The symmetric subroutine is typically used for armhole and shoulder shaping. The main feature of the symmetric subroutine is that the shaping codes apply to both the left and right edge of the knitting. It often appears after the band subroutine, but may appear elsewhere as well. The symmetric subroutine may include between 1 to 15 shaping instruction codes.
It is possible for the symmetric subroutine to contain a divided neckline. In these cases the base value for this subroutine will have 128 added to it. (96 + 128 = 224) In this case the symmetric subroutine will immediately be followed by an asymmetric subroutine for the neckline. Necklines may look symmetric, but the same subroutine is repeated for both the left and right sides of the neckline. In the context of shaping one side of the neckline or the other, the shaping is asymmetric compared to the shoulder/armhole.
| Line # | Code | Commentary on Symmetric |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 101 | Base code 96 + 5 shaping instructions = 101. |
| 19 | 184 | Decrease both sides by 14 stitches. See Shaping Instructions for more information on these codes. |
| 20 | 135 | |
| 21 | 191 | Decrease both sides by 10 stitches over 40 rows. See Shaping Instructions heading for more information on these codes. |
| 22 | 131 | |
| 23 | 141 |
| Line # | Code | Commentary on Symmetric with Neckline |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 229 | Base code 224 + 5 shaping instructions = 229. |
| 19 | 184 | Decrease both sides by 14 stitches. See Shaping Instructions for more information on these codes. |
| 20 | 135 | |
| 21 | 191 | Decrease both sides by 10 stitches over 40 rows. See Shaping Instructions heading for more information on these codes. |
| 22 | 131 | |
| 23 | 141 | |
| The next line after the symmetric subroutine begins the neckline shaping, which is always an asymmetric shaping subroutine. |
The asymmetric subroutine performs shaping on the left side or right side of the knitting only. Form programmes for pants often employ asymmetric shaping, but it is more typical to see the asymmetric subroutine just once in the form programme as part of a divided neckline. Necklines may look symmetric, but the same subroutine is repeated for both the left and right sides of the neckline. In the context of shaping one side of the neckline or the other, the shaping is asymmetric compared to the shoulder/armhole.
In the case of necklines, only one asymmetric subroutine is needed. The asymmetric shaping overlays the symmetric or band shaping that specified a neckline. The neckline shaping is inserted at the top and reflected left and right over the centerline. For example, to create a v-shaped neckline the asymmetric subroutine only needs to include one set of instructions to decrease X stitches over Y rows.
If not part of a neckline shaping, the asymmetric subroutines must appear in pairs, one immediately following the other. The first instance of an asymmetric subroutine indicates shaping for the left-hand side of the knitting. The next instance will indicate shaping for the right-hand side of the knitting. The asymmetric subroutine may include between 1 to 15 shaping instruction codes.
| Line # | Code | Commentary on Asymmetric |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 69 | Base code 64 + 5 shaping instructions = 69. |
| 19 | 184 | Decrease one side by 14 stitches. See Shaping Instructions for more information on these codes. |
| 20 | 135 | |
| 21 | 191 | Decrease one side by 10 stitches over 40 rows. See Shaping Instructions for more information on these codes. |
| 22 | 131 | |
| 23 | 141 |
Another way to achieve asymmetry is to use the half-shape technique explained in the initialization and band subroutines. However, this techique is limited in the shapes it can produce since the shape is cut in half down the vertical centerline.