Shelda's MTAS spreadsheet examples & notes

I mentioned using a spreadsheet to modify the increases for the More Than a Sweatshirt pattern on the list, and was asked about the process. Here's what I did. I'm using Microsoft Excel, but other spreadsheet programs could be used similarly. The graphics are captured screen shots. Each graphic represents only a portion of the total sheet. The title shown: “MTAS Counts - 11/16/01 - 3,” is the name of my file. Please note: since my row and stitch gauges differ significantly from those given in the pattern, I made adjustments in the increases that will not necessarily be useful for other knitters. These sheets are offered only an example of how you might use a spreadsheet to help you calculate.

In the first portion shown, I've set up areas for the left front (LF), sleeve (SLV), back, sleeve and right front (RF). I drew vertical lines where the markers fall in the pattern, between sections. I used separate columns for each place where there is a potential increase (marked “Edge” and “Inc” for the front edge and increase points). The gray boxes on the far left are the row numbers, and the number of stitches for each row is totaled on the far right.

Each potential increase cell is either blank or holds a '1' if I plan to increase at that point. Only the increase rows are filled in. The rows between are blank, and reflect the plain knit rows in the pattern. As I hope you can see, the center number in each section reflects the total of the stitches resulting from the previous increase row. Since I want to be sure and remember when I will NOT increase, I have colored those rows or cells gray to jog my memory.

As you can see directly above, after the stitches are added at the center front and you begin working the sweater in the round, it no longer makes sense to keep the left and right front columns separate. I therefore combined all the front stitches into a single column.

The graphic shown below is a continuation of the first, but down several rows. Here you can see where I began reducing the number of increases for my sleeves, first omitting every third increase row, and then every other increase row. I knew how many stitches I wanted to end up with at the end of each sleeve, and I could easily use the spreadsheet to fiddle around with the increases so that I could get the final total I wanted with a smooth rate of increase.

And here in the third illustration, I've come to the bottom of the spreadsheet. I'm at the point just before I join the body together and put the sleeves on hold, At this point I will have knit 97 rows, and be left with 128 stitches for the front and back, and 77 stitches for each sleeve.

After I had my increases all worked out, I printed out the pages I would need and used a row counter and magnetic guide with a movable line marker to keep track of where I was.

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Copyright © 2001
Shelda Eggers, Owner-Ample-Knitters
Last modified: 2 December 2001