Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Mermaid Shoulder Issues

I've started my mermaid and have reached the cast off section for the shoulder. Does anyone know at which ridge number I should start the dec for the shoulder? I feel like I should count from the cast off ridge 9, but now I'm not sure. Each time I read Hanne's directions I become more confused so now I've hit the wall & stopped knitting.

Any help or clarification would be great. I should probably just be patient and wait for Amy's spreadsheet to arrive, but I just couldn't hold off any longer due to itchy fingers. Love the yarn and the knitting- not so much the the directions as written. Thanks!

11 comments:

Becky said...

What size Mermaid are you knitting? I think that probably makes a difference as to how many ridges.

Cindi and Bill said...

I'm working on a size medium. I'm confused as to where to start the decease for the shoulder. I know that I need to continue the decreases I started on the first section through the striped section.

I'm just not sure when to start the shoulder decrease- at what point to I count for this decrease? The beginning of the striped section or after I cast off on the 2nd row of ridge 9? Thanks for your help.

Becky said...

Looking at the spreadsheet for the medium, the decreases occur on ridge 7, 11, 15, and 19 and the cast-off of 23 stitches occurs on ridge 22 which is the 5th color B ridge. Does that help?

Cindi and Bill said...

Yes, I have all of those decreases. I'm confused about the next section: the "slanted" shoulder decreases while in the striped section- "at the same time slant the shoulder line by dec 1 st inside edge-sts every 6 ridges 4 times"

When do I start the decrease for that- is it after the cast off in ridge 22? Or from the beginning of the striped section. Do you decrease for both rows of the ridge involved in all cases?

I'm really looking forward to hearing from Amy about her spreadsheet- I think I'm reading way more into these directions than I need to, lol. Thanks for all your help Becky!

fiberfanatic said...

If I understand where you are (the underarm section, right?) you reduce a stitch every other row (once per stripe) after the cast off 23. This is to do the underarm shaping.

Cindi and Bill said...

No Fiberfanatic I'm not that far yet- only at the shoulder section. I've just CO the 23 sts and was wondering at which point I start the dec for the slant of the shoulder. It states to dec 1 st every 6 ridges- but I don't understand at which ridge I put the 1st dec.

Becky said...

Ok, I think I finally understand where you are. From looking at the spreadsheet, here's what it says. After you do the ridge where you cast-off 23, the next decrease is the 6th ridge after that (which is the 8th color B ridge). You then do one ridge of A, then do the gusset section, then ridge in A, ridge in B, decrease ridge in A. This is the 6th ridge if you count the long ridges included in the gusset section. From there continue to decrease every 6th ridge. And there is only one decrease when you are in a decreasing ridge. The spreadsheet has you do it the first row of the appropriate ridge. Please tell me figured out what you needed this time. Please?

Cindi and Bill said...

Yes- that is exactly what I needed to confirm. I know I'm reading way more into these directions than I need, but I can't seem to just 'go with the flow"!

Linda@SquabbleHollow said...

At least you got the nerve to start your Mermaid, I am a chicken and have been waiting to hear from Amy about the spreadsheet. Can anyone tell me how long it usually takes to get one ???

Cindi and Bill said...

Well Linda I sent Amy an email the week of July 4th and I still have not heard back from her. I took the bull by the horns and did my own spreadsheet- not sure it's totally correct, but I just finished the body yesterday! It even fits so I'm thrilled- now I have to figure out the sleeves & I will be all done. Sounds so simple- I had some help from the yarn shop to decipher some of the directions since 2 emp are doing the same Mermaid it was like we had our own litte KAL- it's just hard to get to them when they are 4 hours from my home .

Linda@SquabbleHollow said...

Cindi,

Thanks for answering my question. I was starting to get a complex, seemed like everyone had a spreadsheet but me. Good for you on doing your own and aren't you lucky that the ladies at your yarn shop are doing a Mermaid,too.