I am a beginning Knitter using the Contential Method, and have sucessfully made several items for friends and family, and now I am ready to try something for myself. I have found a pattern from Bernat.com and I am confused, as I have not yet mastered the art of reading the pattern.

Below is the beginning of the pattern, with which I have two questions,which I shall put after the pattern...

INSTRUCTIONS
BACK
**With smaller needles, cast on 104 (111-122-133-148-170) sts.
Work 10 rows in garter st (knit every row) noting 1st row is WS.
Change to larger needles and proceed in pat as follows:
1st row: (WS). Purl.
2nd row: K5 (3-3-3-5-5). *P3. K2tog. yfwd. K6. Rep
from *, ending last rep with K6 (4-4-4-6-6).

I have cast on the 122 stitches to obtain the size top I want and have worked the 10 rows of garter st. I have completed 1st row.

First question, begins on 2nd row. I am reading the pattern as K5+3. *P3.
K5 is for the sizes XS/S. I am assuming I am to K5+3 totalling 8 to allow for the larger pattern size? Correct or not?

Second question, also on 2nd row comes in with the K2tog. yfwd. K6.

I understand I am to knit two together. The confusion comes witn the yfwd.K6. Again, I use the continental stitch, so I am assuming I am to bring the working yarn forward on the needles, and do a single knit stitch or do I bring the working yarn forward on the needles, and work a total of 6 stitches in knit?

I am so anxious to work on this pattern, yet I cannot bring myself to pull out all my stitches and begin again, and again, and again! Can anyone please shed light on this for me?

Most appreciated!

Rhonda in Kansas

Rhonda,
I can help you with part of your question.
For question 1, no you don't knit 5+3, instead you knit 3. All the numbers that are in parentheses indicate numbers you knit or purl for a particular size. Since you cast on 122 stitches,and that number is in the third place, that means you are to work all future parts with whatever number is in the third place. The best thing you can do is make a copy of the pattern (for your own personal use) and highlight every part of the pattern that pertains to your size. When only one number is given, that is for all the sizes.
As for the yfwd part, that does have me stumped, it almost sounds like your knitting a twisted stitch but I just can't seem to picture it in my mind. Maybe someone else has an idea. Sorry.
Diana

"yfwd" is (most often) the British version of "yo", yarn over. After you k2tog, bring your yarn to the front, moving it between the needle tips.Then return it to the back OVER the tip of the right-hand needle. You have now created a new stitch to make up for the one you decreased in the k2tog maneuver.

Diana and strikker have you all set now!

Just a few pointers---please make a few copies of the pattern and get out a highlighter and make your size.

Also read from one piece of punctuation to the next---i.e. read slow and picture what you are to do.

Knit a swatch of the pattern so you can practice and see what the pattern looks like and you can work out any little problems you might develop.

This board is a great place to get help so ask and almost always some one will point you in the right direction.

Good luck!

Oh, I forgot that "yfwd" is another way of saying "yo"! Duh!! I must've been more tired than I thought this morning.
Diana

I am overwhelmed at the help I have received on this site! Thank everyone who has helped me understand and hopefully, time allowing, pick up my needles tonight and knit forward!

I again thank everyone!

Rhonda of KS

The abbreviation yfwd stands for yarn forward. It's another way of saying yo or yarn over.

Shari

It is much easier to trouble shoot directions with yarn and needles in hand. often the directions make sense if you are knitting them and not if you are reading them. Sizing things are different pleas mark your size all through the pattern or you may well end up with one large and one medium sleave or the right side of the sweater in a small and the left side in a medium which makes for a really funny sweater and a good post here. but it can be infuriating when it dawns on you what you did.
is the steam that curls out your ears on these occasions good for blocking? I am never sure.

Dances you make me laugh!