How to shape the shoulders & back neck for a men's sweater?

by Jing
(Cairns Australia)

I am knitting a men's sweater and finished the back section and armhole shaping, now I need to shape shoulders & back neck. But I just can't follow whatever the pattern is saying, can you please kindly interpret it for me?

Shape shoulders and back neck
Next row (RS): Cast off 9 (10: 12: 13: 14: 15: 17) sts, patt until there are 14 (15: 16: 17: 19: 20: 21) sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.

Work each side of neck separately.

Cast off 4 sts at beg of next row.

Cast off rem 10 (11: 12: 13: 15: 16: 17) sts.

With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts, cast off centre 37 (39: 39: 41: 41: 43: 43) sts, patt to end.

Complete to match first side, reversing shapings

I can work the first 3 lines from the pattern, then just lost totally.

many thanks,

Jing

YOUR ANSWER

This is a bit confusing. I am assuming that you have something like 83 (89: 95: 101: 107: 113: 119) sts to start with?

Centre Sts - 37 (39: 39: 41: 41: 43: 43) sts

Side Sts (x 2) -
Cast off 9 (10: 12: 13: 14: 15: 17) (arm edge)
Cast off 4 sts (neck edge)
Cast off 10 (11: 12: 13: 15: 16: 17) (arm edge)

If this is the case, then although your instructions are actually correct, I think perhaps the wording lends itself to confusion and they become much clearer if you just change the wording slightly.

Next row (RS): Cast off 9 (10: 12: 13: 14: 15: 17) sts, patt 14 (15: 16: 17: 19: 20: 21) sts turn, leaving rem sts on the needle.

So at this point you have a cast off edge on one side and you have turned to work to the wrong side row and will start knitting part way across the row. After turning you should have 14 (15: 16: 17: 19: 20: 21) sts on the left hand needle (assuming that you are right handed) and you work on these stitches only until you have finished the shaping for that side of the back.

Next row (WS): Cast off 4 sts at beg of row, patt to end.

Next row (RS): Cast off rem 10 (11: 12: 13: 15: 16: 17) sts.

Now you should have no stitches left on the right hand needle, and you are ready to rejoin the yarn and start the shaping on the other side.

So join the yarn to the stitches on the other needle (or your stitch holder)

Next row (RS): cast off centre 37 (39: 39: 41: 41: 43: 43) sts, patt to end.

Next row (WS): Cast off 9 (10: 12: 13: 14: 15: 17) sts, patt to end.

Next row (RS): Cast off 4 sts at beg of row, patt to end.

Next row (WS): Cast off rem 10 (11: 12: 13: 15: 16: 17) sts.

Hope this helps...