Lace Knitting - 'No Stitch'???

[bella_domanie]

I taught myself how to knit, read patterns both written and charted and also semi-successfully knit from them.  Except the whole 'no stitch' grey boxes in charts.  WHAT IS THAT?!  I've spent days searching, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do.... but... nothing.  Can anyone explain this make-my-life-miserable thing to me, please?!?!  I will love you forever. 

If you're not entirely sure what I'm talking about (god, I hope you are), here's a link to the Windermere Scarf http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/images/muirBIG.jpg.  Chart's on page 4.  I want to eventually make this one.  Right now, I want to start the Muir shawl from Knitty.

Please help me!!!!!!!

Thank you in advance.

[lapoli]

I am looking at the Muir shawl from Knitty and the grey boxes, according to the legend in the bottom of the chart, are purls on the right side and knits on the wrong side.  Is that what you're talking about?

In a lot of lace patterns, you're doing a lot of yarnovers and decreases which means that each row's stitch count may not be the same, however, in my experience, it's always notated with black boxes, not gray.

[bella_domanie]

Ok.  Maybe I looked at that one wrong.  But what about the Windermere pattern? .... I'll have to go back and recount the stitches and see.

[lapoli]

I am busy looking for that pattern so I can take a look at it.. Would you happen to have a link handy? 

[bella_domanie]

Crap... I thought that was the one I pasted in my post.  Sorry. http://www.sweetpaprikadesigns.com/Windermere.pdf

[lapoli]

Okay, I'm looking at Windermere now.  Your stitch count is actually not changing, but I think they're doing that so you can have a visual for how the pattern is forming.  For instance, in the 25-stitch repeat, the middle section is growing by two stitches every other row and is flanked, on either side, by yarnovers.  Because the yarnovers are moving further out on each right side, they're showing you how the pattern is looking over the course of each row.

I promise you that if you just read the white boxes, you will be just fine!  I'm going to see if I can't find a better explanation of the "no stitch" phenomenon that makes more sense and hasn't had a long week! 

Really, though, don't stress about the "no stitches"!  I have a feeling once you get started, you'll realize it's much easier than you think!

[bella_domanie]

You.  Are.  God.  Those stupid little boxes had me so freakin' confused.  That also leads me to another question... So, the boxes with the YO's, just make that row in the patter look wider than it actually is.  Is that right???

[lapoli]

Sort of, yes!

I was re-looking at that pattern, too, and noticed that on row 17, you've got a lot more yarnovers than decreases which made them need more than just 25 boxes.  By my count, at the end of that row, you're still going to have only 25 stitches, but you're wrapping YOs several times in a couple places --which may account, too, for the black boxes in the rows before.  I've seen charts where they add/subtract boxes every row and visually, this chart is a lot simpler to read.

BUT, I also noticed that in addition to the charts, they've provided written directions, so you can always just refer to them if you're ever confused mid-row or if you find those easier.     

[bella_domanie]

Oh my god, I love you.  You have made my world soooooooo much simpler now! haha Wanna help me tackle the clutter in my house now?! lol I'm joking.  Kind of.  Anyway, thank you so much.  You have no idea how much of a relief this is.  I was really starting to go crazy over this.  Thank you.

[lapoli]

Ah, it's my pleasure!! Please let me know how your scarf turns out! I'd love to see it.