Lace Stocking Pattern Question

by Nanci Nelson
(Springfield VT USA)

I have been knitting for a long time but have not encountered this before. Help books are not doing it. I am knitting a pair of lace stockings for my daughter & am stuck with the first 4 rows.

The pattern is from the magazine Interweave Knits,Spring 2009 issue. Bettie's Lace Stockings.

It states:
Short-Row 1: (RS) knit to last st, wrap next st, turn.
Short-Row 2: (WS) purl to last st, wrap next st, turn.
Short-Row 3: knit to 1 st before wrapped st, wrap next st, turn.
Short-Row 4: purl to 1 st before wrapped st, turn.

I have no idea what they are talking about. I have finally found out what a wrapped stitch was, but I must be doing it wrong because it doesn't work.

Could you please explain to me what I should be doing with these 4 rows.

Thanks so much.

YOUR ANSWER

These four rows are really one row in four and designed to add shaping to your knitting.

Basically what you do is knit the first row until you get to the last stitch, then you move the tail of your yarn to the front of your knitting between the last two stitches and slip the last stitch onto the right hand needle without knitting it.

Turn your knitting so that the purl of wrong side is facing, slip the first stitch onto the right hand needle (again without knitting it), then purl to the last stitch. Move the yarn to the back and slip the next stitch onto the right hand needle purlwise.

Slip the first stitch and knit the row until you have two stitches remaining on the left hand needle. Move your yarn to the front again, slip the next stitch onto the right hand needle and turn your work. You should still have one stitch on the right hand needle (was the left hand needle until you turned your work).

Slip the next stitch and purl until you have two stitches left on the left hand needle. Move the yarn to the back of the work, and slip the next stitch onto the right hand needle purlwise.

To knit the next row, you slip the first stitch and then knit as per the instructions for the 5th row.

Hope this helps...