got it thanks :)