Stahman's Shawls and Scarves, by Myrna Stahman
Errata - Robert Scarf - Page 107, Simplicity Is Deceptive

A hearty "Thank You" to Kathy Neal, of Fibercations, for discovering a design error in Chart S2 of the Robert Seamen's scarf on page 107. As a result of Kathy's questions, I discovered that my written instructions for both Chart S1 and S2 contain errors. For these errors I do apologize.

An explanation of my design error in Chart S2. For knitters who prefer to begin at one end of a scarf and knit to the other end, I charted this "simple" four-row pattern in two directions. Chart S1 is to be used for one end and Chart S2 used for the other end, resulting in mirror image tails - or, so I thought. The problem as charted: Row 3 of chart S2 has the usual 12 yarn over increases, but has only 10 decreases - this won't work. My instinct was to simply eliminate the first and last yarn overs in row 3; but eliminating those yarn overs eliminates the mirror image of the pattern stitch.

My solution: Work a decrease into the last border stitch at the beginning of row 3 and a decrease into the first border stitch at the end of row 3. This maintains the integrity of the pattern stitch and results in the correct number of stitches in each row. The correct written instructions for Chart S2 - Row 3: Slip the first stitch as if to purl, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, follow the chart, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k2. Or, written totally in words: Row 3: Slip the first stitch as if to purl, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, yo, (k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, yo, 3-to-1, yo) twice, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k2.

The correct written instructions for Robert Scarf - Chart S1 are: Row 1: B6, [(yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1] three times, ending last repeat after the yo, B6. Rows 2 & 4: B6, p 31, B6. Row 3: B6, (k1, yo, ssk, yo, 3-to-1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2) three times, ending last repeat k1 rather than k2, B6.

What appeared to be so simple reinforced something I learned many years ago - the simplest question is often very difficult to answer. Thank you Kathy for discovering my errors. Happy knitting - Myrna.