KNITTING PATTERN HELP

Which rows need sleeve increases or decreases?

If your pattern says to increase every sixth row, it helps to write down the shaping rows before you start. These examples use ordinary rows of flat knitting. Keep your pattern beside the plan for the actual stitches and their placement.

Open the free knitting row planner

Example 1: increase every sixth row

Start with 48 stitches. Increase 1 stitch at each edge on row 5, then every sixth row, for 5 increases in total.

Each increase row adds 2 stitches: one at each edge. Five increase rows add 10 stitches, giving 58 stitches. The occurrence rows are six rows apart; there are five rows between row 5 and row 11.

To enter this in PurlMind, set 48 starting stitches and a section of at least 29 rows. Add an increase instruction with first row 5, repeat interval 6, total occurrences 5 and a change of 1 at each edge. The planner's built-in sleeve example uses a 32-row section with these values.

Example 2: decrease every fourth row

Start with 60 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch at each edge on row 3 and every fourth row after that, for 6 decrease rows in total. The shaping rows are 3, 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23.

Each shaping row removes 2 stitches. Six decrease rows remove 12 stitches, leaving 48 stitches. Enter a decrease instruction with first row 3, repeat interval 4, total occurrences 6 and a change of 1 at each edge.

Does “repeat 5 more times” include the first row?

“Work the increase, then repeat 5 more times” means 6 occurrences in total. “Work the increase 5 times in total” means 5. Read the complete instruction and check the stated final stitch count. In the first example, repeating 5 more times would add another increase on row 35 and finish with 60 stitches instead.

Keeping a cable repeat alongside shaping

Suppose a cable is worked on row 3 and every fourth row through row 31: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31. Alongside the first example, rows 11 and 23 need both the cable and the increases. Add the cable as a separate reminder; it does not change the stitch count. Use the order of work and stitch placement specified by your pattern.

Right side, wrong side and row numbering

When row 1 is a right-side row, odd-numbered rows are RS and even-numbered rows are WS. An even repeat interval keeps shaping on the same side; an odd interval alternates sides. PurlMind numbers each planned section from row 1, so convert any whole-pattern row numbers before entering them.

The planner tracks row timing and stitch arithmetic. It does not calculate gauge, choose a sleeve size, distribute increases across a single row, or support short rows and knitting in the round. If your repeat interval changes, enter a separate instruction for each phase.

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