Help with pattern please

[Judeline]

Ch 8 Note : You will be working around the initial ch. ROW 1 : Sc in second ch from the hook: 6sc, 3sc in one ch, 5 sc, inc (16).     Am I misunderstanding or are there not enough stitches to do this row?  TIA

[Granny Square]

Hi, you have encountered something I wish patterns would explain a little better, we get questions on this subject quite a bit.  It is not difficult, just different and a little mind-bending the first time one encounters it.

You will be working in an oval, using BOTH  sides of the chain.  Do NOT work the first pass using the back bump only, it pulls the chain too tight.  My preferred way to work into a chain is, with chain facing you, to work around the topmost loop in the first pass, and the remaining 2 loops on the second pass, which works great for working in an oval.

Your pattern says: ROW 1 : Sc in second ch from the hook: 6sc, 3sc in one ch, 5 sc, inc (16).

The part in bold is worked normally, using the topmost loop of the chain. 

The underlined part 3 stitches worked into 1 loop, 'turns the corner', to prepare you for the next part (the sort of weird part), which is...

Rotate the piece with the same side continuing to face you, so the remaining loops that were on the underside of the chain, are facing 'up' and are ready to be worked into;  the part in red is worked into the remaining unused loops of the chain, heading back to where you started.  The result is you have just worked in the round, although a long skinny oval not a circle.

 

[Judeline]

Thank you. I feel so silly, but it's clear now.