Place all the stitches for center section (b) into hold position. Place all the stitches for left shoulder (c) into hold position. Knit the right shoulder and neck, decreasing at the neck edge, until beginning of shoulder.
Partial knit (short row) the shoulder decreases. The illustration below shows a back neck, but the shoulder shaping is worked the same for the front. 45 stitches are shown as the original shoulder width. After knitting across to the left, there are 40 stitches remaining at the point where the Contour line crosses the Stitch Scale. Decrease 5 stitches on the right side by placing them into hold position. Knit across, wrap first holding needle. Knit 1 row back to left. Read the Knit Contour pattern every 2 rows throughout.
When shoulder is completed, push all of the right shoulder stitches back to upper working position (about halfway back on the needle bed), knit 1 row main color. Change to scrap yarn, knit approximately 1" and remove from machine.
Return pattern to beginning of neck shaping. Set Change Dial to 
and remove section "b" on scrap yarn. Reset Dial to 
. Work left shoulder, section "c", decreasing at the neck edge, and decreasing the shoulder by short rows, same as for right shoulder. Many people like to jot down all shaping when knitting the right shoulder, then use those notes to knit the left one so that they match exactly.
One other shaping technique that you will use frequently with Knit Contour patterns is Partial Knit (short row) increasing. The illustration below shows the top edge of a pair of slacks which are knitted from the waist down. The original pattern shows 22 stitches in hold pos. As the paper advances, the Contour shows 9 stitches at the point where the line crosses the Stitch Scale. Carriage should be at right side of bed. Return 13 neeedles to pos C on left side, leaving all remaining stitches in hold. Knit across and back. Check Contour pattern to see how much the line has moved, and return required stitches to pos C. Increase on right side as well, whenever the line moves over 1 mark on the Stitch Scale.
Return to How to Read Knit Contour Patterns
Knit Contour Lesson Index
Irene Woods
P.O. Box 637
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(928) 684-2969
© 1997-2002 by Irene Woods
Email: irenewoods@clearwater.net