The pattern I'm working on has an 8 row lace pattern repeat.
The instructions say to decrease on row 3, then every following 8th row after that.

Does that mean to decrease ON row 8 each time(which is only 5 rows after row 3) or to decrease every 8th row after row 3 (making the decrease on row 3 all the time)???

At first I thought it was the latter as that's what I usually take that instruction to mean, but then I re read it and confused myself that it could be the former...opinions please?

no no no no yes

do one row
do one row
decrease

do one row
do one row
do one row
to the eighth and decrease on the eigth

do one row
do one row
do one row
to the eighth and decrease on the eigth

Oooooh, so the decrease will always be on the 8th row? I didn't think of that one.

Oooooh, so the decrease will always be on the 8th row? I didn't think of that one.

What a noggin :roll: Am I right then? Am I? Or am I miserably wrong :confused:

I don't know. Let's wait for one of the clever people to answer and see what they say!

I don't know. Let's wait for one of the clever people to answer and see what they say!

I'm not going to give you the satisfaction here :wave:

I think it's row three, then every eight rows (row three again, and again) but I'm not certain about that at all. It could also mean decrease on row three and then decrease on row eight again and again.

Does it actually matter in terms of the pattern?

If it says every following 8th row then it should be row 3 every time.

i.e. decrease on row 3 then count 8 rows before you decrease again. On an 8 row pattern repeat this will bring you back to row 3.

If it says every following 8th row then it should be row 3 every time.

i.e. decrease on row 3 then count 8 rows before you decrease again. On an 8 row pattern repeat this will bring you back to row 3.

Don't hide your lights under any bushells (sp? lisaH) JillM and w4b, I like the way you waited until Lady Gem asked for the more inteligent knitter to respond......:suspect: I know you're better knitters than me, I'm off to practice now :cry:

Sorry not been online but I would normally do what W4B and JillM said (not that it matters as you have sorted it out now:) ).

Sorry not been online but I would normally do what W4B and JillM said (not that it matters as you have sorted it out now:) ).

Have you sorted it Lady Gem :huh: What was the end result :confused:

I'm going with what I first thought which seems to be the same as everyone else thinks which is the one that would make it on row 3 every time. If it's wrong then I'm sure no one will notice :) Thanks!

If its the Rowan pattern that you are doing their helpline is supposed to be quite good:)

Help again! Ok, so you helped me figure out when to decrease, now I need to know HOW to do it.
The row that I have to decrease on has yarn overs that make a new stitch every so often. At some point the decreases at each side of the row are going to interfere with these. Up til now I have been keeping a knit stitch at each side of the row and decreasing the stitches that are further in(it helps with making up at the end), so it means that I've had to miss some yarn overs because they fall right where I need to do the decrease. So it's meant that I've ended up decreasing 4 stitches each row instead of 2 (cos I haven't been able to do the yarn overs). Am I doing it right? what would you do? Would you keep the selvedge stitches at each side or just do your decreases right to the end of the row? When I end up having to decrease where a yarn over should be, should I just not do the decrease seeing as I am missing out on a yarn over?

When they say decrease on 3rd row, then every 8th row. First decrease on the 3rd row & then count 5 rows & decrease on the 8th. After that decrease on the 8th row until you have taken all the stitches off that you need.
As for decreasing at the beginning of the row, knit the first two stitches, then lift the first stitch over the second stitch & take off the needle as you do when you cast off. At the end of the row, knit through the last two stitches through the back of the loops.
If you don't do the yarn overs on the row, your lacy pattern won't work out right.
Hope that is some help to you as your question was rather confusing.

Thanks I sorted it now with help from the wonderful Wool4Brains. I think when I initially decided that I should be decreasing on every row 3, I should have been doing it on row 8. Because I did it on row 3 it's messing with the lace pattern but I'll just fudge it and no one will be able to tell!

Thanks I sorted it now with help from the wonderful Wool4Brains. I think when I initially decided that I should be decreasing on every row 3, I should have been doing it on row 8. Because I did it on row 3 it's messing with the lace pattern but I'll just fudge it and no one will be able to tell!

Didn't I say something along those lines :suspect:

Didn't I say something along those lines :suspect:

Yes you did - clever girl (now have a house point):D

Yes you did Wheezy - but Wool4Brains helped me work out the latest hiccup in secret. You got the first bit right though...I should listen to you more often...

Yes you did Wheezy - but Wool4Brains helped me work out the latest hiccup in secret. You got the first bit right though...I should listen to you more often...

It would be nice to get some public recognition once in a while that's all. You never listen to me.......... :sad: