Knitting across a row when you cast off a load of stitches in the middle

by Sophie
(London, UK)

I am knitting a pocket and the pattern says:

k13, cast off 22, k to end of row - I have done this without a problem but the next row says:

k13, knit across the 22 stitches at the top of the pocket and k to the end of the row.

I am really confused because how do I knit across 22 stitches when I have cast them off?

I am really hoping you can help me.

YOUR ANSWER

I would assume that your pattern at some point includes instructions for knitting the pocket insert and that this piece of knitting is 22 stitches wide.

You need to have knitting this piece (but not cast off) before you can complete the row you are asking about.

What the instructions are telling you to do is to knit up to the cast off stitches, then knit the 22 stitches of your pocket insert, and then to knit the remaining stitches on the other side of the cast off stitches.

This creates the back for the pocket (which is usually sewn down later to form the pocket) and the pocket opening.