Doris Chan's Everyday Crochet Cameo

I feel stupid since I have made car coats, elaborate baby sweaters, blankets, etc., but I have never had patterns read like these.

I have no problem making shells, but I just can't figure out on page 20 how the pattern works for sizes 30 through 47 (I'm doing size 37) after the foundation row. I see the stitch pattern notes and have no problem following those instructions I just don't get what she means re:

Work Patt Row 2, Patt Row 1 for 3 times, Patt Rows 3-4, Patt rows 2-3. Fasten off - 13 Pattern repeats.

Pattern rows 1 & 2 are both for increases and 3 & 4 or after even rows. I just can't get the sequence to come up with 13 pattern repeats. Has anyone done this before?

See if this helps (quoting Doris from Ravelry.com where someone else asked about this pattern):

After the foundation row, work PATT ROW 2, then work PATT ROW 1 for as many times as for your size, then work PATT ROWS 3-4, then work PATT ROWS 2-3.

PATT ROW 1 is the only row that is repeated multiple times....

You will be increasing at each side every time you do a PATT ROW 1 or PATT ROW 2, so the piece will grow quite a bit in width before you’re done.

We didn’t think a row count was necessary, but if you’re counting, the Front/Back including foundation row contains:

Sizes 30 (32, 35, 37, 40, 42, 45, 47, 50, 52);

7 (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11) rows

Doris also wrote:

The front/back neckline in Cameo is sort of low. It lies below the collarbone, but above the top of the triangle of your bra, so the number of rows you will crochet to get from the neck to the underarm join is small. Widthwise, the front/back neck FSC is from 6 to 15 inches narrower than the width of the top. In that short number of rows, the front/back has to grow horizontally most of the way to your underarm in order to provide coverage. That’s why there will be increases on each end of many of the rows.

Yes, it may appear misshapen while you are crocheting, particularly in the larger sizes where the body width is proportionally much larger than the front/back neck. Once the armholes are joined it will make more sense. Remember, the top still needs straps and rounds of stitches at armholes and neck edge, which will create the fit. Once the garment is blocked, all will be happy.

HOPE THIS HELPS!

Thank you so much. I will go back and try again. I have three granddaughters who will be very happy if I master these patterns! Jo

I can recommend getting on to www.Ravelry.com where there is a whole forum devoted to patterns by Doris Chan in which she actively participates. There's a whole discussion of Cameo. That's where my quotations from her are coming from.

You have to ask for an invitation to join Ravelry and it usually takes a few days to get it before you can get in to the site (it's a way of keeping out spammers; as a result the Ravelry community is quite civilized) and it is quite worthwhile.

Doris has posted pictures of the first few rows of several of the patterns -- it's the first few rows that are tricky because they set up the wonderful subtle shaping and fitting that she has built in to these patterns. Takes some getting used to but then her patterns go VERY quickly!

More from Doris on Cameo:

Here is a breakdown for each size, Front/Back bodice. For definitions of PATT ROWS 1, 2, 3 and 4 you must see and follow the STITCH PATTERN NOTES in the shaded box at the beginning of the pattern, page 21.

Size 30

Row 1: Foundation Row

Row 2: PATT ROW 2

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 3

Row 5: PATT ROW 4

Row 6: PATT ROW 2

Row 7: PATT ROW 3

Size 32

Row 1: Foundation Row

Row 2: PATT ROW 2

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 1

Row 5: PATT ROW 3

Row 6: PATT ROW 4

Row 7: PATT ROW 2

Row 8: PATT ROW 3

Sizes 35, 37, 40, 42

Row 1: Foundation Row

Row 2: PATT ROW 2

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 1

Row 5: PATT ROW 1

Row 6: PATT ROW 3

Row 7: PATT ROW 4

Row 8: PATT ROW 2

Row 9: PATT ROW 3

Sizes 45, 47

Row 1: Foundation Row

Row 2: PATT ROW 2

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 1

Row 5: PATT ROW 1

Row 6: PATT ROW 1

Row 7: PATT ROW 3

Row 8: PATT ROW 4

Row 9: PATT ROW 2

Row 10: PATT ROW 3

Size 50

Row 1: Foundation Row for your size, which begins and ends with a shell.

Row 2: PATT ROW 1

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 1

Row 5: PATT ROW 1

Row 6: PATT ROW 1

Row 7: PATT ROW 3

Row 8: PATT ROW 4

Row 9: PATT ROW 2

Row 10: PATT ROW 3

Size 52

Row 1: Foundation Row for your size, which begins and ends with a shell.

Row 2: PATT ROW 1

Row 3: PATT ROW 1

Row 4: PATT ROW 1

Row 5: PATT ROW 1

Row 6: PATT ROW 1

Row 7: PATT ROW 1

Row 8: PATT ROW 3

Row 9: PATT ROW 4

Row 10: PATT ROW 2

Row 11: PATT ROW 3

Have fun!