Im seriously struggling with the reverse afghan, I wanted to do a scarf in it, but everything I try either doesnt seem to work out or looks really tatty..

Got any tips?

Hi, Liz - With the holidays, visiting my son, and being sick the past week, I haven't been able to respond to your message.

For a scarf, use a light weight yarn or it will turn out too bulky. If you are new to crocheting, the pattern may be too advanced until you've practiced a variety of stitches and have more experience reading patterns.

I may be able to clarify the pattern if you can tell me where you are having problems.

Hi Cheryl,

I am hoping to start working on the pattern that you link to above, Moss Stitch Diamonds Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern. I have limited experience following patterns, so I have a couple of questions.

She says, "Beg Pattern Stitch, working first and last 7 sts in Moss St." All of my questions relate to this one instruction...

First question: Am I supposed to work these first and last 7 sts in the Moss Stitch pattern that she defines? Or, am I just supposed to do standard alternating rows of k1, p1 on top of p1, k1?

(all of the following questions assume that I'm supposed to work these sts in the defined Moss St pattern)

Second question: The Moss St is a 4 row repeat. I will have just worked 6 rows of it before I start the Pattern St. So, should I work the first 7 sts of the first Pattern St row as described in Row 3 of Moss stitch or Row 1?

Third question: Each row of the Moss St pattern begins with a slip. I am assuming that I should only sl 1 at the beginning of a row, and not when working the last 7 sts in Moss Stitch. Is this correct?

Fourth question: Rows 3 and 4 of the Moss St end with "end k2" and "end p2". I am assuming that for the first 7 sts of the row, I ignore the end instruction, but that I do work the k2 or p2 when finishing the last 7 sts of the row. Is this correct?

Last question: Let's assume that I've just worked the last Pattern St row, and that my first and last 7 sts were like row 2 of the Moss St. pattern. Now, the pattern instructs me to ends with 6 rows of Moss St. Should I work the next row like row 3 of the Moss St pattern, or like row 1?

And, if you're the wrong person to be asking all of these questions, could you perhaps point me in the direction of the right person to ask?

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!

Hi, Leah - Hmmm, all good questions... I've ready A LOT of crochet patterns and very few knit patterns.

However, after examining the pattern at:
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babyafbh.htm
this is how I understand the pattern (numbers correspond to the numbering of you questions)...

1) The first 6 rows of the blanket is ALL Moss St.

The first 7 stitches and the last 7 stitches of ALL PATTERN ROWS are worked in Moss St. (This makes a Moss St. border at the left and right sides.)

By the way, the Moss St. instructions don't include repeats, but it's pretty clear that "*p1, k1" and "*k1, p1" are supposed to be the repeats.

2) Hmmm, let's see...

Use the Moss St. for the 6 rows, then the Pattern Rows start where the first 6 rows left off. Like this:

Top border row 1 - Moss St. row 1 all the way across
Top border row 2 - Moss St. row 2
Top border row 3 - Moss St. row 3
Top border row 4 - Moss St. row 4
Top border row 5 - Moss St. row 1
Top border row 6 - Moss St. row 2

Pattern Row 1 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3 - follow Row 1 (RS) for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3
Pattern Row 2 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 4 - follow Row 2 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 4
Pattern Row 3 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 1 - follow Row 3 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 1
Pattern Row 4 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 2 - follow Row 4 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 2
Pattern Row 5 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3 - follow Row 5 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3
Pattern Row 6 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 4 - follow Row 6 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 4
Pattern Row 7 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 1 - follow Row 7 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 1
Pattern Row 8 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 2 - follow Row 8 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 2
Pattern Row 9 - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3 - follow Row 9 for pattern - 7 stitches Moss St. row 3
etc.

3) The "Moss Stitch" is actually Version 2 on this web page:
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/stitches/moss.htm
i.e.,:
Rows 1 and 2: (K1, P1) rep to end
Rows 3 and 4: (P1, K1) rep to end
Repeat these 4 rows for length desires.

The rest of the instructions in the blanket's pattern are to make a consistent stitch at the beginning (sl st) and end ("end k2" or "end p2") of each row.

4) Work the Moss St. as the instructions are given - including the "end K2" and "end p2" as the last thing you do each time you complete rows 3 and 4 of the Moss St.

Last question) After the Pattern Rows are completed, the last 6 rows is ALL Moss St. (This makes a Moss St. border at the top and bottom.) I would start the first row of these last 6 rows with whatever is the NEXT Moss St. row. For example, if Pattern Row 36 ends with Moss St. row 3, then start the first row of the ALL Moss St. 6 border rows with Moss St. row 4.

And, remember, most yarn is forgiving so you can pull it out and start over if the pattern doesn't look right to you... [smiley!]
-Cheryl