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Understanding 1960's sweater pattern instructions

right side of sweater with buttonhole band

right side of sweater with buttonhole band

I am knitting a sweater pattern from the 1960's. Here is what my pattern says:

RIGHT FRONT

Using no. 8 needles cast on 59 stitches and work in moss stitch thus:
1st to 4th rows: *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1. **
5th row (buttonhole row): k1, p1, k2tog tbl, wfd, k1, * p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Work 4 more rows in moss stich. 59 sts.
Next row: p4, * inc by purling into front and back of next st, p8; rep from * to last 10 sts, inc in next st purlwise, p2, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1. 65 sts.

WORK IN LACE PATTERN

1st row: (k1, p1) 3 times, k6, * wfd, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, wfd, k5; rep from * to last 3 sts, wfd, k2tog tbl, k1.
2nd row: p to last 7 sts, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
3rd row: (k1, p1) 3 times, * k3, p1, k3, wfd, sl, k2tog, psso, wfd; rep from * to last 9 sts, k3, p1, k3, wfd, k2tog tbl.
4th row: as 2nd row.

Repeat the last 4 rows twice more.
Work 4 more rows in pattern.

Next row is buttonhole row. Continue in pattern working a buttonhole as before on next and every following 22nd row until 5 buttonholes have all been worked.

Work 8 more rows in pattern thus finishing at side edge. (then the pattern starts the decreasing for the armhole)

HERE IS WHERE I AM STUCK: Do I go back and follow the instructions for the first buttonhole that is already done (5th row above in Right Front section) or am I supposed to incorporate some type of buttonhole in the lace pattern? And, am I assuming correctly that instead of telling me how many rows to knit until I reach the armhole, the pattern is telling me to do a buttonhole every 22nd row and I'll know I have reached the armhole after I've done 5 buttonholes?

I so greatly appreciate your help. This is a vintage pattern and while I'm able to find terminology online, it is difficult to find anything that answers like those I asked above. If you need more information, please let me know.

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Aug 12, 2021
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understanding 1960 pattern instruction
by: Ratchadawan

Hi,

Yes, you would incorporate a buttonhole into the lace pattern. It takes the first 5 stitches to make a buttonhole and you do this over the seed stitch band just right before the lace begins. I knit a little sample up to the first set of the lace. The right side is a buttonhole band with seed stitches.

You will continue the lace pattern throughout. Use a row counter to count from 1-4 and mark each row with a pencil until you get to 22nd row and start a buttonhole. Your second buttonhole should be on row 27, then 49 and 16 and so forth, and they will always be on the right side.

When you complete all of the 5 buttonholes, you work 8 more rows in lace pattern ending at the armhole edge.

I think the reason the pattern doesn't tell you how many rows to make is because there are already to many rows and numbers to deal with. It just want to make it less confusing, I think.

I hope this makes sense. Best to you and your project!

Ratcha

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