Armhole shaping?

Question

I crochet a lot, but have decided to try knitting a coat.

Everything is fine, up until the pattern gets to the armhole shaping. This bit of the pattern is for the back of the coat.

BO 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of every other row 5 times.
Work even until armhole is 7 sts. BO

I just don't understand binding off the 4 stitches at the beginning....Will this make it lopsided?

And, I don't really understand how to bind off just 4 stitches. If anyone could explain all of this, it would be sooo appreciated!!

Wow...thank you all so much....I finally realized that two rows would mean binding off on both ends...duh! :)

Answer 1

Your decreases will make your sleeve fit into the arm hole. Take a shirt, blouse, etc. and look at the sleeve from where it was put into the arm hole and you will see it tapers in from both sides all the way up to the top of the sleeve. With your decreases you are doing it but with a different method.Just follow the instructions and you will be very happy with your accomplishment. I believe someone else described binding off quite well.

Answer 2

You are binding off one set of 4 stitches on the public side, which is usually your knit side (right side--I hate these terms, btw), and 4 stitches on the next row back on the reverse side (wrong side), which is usually your purl side. Binding off 4 stitches involves working the first 5 stitches, and if you are working in a stitch pattern should be done by working the stitch according to what the pattern indicates it should be, other than a yo. So if you are supposed to knit the first stitch and purl the second, that is what you should do, and bring the first stitch worked off the right needle over the second stitch. You then work the third stitch, bringing the second one over and off that one, and then work the fourth one, bringing the third over and off, now work the fifth stitch, bringing the fourth over and off this one. The fifth stitch remains on the right needle, becoming the new first stitch, then work the rest of the row, paying attention to where you now are in any patterning being done. At the end off this row, turn your work and cast off four stitches on the next row the same way, again paying attention to where you are in any patterning. You will then decrease on the public side of the work only at each end of the row. It is always best, btw, to work or slip (depending on how you knit) the first stitch and then on this edge make an ssk over the next two stitches (or work 2 through the back loop) and work to the last 3 stitches and work 2 together, working the last stitch. This makes a smooth line along the armhole for joining the sleeve later on. When making these decreases you need to remember that if you are doing any stitch other than garter or stockinette that you are also losing stitches at the sides of your first and last pattern repeats and need to adjust your automatic thinking of the pattern to the loss of the stitches.

Answer 3

Armhole Shaping

Answer 4

You knit the first and the second stitch, pull the first stitch over the second and knit the third. Pull the second over the third, knit the forth and pull the third over, knit the fifth, pull the forth over it and continue knitting for the rest of the row.
Turn to work and do the same again.

So on both sides of the work you bind of 4 stitches.
Next you decrease a stitch at the end of every other row, it does not say so clearly, but again you need to do this on both sides of the work, so the shape stays the same at both ends.

Answer 5

no that will not make it lopsided. I make lots of sweaters and jackets.

to bind off just 4 stitch is you knit 2 stitches and pass the first stitch over the one in front, you bound off 1 stitch.

knit one stitch and pass the first stitch over the stitch you just knit. (bound off 2 stitches) repeate this step 2 more times and you bound off your 4 stitches.

at the beginning of the next row, knit one stitch and slip one stitch knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise and then knit those 2 together through the back loops this is known as a SSK a right slanting decrease. knit to the last 3 stitches, knit 2 together and knit one.

purl one row and then work the same decrease as above.

work without any decreases and bind off all the remaining stitches.

Answer 6

Decreasing those 4 stitches at the beginning of those 2 rows won't make it lopsided...it will be the part of the coat that goes under your arm and you need the decreases so it won't be real tight there.

Here's a website with pictures and instructions for for various knitting stitches, including binding off:
http://www.crochet911.com/knit911.html

And here's one with videos:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/bind-off
.

Answer 7

Yes that is what work as for the back means. You follow the same instructions you followed for the back until the front measures 19''