problem with rows getting shorter

[OriginalKat]

Hi,
I'm trying to crochet a scarf. I started out with 23 stitches in the first row by the 8th row i only had 13. i don't know which stitch i was missing. help!

[mommycrochets]

What stitch are you using? maybe try counting stitches after every row to make sure you got them all.

[OriginalKat]

I'm using hdc from this pattern I'm following. http://happyyellowhouse.com/htm/colorblock.html
It says to skip the first hdc.

[mommycrochets]

OK Are you chaining 2 before turning? and it says you will have 21 stitches

[Homerof2]

Row 1 does have 23 stitches but at the end of row 2, you should only have 21 stitches and that should continue to be your count.

These are the instructions:

Row 1: With Coffee, ch 23.  Hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 2, turn (21 hdc)

Rows 2-15: Skip first hdc, hdc in next hdc and in each hdc across, ch 2, turn,

It looks like they are using the ch 2 from the end of each row for the first hdc on the next round (that's why they say to skip the first hdc.)  So if you count that as the first hdc and then do a hdc in each one from the previous round, you should end up with 21 hdc.  Remember, when you get to the end of one row, you have to put a hdc in the ch 2 from the previous round (since it's a stitch.)

It sounds like you are missing the hdc in the ch 2 - if you skipped that, you would end up with 13 stitches by the end of round 8.

Hope that helps!

[OriginalKat]

Thanks everyone! I get it now. Yes, I meant 21. I was thinking of the 23 chain. I am chaining two before turning. I thought it meant don't hdc in the first stitch after turning, so I was skipping that. I thought it was strange to skip that every time. hehe