DROPS dog hoodie--easy until I got to this point

[meretia]

I'm knitting my dog the DROPS dog coat now that it's cold. I managed to get this far

without a problem, but now I'm stuck.

I don't know if it's a translation issue or what, but I find their directions for dividing for the front legs incredibly confusing. The pattern says to "bind off 2 K sts, put the next 13-18-23 sts on a thread or a stitch holder (= mid underneath the stomach), bind off 2 K sts and knit the remaining 43-58-73 sts as before. Continue with Rib over these sts (= the back piece) for 5-8-10 cm [2"-3 1/8"-4"] from the split, and then put these sts on a thread or a stitch holder. Put the remaining 13-18-23 sts underneath the stomach back on needle and knit Rib for 5-8-10 cm [2"-3 1/8"-4"]. Then put all sts back on needle – at the same time cast on 2 new sts each side in between the stomach and back piece = 60-80-100 sts."

I get the basic idea--cast off two, put eighteen on a bit of waste yarn for the chest/belly, cast off two more, go on your merry way. My problem is that when I cast off two and then put aside the stitches, the live yarn stretches across the space where those stitches were and closes them off from the rest of the sweater when I go to cast off the next two. It makes them into their own bunchy little tube separate from the rest. And considering that the pattern calls for me to pick them up again later, I don't think it's supposed to do that. I thought I'd managed to get around the problem by casting off the first two of the round, knitting fifty-eight, casting off two more, and putting the last eighteen on a piece of waste yarn. But that still takes me from knitting on four needles to knitting on three needles and leaves the set-aside stitches out of the circle. The only way I can think to get around it is knitting that section straight instead of in the round, which I just might do.

I've looked at other people's projects from the same pattern on Ravelry to see how they did it, but none of them are tremendously helpful. So I don't know. Am I doing something wrong here? Is there something stupidly obvious I'm missing? Anyone have any ideas?

Comments

[owlectomy]

I suspect you're meant to knit that section straight instead of in the round -- precisely because you don't want to turn those stitches into their own bunchy little tube.

[archane]

This would be my assumption from reading the pattern, too. You knit both the back piece and the front piece straight, and return to knitting in the round when you put all of the stitches back on the needles.

[jumpuphigh]

then put aside the stitches, the live yarn stretches across the space where those stitches were and closes them off from the rest of the sweater when I go to cast off the next two.

I've had that problem with other patterns. They expect you to know to actually cut the yarn (long enough to weave in later) and pick up where you start knitting again. So, cast off two, cut, slip stitches onto holder, cast off two, begin knitting again.

[msmcknittington]

Instead of cutting the yarn, they might intend for you to knit across the stitches to be slipped on the holder, and then slide them on the holder. It shouldn't make any difference in the end result, but it's an option if you hate weaving in ends.

[jumpuphigh]

That would work really well, too.

[girlpearl]

I have absolutely no useful advice here, but I had to say, the expression on your dog's face is cracking me up. I want to tug on his whiskers and give him a biscuit :)

[jackandahat]

This. Best pic ever.

[ladyjax]

OMG, yes! It's the look worn by dogs all over the world that translates to, "Mom, I love you. A LOT."

[to_love_a_rose]

Agreed. He's a cutie. :)

[hobbitbabe]

When you're knitting just the back or just the belly, you're knitting straight (back and forth), not in the round.