the word of the day?  Semantics.

Let me just say that Lisa Lloyd is not only a wonderful designer, but a sympathetic knitter as well.  And she answers her emails right away.  (I think Mary Beth must still be in bed!)  The confusion is all in the way the directions are read.

To refresh:  the directions for the size I am knitting read:  work across (83) sts, place center (36) sts on holder for front neck, and complete row."  the problem being that there are not enough stitches on the needles to knit 83, put 36 on a holder and then knit another 83.

What you are meant to do is knit 47, put 36 on a holder and then complete the remaining 47.  The 83 in the directions include the 36 for the holder   83-36=47.  The reason for writing the directions this way is so that the working yarn ends up on the other side of the neck edge for use on the other shoulder.

Today’s mantra:

math really is my friend math really is my friend math really is my friend math really is my friend math really is my friend

I am knitting the size that calls for 130 stitches and have reached the neck shaping for the front.  The directions state:   "work across (83) sts, place center (36) sts on holder for front neck, and complete row."

My math tells me if the neck opening is to be 36 stitches across the front, then the amount of stitches on either side should be 47 for this particular size.

Of course, I am not known for my math skills am I misunderstanding something crucial?

ps. you all realize of course, that it’s a rhetorical question and I really don’t think it’s me? I wonder what Mary Beth is doing, do you think she is reading her emails?  someone go wake her up!